topeater

First off, thanks to all that responded to my Paris hotel request. Now onto the rest…

Our itinerary is shaping up this way. I know it looks chopped up in places, but part of that was because getting hotel reservations in Provence caused a bit of a problem, but I'm happy with where we are staying.

We will be in Paris 5 days. We've been to Paris before, but have always spent all our time there. This time, we want to venture out, so this is the plan.

After Paris, our first 2 days will be in Levernois to take a wine tour. I was thinking the best thing to do is to take a train from Paris to Dijon or Lyon and pick up a rental car there. Dijon looked like the better place so that we wouldn't have to backtrack to get to Levernois. But, I don't know anything about either city & also where rental cars are available. What suggestions or experience do you have with either place?

After 2 days in Levernois, we are driving to Provence and spending 5 days. We are staying 2 days in Gordes and 4 days in Saint Remy & then flying out of Marsaille. How long do you think it will take to drive from Saint Remy to Marsaille and is there a drop off place at the airport there?

My next big question, is how do I rent a car? I've read some bad stories about Hertz & I don't know anything about car companies in Europe. I know my Visa cc covers car insurance, but is there something else I should be concerned about? Are most of the cars standards? My husband & I both know how to drive a standard, but it would make me really nervous if we found ourselves on a curvy, hilly road which I'm pretty sure we will. How can I ensure we get an automatic?

Any thing else I should be thinking about? Will there be a charge to pick up the car in one place & return to another? I've read a lot of reviews where people did that, but recently I saw a posting that companies are charging for that now, then someone else said they do if the car is dropped at a small town with little chance of rental. Anybody know?

Thanks for any info.

Gretchen

Rent through AutoEurope or Kemwell--easy and reliable.

PalenQ

Apparently this year France is requiring an International Driving Permit - sold at your AAA for $15 - a translation of your local license, which is valid in France but needs apparently to be accompanied now by the IDP - this according to a recent thread on Fodor's.

Dijon car rentals should be either in the train station or opposite it.

topeater

Thanks for that info. I didn't even know there was an International Driving Permit!

Hey Gretchen, do you have a preference? Do they have the same kind of cars?

RonZ

Renting cars through Autoeurope, usually from Europcar, we have preferred to use the toll free number vs the web site. They can answer all of your questions.

For Levernois, I suggest you rent your car in either Dijon or Beaune. Beaune, train change from Dijon, is closer and easier to drive out of.

Standard cars are no problem as long as the emergency brake has a pull-up handle.

voyager61

You can get an automatic in Europe. It will probably cost more and you should reserve it at towns large enough to have some on hand. Dijon would qualify; we have picked up an automatic there before. I think the car rental place is in the train station. You might have an extra charge to drop it off at a small town, but they should give you that information when you reserve the car. AutoEurope is what we have used almost every trip to Europe. Generally things go fine; there have been occasional wrinkles. When renting a car anywhere outside your home country, bring patience and flexibility along because it may be a little different than what you are used to, but it's still essentially the same process. Usually we have paid for our rental ahead of time with AutoEurope, so you should know the cost when you reserve.

And we always get the international driving permit, which is easy to do.

StCirq

I also have been using AutoEurope for decades. And yes, call them; don't just book on the internet.

Be advised that, though you can request an automatic, it can never be 100% guaranteed. And yes, even when renting through AutoEurope, there are sometimes one-way drop-off fees within the country. Hertz and Avis are the ones I've been hearing about most lately. Europcar does not impose such a fee. So if AutoEurope can hook you up with Europcar, that may be your best bet.

StuDudley

AutoEurope & Kemwel are the same company. About a month ago I called the Kemwel number, and from one agent I rented 2 cars through Kemwel & 1 through AutoEurope. Determine specific car classes and rates on their web site, and then call them to actually rent the car. Kemwell has had better rates the last few years in France, than AutoEurope had.

Like others have said, pick up the car in Dijon - NOT Lyon (too hard to drive through) or Beaune (the rental company we drove past daily for 2 weeks was nowhere near the train station - plus there are no direct TGV trains to Beaune from Paris). Note that the Dijon rental offices are closed on Sundays and during lunch.

There are car rental offices at the Marseille airport - it's a "no-brainer" returning the car there.

We've been renting automatics the last several years. Just to make sure that they have one at the Dijon office with your name on it, call the Dijon office one day in advance to make sure (Kemwell will have the phone # on their voucher). Also, make sure you reserve a diesel car - which is much cheaper than normal gas & diesel gets better mileage. Kemwel will put this "request" on the "comments" section of their voucher

Stu Dudley

Sarastro

Most rental cars are indeed standards. Automatics will cost more to rent and are taxed separately(called an environmental tax). The only way to be sure of getting one would be to pickup one in Paris and drive to Dijon which would also save you the train station pickup surcharge of approximately 40€.

