Getting from Paris to Loire valley

Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 12:15 AM
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Getting from Paris to Loire valley

Hi

I'm arriving in Paris on a Friday afternoon by Eurostar at Gare du Nord. I'm renting a car from there to drive to Vouvray. Is this a crazy thing to do? We did want to rent a car in Tours or Oleans but the car rental places are closed at the times we arrive. Someone suggested that we try and get top Gare Montparnasse as this will be easier to drive from to the Loire Valley? Is this easier?

Any suggestions?

Thanks
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 02:28 AM
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Not necessarily crazy, but you'll run into some awful traffic on Fri afternoon, plus you'll need to find your way from GdN to the highway (not such an easy chore).

I'd suggest that you take the RER (commuter train subway) to Orly Airport, and rent a car there. It will get you out of the city much faster, and will make finding your way easier.

If you choose that method, it's relatively easy to get to Orly from GdN, though the trains will of course be crowded on Fri afternoon.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 02:50 AM
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Seat61.com

Eurocheapo.com Paris tips

Regional train light years nicer cheaper less hassle for me

Cute little towns car rental not worth it unless staying in Chateaux

did rent one when I stayed at the Chateau D'Esclimont a few years ago

It was awesome but traffic out of Paris was horrendous
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 04:31 AM
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We have to rent a car as there are 5 of us with luggage and we are staying in a little cottage in Vouvray which is outside of transport links. Thansk for the suggestion. How long dies it take to get from Gare du Nord to Orly and how much does it cost? Anyone know?
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 04:56 AM
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One thing that to think about is that automatic cars ay not be available i some of those smaller towns.

I had to rent an automatic out of CDG and drive, rather than train to Tours and rent there.
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 05:00 AM
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Yes, there are cars available from Orly airport and Gare du Nord, they are manual cars but that is fine for me. I just wantt o know if it is worthwhile taking the trip from Gare du Nord to Orly and renting from there rather than Gare du Nord?
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 05:54 AM
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Normally I dislike the idea of traveling out to an airport to pick up a car but in this case DonTopaz has a good point... Gare du Nord is pretty well on the opposite side of Paris from where you want to go and it will be Friday afternoon...

It will cost about 10 euros per person to train it to Orly though... here's a link:

http://parisbytrain.com/transportation-paris-orly/

You'll need to weigh up and decide if the cost and hassle of getting to Oely offsets the potential waiting in snarled traffic...
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 07:34 AM
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What are these car rental places in the Loire that will be closed on a Friday afternoon?
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Old Jun 22nd, 2011, 08:48 AM
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There are some car rental places closed late Friday afternoon, but it might be easier to find one that is open and still renting a car there rather than in Paris.

Europcar Orleans Olivet is open late Friday, for example (until 6 or 7 pm) and that is an industrial suburb just south a bit, that would be just a short taxi ride from the gare. I would have thought you'd go to Tours TGV St Pierre and the list I saw said Europcar was open there on Friday until 7:15 pm
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Old Jun 23rd, 2011, 06:11 AM
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We only arrive in Paris at 17.40 on Friday afternoon. From what I understand it is about a 1.5hr train ride to Tours which means that we might not get there in time...
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Old Jun 23rd, 2011, 09:03 AM
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oh, well that is a very late arrival in Paris when the plan was to rent a car and get out in the Loire countryside. Is there some reason you don't plan to get into Paris earlier? It would make things a lot simpler and safer.
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Old Jul 4th, 2011, 08:07 AM
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Hi Christina

Would love to get there earlier but can't get the time off work Going to have to just pray for easy traffic!

Thanks for the help.
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