Avignon Festival - where to stay?

[D]

Has anyone been to the Festival D'Avignon?

Any recommendations about where to stay (cheap is good)?

[Dirty Martini]

I reckon most hotels will hike up their prices quite a bit for the festival...

Avignon's quite well supplied with campsites though, if I remember rightly. And French campsites are the best, even when they're scuzzy. There's a nice one just over the bridge away from the town, with a great view, but it's years since I was there. Sorry, that's probably not much help ...

[moose]

I've stayed in Camping Bagatelle (http://www.campingbagatelle.com) a couple of times - it's about 10 mins walk from the centre, and is situated on a little island.
If camping isn't your thing, there's a Youth Hostel and a hotel with dorm rooms on the same site.

[Dirty Martini]

I've stayed in Camping Bagatelle (http://www.campingbagatelle.com) a couple of times - it's about 10 mins walk from the centre, and is situated on a little island.


That's the one. I forgot it was on an island.

[D]

I've stayed in Camping Bagatelle (http://www.campingbagatelle.com) a couple of times - it's about 10 mins walk from the centre, and is situated on a little island.
If camping isn't your thing, there's a Youth Hostel and a hotel with dorm rooms on the same site.

Cool.

Another friend gave me a rec, too.

He also told me that - to his surprise - Avignon is one of the most dangerous cities in France so I ought to be careful if I end up staying in "the boonies".

[Iemanja]

We were there in 2004, but completely by accident... I went to stay at a friend's house (near Avignon) for a week's holiday, and when we got to Avignon it was all happening! :eek:

sorry, can't be of much help, D, but your thread brought back some fond memories ;)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/45858431_5741f3115a.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/45858415_72b2c764ae.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/45858412_0ab5c09acd.jpg

The atmosphere was great!

[D]

I am going for the primary purposes of seeing Theatre du Soleil and Sasha Waltz. And possibly hooking up with my German friend who will also be there.

The more I think about it, the more I feel I have to go...and yet I find myself still waffling and auditioning for things here. As usual, I just need to make the commitment, buy the tickets, etc, and then everything will fall into place. This seems to be a year of travel and exploration for me!

[Iemanja]

I know, first Brazil and now France!

Go for it, I reckon you'll have a good time. :)

[Orang Utan]

If you have a car, it's definitely worth hiring a gite, especially if there are a few of you: http://www.gites-de-france.com/gites/uk/rural_gites

[D]

Okay, so here's the plan:

Fly to London
Get to France - how? Eurostar is pretty expensive. Don't want to fly if I don't have to, but good god, I can get there for freakin' 12 quid by plane, versus $150 by Eurostar. Is there any other fabulous, cheap way that I don't know about?

I have only been to Paris once and it was almost 15 years ago, so I think I will spend a few days there...

On to Avignon, from Avignon, I want to go to Berlin (again, by what means? I looked at Eurail passes and they are not so cheap!)
From Berlin to Kassel (I think Hamburg is the closest city? I can't remember)
Kassel to...?
Then possibly to Copenhagen, then Aasen, then ...? Maybe back to Berlin?

Returning to NY by the end of August.

I could leave the US as early as June 30.

Urban European travel stars, your recommendations are much appreciated. There are just so many options!