Avis and Hertz do impose one way fees. Europcar, Sixt, or Citer typically do not.

Autoeurope quotes do include VAT but do not include road taxes, location surcharges, additional driver fees, one way fees, or environmental fees. These various fees and charges are invoiced at drop off.

topeater

Thanks everyone. I'll check out the websites.

Stu, good to know about the "no brainer" cause I've had to think enough so far!

topeater

Hey, you're not kidding when you said they charge extra for an automatic. A VW Golf stick shift is $158.27/day, but the automatic is $317.20/day!!! For that difference, I can shut my eyes when my husband drives on hills and curves!!! Thanks for the "heads up."

loklok

I did visit Provence last summer with a manual shift car. The road condition in Provence is great. However thr local people drive pretty fast, but in good manner. I always give way to them coz I m not driving fast enough. In the country side, there are many blind spots among the bends. U may need to lower thr speed when approaching them, cos thr locals can bend very fast. While I m at 50/KMH, they should be at 70-90... Again their skills are excellent, just as a stranger to the area, better keep a moderate speed. And be aware of speed ticket. I got one,,, which is 60euro if I recalled it correctly.


If u plan for lavender field. I'd like to attach the recommendation from Stu Dudley last year, it is perfectly navigated! And the scenery is breathtaking.

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Sault

Lavender Fields Route – this will take about 4 ½ to 5 hours with a visit to Simiane la Rotonde and a picnic or pizza-truck lunch in Sault. Leave by 9:00am

The lavender will be in full bloom in late June (if spring has not been too cool) and in July (before harvesting). This is a lovely drive. It’s off the beaten path. Allow ¾ of a day. We have taken several of our friends on this route & they have all said the same thing – “this is what I expected Provence to look like”. There’s no ugly commerce – just vineyards, lavender fields, perched non-touristy medieval villages, spectacular gorges, mountains, and a chateau. Even if you are not visiting during lavender season, this is a very pretty drive – try to do it on a clear day.

This route starts at Les Imberts, which is a small village just south of Gordes. Go towards Gordes on the D2, but just before Gordes, take the road to Sault that turns to the right (I think it’s still the D2). This will take you just east of Gordes where you will see another nice view of Gordes. From the D2, take the D102 toward Lioux where the road passes Joucas and there are vineyards everywhere (and some very “exclusive” homes). Follow the signs to Lioux and get on the D60 just past Joucas. As you approach Lioux, you will see a large “sheared” rock formation to your right. You may have already seen this formation from several vantage points in the Luberon – it’s quite spectacular in the evening when it “glows” as the late day sun hits it. Don’t go to Lioux, but instead take the D60A (towards Sault) which parallels the D60 (that goes through Lioux) – this will give you the best view of this rock formation. Once past Lioux, get on the D943 to Sault and follow the signs to Sault.

A few miles past Lioux, you will pass an interesting looking Chateau that still looks inhabited. Several miles past this Chateau, you will see some majestic lavender fields on both sides of the D943, with a fantastic view of Mt Ventoux in the background. We’ve take dozens of pictures here, and also (discretely) clipped a few lavender stalks to throw on the floor of the car so that when we stepped on them, the lavender scent would be released and we would get the “smell” of Provence to go along with our viewing of Provence. Continue on the D943 toward Sault.

If really like perched villages and want to see my choice for perhaps the most “perfect” village, and some more beautiful lavender fields take a bypass to Simiane la Rotonde*. Just before reaching Sault on the D943 (before going over a bridge), take the D245 southeast towards St Christol. Be patient – there are lots of lavender fields on the D245, but they don’t start to appear right away. At St Cristol, take the D30 towards Apt, then take the D166 and then the D18 to Simiane, but do not drive into this perched village yet. Instead, bypass it and drive toward Carniol on the D18. You will pass some more lavender fields in a valley just below Simiane, and then climb up on a bluff where you will get a spectacular view of Simiane with these lavender fields below – keep looking behind you toward Simiane to find this viewpoint. This fabulous view is only good in the morning at least 1 hour (or earlier) before “high noon”. After admiring the views, reverse the car & go back to Simiane for a visit.

As you approach Simiane, bear to the left and follow the signs to “la Rotonde”. This road may look like it is leaving Simiane, but it is actually getting you to the back of the town where there is a parking lot. Wander through Simiane. It’s a very lovely village. Try to find the small covered terrace with views back to where you viewed Simiane from the bluff. There is a place to get lunch close by & they will serve you on this terrace, which formerly was a marketplace.

Return to Sault from St Christol on D245 – the D30 is not scenic.

