Rental Car Experience out of Paris
Jul 10th, 2010, 02:19 PM
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Rental Car Experience out of Paris
Hi,
I would like to post my (Avis) car rental experience in France for a few days starting May 28th, 2010.
Arrival (with family including kids 10, 10 & 4) at the airport, and checking out the car was a breeze. I made sure to travel with a GPS that would have travel maps of Europe as well. I have driven in some other countries in Europe, but until now, it was all with Michellin guide and Mapquest. This was our first time using GPS in Europe and it left me wondering how I could I ever manage to get to places during our earlier vacations in Spain, Italy, Germany & Holland without one (especially those roundabouts).
Note: the GPS signal is jammed at CDG and it fires up only after you have left the airport
We rented a Peugeot Citreon (about the same size as Ford Winstar), and was lucky to get Diesel. Navigating in Paris on our way out toward Dordogne area was time-consuming, but by no means difficult. We covered Dordogne, Loire, Normandie, Versailles before returning the car back in Paris (we saw Paris by RER, Metro combo). And like in our previous vacations, it was without question a good decision to have our own car. The freedom to choose what to do, where to go (and importantly where to stop), food along the way from road-side vendors etc. are pleasures that far outweigh the initial frustrations of finding one’s bearings
Also, based on our need to stay near Paris airport (to be able to catch early morning flight) instead of the city center, we took the RER to travel to Paris, and used the Metro within. With a family of 5, I have an opinion, that it would have been far cheaper to drive a rental car, park it near any one of the attractions, and then take the Metro for intra-site transport. I encourage future drivers to give it a strong consideration.
On the interstate, the cars fly at all speeds generally. But as you approach a village or town on a smaller road, there are cameras in place, which snap you if you don't follow the speed limit strictly (seeing locals really cut down on the speed gives a good idea).
Oh – and of course, returning the car was a breeze as well.
Thanks.
I would like to post my (Avis) car rental experience in France for a few days starting May 28th, 2010.
Arrival (with family including kids 10, 10 & 4) at the airport, and checking out the car was a breeze. I made sure to travel with a GPS that would have travel maps of Europe as well. I have driven in some other countries in Europe, but until now, it was all with Michellin guide and Mapquest. This was our first time using GPS in Europe and it left me wondering how I could I ever manage to get to places during our earlier vacations in Spain, Italy, Germany & Holland without one (especially those roundabouts).
Note: the GPS signal is jammed at CDG and it fires up only after you have left the airport
We rented a Peugeot Citreon (about the same size as Ford Winstar), and was lucky to get Diesel. Navigating in Paris on our way out toward Dordogne area was time-consuming, but by no means difficult. We covered Dordogne, Loire, Normandie, Versailles before returning the car back in Paris (we saw Paris by RER, Metro combo). And like in our previous vacations, it was without question a good decision to have our own car. The freedom to choose what to do, where to go (and importantly where to stop), food along the way from road-side vendors etc. are pleasures that far outweigh the initial frustrations of finding one’s bearings
Also, based on our need to stay near Paris airport (to be able to catch early morning flight) instead of the city center, we took the RER to travel to Paris, and used the Metro within. With a family of 5, I have an opinion, that it would have been far cheaper to drive a rental car, park it near any one of the attractions, and then take the Metro for intra-site transport. I encourage future drivers to give it a strong consideration.
On the interstate, the cars fly at all speeds generally. But as you approach a village or town on a smaller road, there are cameras in place, which snap you if you don't follow the speed limit strictly (seeing locals really cut down on the speed gives a good idea).
Oh – and of course, returning the car was a breeze as well.
Thanks.
Jul 11th, 2010, 06:13 AM
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I too have driven all over Europe without a GPS but found GPS a revelation the first time I used one in France! My TomTom is the first thing I now pack!
Interesting tidbit about the signals being blocked in the area of CDG.
Interesting tidbit about the signals being blocked in the area of CDG.
Jul 11th, 2010, 09:06 AM
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Last year in Provence my Navigon led us into the forest on a dirt track that we thought surely would end up with us lost. Not so - we emerged at the other end more quickly and with less mileage than a Michelin route would have taken. And the road wasn't bad at all.
What freedom to be able to wander off the main drags confident that when it's time to return you'll be led squarely to your destination. Can't wait to give it workout again this year.
What freedom to be able to wander off the main drags confident that when it's time to return you'll be led squarely to your destination. Can't wait to give it workout again this year.
Jul 13th, 2010, 04:36 AM
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"based on our need to stay near Paris airport (to be able to catch early morning flight)"
We too have an early morning fight out of CDG. Which hotel did you stay at? What was the price? Would you recommend it?
Thanks,
Geetus
We too have an early morning fight out of CDG. Which hotel did you stay at? What was the price? Would you recommend it?
Thanks,
Geetus
Jul 15th, 2010, 10:20 AM
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kerouac,
Sorry , if I confused you about the car. But it was a Citreon minivan with enough space for the 5 of us with luggage.
Geetus,
We stayed at the Ibis (there are many Ibis-esin the airport vicinity, with one being right bang at the terminal), about 2 miles from the airport. It has a free shuttle, which was convenient. I have several reasons to strongly consider taking the rental car to Paris center, rather than relying on RER/ airport shuttles:
- For a family of 5, I paid nearly 30 Euros oneway to get to Paris.
- On our way back, the train to the airport stopped at least 2 hours before they were scheduled to. The best we could do was to get a RER which stopped a couple of stations short. Even though we bus-ed ourselves to the Airport Terminal at no extra charge (but a whole lot of inconvenience), the hotel shuttles had stopped running by the time we reached the terminal - so we had to taxi.
- Coincidentally, Paris train system did 2 on 2 times in being unreliable. We had bisite Paris about 10 years before on New Year's eve, and the trains stopped running earlier than scheduled as well.
Just based on this unreliability, I should have chosen to keep my rental car for an additional day, and use the train only for intra-attration travel.
Happy Travels!
Sorry , if I confused you about the car. But it was a Citreon minivan with enough space for the 5 of us with luggage.
Geetus,
We stayed at the Ibis (there are many Ibis-esin the airport vicinity, with one being right bang at the terminal), about 2 miles from the airport. It has a free shuttle, which was convenient. I have several reasons to strongly consider taking the rental car to Paris center, rather than relying on RER/ airport shuttles:
- For a family of 5, I paid nearly 30 Euros oneway to get to Paris.
- On our way back, the train to the airport stopped at least 2 hours before they were scheduled to. The best we could do was to get a RER which stopped a couple of stations short. Even though we bus-ed ourselves to the Airport Terminal at no extra charge (but a whole lot of inconvenience), the hotel shuttles had stopped running by the time we reached the terminal - so we had to taxi.
- Coincidentally, Paris train system did 2 on 2 times in being unreliable. We had bisite Paris about 10 years before on New Year's eve, and the trains stopped running earlier than scheduled as well.
Just based on this unreliability, I should have chosen to keep my rental car for an additional day, and use the train only for intra-attration travel.
Happy Travels!
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