P U location of auto
Aug 26th, 2007, 06:01 PM
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P U location of auto
Arriving Paris 26 Sep and dpt. on 28 Sep. want to pick-up auto, would like suggestion on best location for P. U. as we will be driving on to Giverny and then to Normandy beaches. Will also be driving to Brugge,Belgium and Bastogne and D O. car in Strasbourg. Please advise. tks. L. M.
Sep 4th, 2007, 09:07 AM
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Piggybacking on this question as we will be doing the same.
Three years ago our car was reserved (guaranteed automatic) through Hertz at CDG. So, we took the $50 taxi from the 6th after our stay in Paris, back to the airport. I swear we spent nearly 2 hours "dealing with" the car rental lady and the fact that the "only" cars they had weren't anything close to what we had chosen.
Then, she gave us the wrong directions for finding the A3. It was only when I saw a road sign giving the mileage to the Marne that I knew we were heading the wrong way. Then we ended up circling the Peripherique.
You are wondering why we did this? My DH had announced he refused to drive in Paris, and I knew the airport was on the outskirts.
So, is the car selection at Gare Montparnasse or Gare de Nord as large as (the hopelessly inadequate)one at CDG. Can you access the freeway toward Normandy quickly from there? Or at least the Peripherique?
Three years ago our car was reserved (guaranteed automatic) through Hertz at CDG. So, we took the $50 taxi from the 6th after our stay in Paris, back to the airport. I swear we spent nearly 2 hours "dealing with" the car rental lady and the fact that the "only" cars they had weren't anything close to what we had chosen.
Then, she gave us the wrong directions for finding the A3. It was only when I saw a road sign giving the mileage to the Marne that I knew we were heading the wrong way. Then we ended up circling the Peripherique.
You are wondering why we did this? My DH had announced he refused to drive in Paris, and I knew the airport was on the outskirts.
So, is the car selection at Gare Montparnasse or Gare de Nord as large as (the hopelessly inadequate)one at CDG. Can you access the freeway toward Normandy quickly from there? Or at least the Peripherique?
Sep 4th, 2007, 09:16 AM
#5
The train station selection of cars is usually huge, except of course on certain weekends when absolutely nothing is available -- and it is impossible to predict. I absolutely always reserve a "category A" for my rental needs, and have received anything from a Smart to a BMW for my rentals. I would say that I am upgraded to a B, C, or D at least 80% of the time. The only time I absolutely insist on the smallest car possible is when I am staying in Paris (that's how I got a Smart twice). Why on earth would I drive in Paris? Because my mother is an invalid and I pick her up from her nursing home.
Sep 4th, 2007, 02:45 PM
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This thread brought back a couple of fun memories. Last year, we picked up a rental about three blocks from the Eiffel Tower, it was an Hertz lot. It was actually very easy to leave the city and yes, we drove around the Arc d'Triomphe. 
Several years ago, we took the airport bus out to CDG and picked up our car. It was horrible getting out of Paris! It seemed every turn took us back into the city!
Don't be afraid, it's very easy to do, the signage is great. Just ask the rental people for directions, usually they are terrific.
Good luck!
Several years ago, we took the airport bus out to CDG and picked up our car. It was horrible getting out of Paris! It seemed every turn took us back into the city!
Don't be afraid, it's very easy to do, the signage is great. Just ask the rental people for directions, usually they are terrific.
Good luck!
Sep 5th, 2007, 07:31 AM
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I'm seriously considering it. We're staying not far from the Seine in the 6th, so Montparnasse would be a much closer taxi ride than CDG.
Actually it was the girl at the Hertz desk who gave us the wrong directions last time. I'm assuming it was a language problem.
Actually it was the girl at the Hertz desk who gave us the wrong directions last time. I'm assuming it was a language problem.
Sep 5th, 2007, 07:48 AM
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Montparnasse is very convienient depending on where you stay. we picked up the night before parked in front of the hotel and left early in the morning before the traffic was too bad. Make sure you have a map and someone doing the navigating so the driver can concentrate on not killing anyone. Have a great trip.
Sep 5th, 2007, 07:34 PM
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Cars are generally available at airports on official holidays, but you then pay an airport fee which I experienced as being approximately a full day's rental. This is also becoming true of rentals from RR stations. But one can check the availability easily enough by going through the rental order process on Autoeurope. The agencies open on the day specified will be given in the process, and one does not have to terminate the process by actually renting the car at that moment.
Sep 5th, 2007, 08:00 PM
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As it turns out, this is a Pentecost holdiay. In the past I've always prepaid through Hertz in order to have an automatic. May try Auto Europe this time as everyone here likes them. Hadn't thought about the holiday part.
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