As you drive up into town and get to a spot where several roads meet, the second road to the right after this intersection will take you to a parking lot. Explore Sault. There are a few cute shops & many outside spots to have lunch. There is a very famous nougat store close to the intersection. The most scenic place for lunch is near a very large park that overlooks the massive lavender fields in the valley below Sault (you will be driving through these fields next). There is usually a pizza truck parked nearby if you don’t want a “sit down” lunch and you just want to plop on a bench in this grassy area, admire the view, and munch on a slice of pizza.

Now, let’s drive down and look at these lavender fields below Sault. Exit Sault on the D942 toward Aurel, and as you drive past the grassy area where you had the pizza with the views, look for a sign to Mt Ventoux and the D164. Once on the D164, it will take a very sharp left turn, but you will go straight on to a small road that is not numbered on your Michelin map. A sign says “Chemin des Lavandes”. Look at the map & try to find this small road that parallels the D942. It is to the west of the D942. Once on this small unmarked road (parallel to the D942), follow it for about 1 K and then take a left (It will probably be the first left that looks like a drive-able road). Keep following this road, bearing right most of the time as it snakes around a little. About 3 K past where you turned left, a few roads will converge. Bear to the right (don’t go to les Crottes) and head uphill to where the road connects with the D942 just south of Aurel. You’ll see a lot of lavender on this drive. If you mark this route on your Michelin map, it will look like the “Big Dipper”.

Take the D942 to Aurel and then toward Montbrun. Just past Aurel, you will leave the Department of the Vaucluse and enter the Department of the Drome where the road quality will change and the D942 will suddenly become the D542.

Get the cameras ready as you drive to Montbrun*. As you approach the D72 just before Montbrun, look to your left for a good view of the village of Reilhanette. Continue on to the perched village of Montbrun. We’ve shot a lot of pictures of this village from down below. It’s not worth exploring “inside” this village, however, unless you need to stretch your legs.

You will now drive up onto a higher plateau where you will get some fantastic views of Montbrun, Mt Ventoux, the surrounding mountains, and to where the “true” (vs. the hybrid varieties) lavender is grown.

From below Montbrun, take the D542 into Montbrun, but as you are heading up into the village, the road will split to the left into the center of Montbrun, and to the right out of the center – take the road to the right and try to find the road sign to Ferrassieres. You will turn right onto this road to Ferrassieres – it’s marked as the D189. It first passes some sort of vacation village/spa, and as you follow the D189 up and up and up, you will get some great views of Montbrun and the mountains – including Mt Ventoux .

Once up on the top of this plateau, you’ll find more lavender fields.

From Ferrassieres, take the D63 towards Sault and then the D95 to Aurel, and then take the D942 back to Sault.


Stu Dudley

Judy

topeater, are you sure that cost is per day and not for the entire rental period?

StCirq

<<A VW Golf stick shift is $158.27/day>>

Same question as Judy - that sounds really high. I usually pay about a third of that.

jpie

yeah that seems really out of line....

StuDudley

We've rented a VW Golf for pick up in Nice. We're renting it for 21 days - but I think topeater is renting it for a shorter time than that.

5 day rental W/O CDW
Golf Manual $96/5 days - $19/day
Golf Automatic $200/5 day - $40/day

Stu Dudley

annhig

bmk.

I will get to those lavender fields one day.

Christina

I've rented only automatics in France, and the cost has never been twice that of a manual, it's only been about 25 euro a day more, if that. There is some extra tax, I agree, but it's not that much. Car rentals are available at any major train station. I've easily gotten automatics in Montpellier and Marseille, but maybe Dijon is smaller.

Lyon is certainly big. I just checked Autoeurope for Lyon TGV rail station and the automatic Citroen C4 is only $41 a day, for example, when renting for a week. And that is USD, not euro, and it is less than 20 euro a day difference from many of the small manuals which are around $25 a day. I can't imagine where one would get costs of $150-300 a day. In Lyon, I got about $80 a day for a manual if you only rent one day (highest rate) and $163 for a one day rental of the VW Golf auto. That's the basic rate, if you add in insurance, it was more like $108 and $250. Renting for one day is really expensive.


I have not driven a manual in years, though, so it's not optional for me and well worth the extra 20-30 euro a day. I also probably would want to do what is easier in an unfamiliar area if I really wasn't used to driving a manual and on hills.

leslieq

Does anyone have the driving time from St Remy to Marseilles airport as topeater asked above? We're doing the same drive in May and don't think I saw it answered above. I think it's about an hour or so? Glad Stu thinks it's a no-brainer dropping it off, though...we're still recovering from the SUPPOSEDLY simple Florence airport drop-off. We kept seeing a teeny sign pointing the way and had to pass it umpteen times, getting closer and closer each time. We sure laugh about it now.

Sarastro

For driving time, check these sources and add about 30% more time for stops and traffic:

www.viamichelin.fr
www.mappy.fr

For all English and travel choices not specific to France:

www.viamichelin.com
www.mappy.com