dkAz

Hi everyone,

I am trying to decide on a route from Paris to the Dordogne and from the Dordogne to CDG.

I’m trying to compare the routes between Paris-Bordeaux by train (3 hr) and from there drive 2.5 hr to Sarlat. Or Paris to Brive with train (4 hr) and from there drive 1 hr to Sarlat.

If I go the Brive route, I cannot go directly to CDG, but have to go to PARIS AUSTERLITZ.
If I get to there at about 22:10, what would be my best options as far as getting to the airport?

Any opinions regarding the difference in the driving between Bordeaux-Sarlat and Brive-Sarlat? I am trying to simplify my drive. I am worried that it would be much harder driving out of Bordeaux train station than out of Brive (I had a bad experience driving out of Paris years ago).

I also want to be picking up and dropping off the car in the same place.
And I think that I will be able to get good PREMS for either destination.

Thanks in advance,
dk

ekscrunchy

You can take the train to Libourne instead of Bordeaux; you might find it easier to drive out of there and to Sarlat.

StuDudley

Why do you want to pick up & drop off a car at the same place??

I would take the train to Libourne instead of Bordeaux if it stops there.

Stu Dudley

dkAz

Hi Stu,

Bordeaux has better schedules getting back to the airport than Libourne. From Libourne I would have to leave very early to get back to CDG.

But Brive has just as good a schedule as Libourne getting back to Paris. Just takes an additional hour by train.

Is going to Libourne better than going to Brive? I thought Brive is closer to Sarlat than Libourne. It also has better PREMS from Paris than Libourne.

I thought that there is a drop off fee for dropping off the car at a different location than where picked up. I could be wrong though.

thanks again,
dk

dkAz

Thanks ekscrunchy - somehow missed your reply.

No one mentions Brive...

Also, if getting to Paris rather late, is it better to try to go directly to the airport, or find a hotel near the train station?
Any suggestions?

thanks.

ekscrunchy

Dk..Lots of people, including myself, have mentioned Brive and I found it to be an excellent jumping off point for the Dordogne. On one recent visit, I arrived via train from Spain; we switched trains in Bordeaux and went on to Perigueux where we picked up a car, used it for a week, and then went on to Brive for the Paris train. (Our car actually broke down in Domme so we did not drive to Brive but took a taxi...if the car had not collapsed, we would have dropped it off in Brive as we had planned)..You could similarly take the train to Perigueux as it is very easy to navigate from the station and rental agencies adjacent, out of the town..

That is one plan you might consider....here is the report from that trip; you can find some details about the car and the area:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34894706


I have picked up a car in Bordeaux and driven to the Dordogne and I find the drive to be less than fun... It is much easier from Brive, or at least it was for us..

dkAz

Thanks ekscrunchy.

Since picking up/dropping off the car at Brive will be easier than Bordeaux, than that's what I will do! I tend to get lost whenever possible!

I will also choose Brive over Perigueux due to better train schedule/prices.

Is the Brive train station easy to get to? Are the car rental places right next to the train station?

Also, any recommendations for the last night in Paris/CDG?

thanks,
dk

Michael

Why choose a train that arrives in Paris that late (22:10)? Wouldn't you feel more comfortable arriving earlier?

StuDudley

Even 30 mins in Paris would be better than 30 mins at an airport hotel.

Several contributors have reported lots of problems getting a taxi at a train station. Best to stay in Paris, have the hotel reserve a cab for you, and get to CDG the next day.

Stu Dudley

ekscrunchy

The car rental agency we used had an office djacent to the Brive train station. This was EuropCar rented through Autoeurope. Brive was very easy to navigate through from the highway to the station.

dkAz

Thanks everyone for your advice. I ended up buying tickets into Brive. I got great PREMS prices too!

Now, any advice on where to stay in Paris on our last night? We train into PARIS AUSTERLITZ.

thanks,
dk