Will this work?

Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:28 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Will this work?

Four friends traveling separately fly to CDG. Take the train to Bordeaux and pick up rental car. Spend 3-4 in Bordeaux and then drive to Amboise. Stay 3-4 days then drive to CDG. Drop the rental car at the airport. Spend the remainder of the trip in Paris.

Thanks.
cmcfong is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:32 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes. Why would it not work? Do you have a time or budget constraint that you neglected to mention?
sparkchaser is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:34 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How much longer is the trip - how many days in Paris?

Sounds like it should work although I would not bother with Bordeaux - much prefer Burgundy or Alsace.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:40 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Personally, as soon as everyone has arrived at CDG I would drive that rental car to Germany or Belgium. Time better spent IMO.
sparkchaser is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:44 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I guess I would ask what the purpose of the 3-4 days in Bordeaux is. If it's for wine, I'd say it's too much. If it's about Bordeaux itself, which has really come into its own since 2007 and is one of the most exciting cities in France these days, I'd say go for it. If it's for both, well, so much the better.

You might want to consider towns other than Amboise in the Loire, though. While I've always liked Amboise it has in recent years become Tourist Central. There are far lovelier places to hang out in that part of France these days - Loches, Chinon, even Blois, or farther west, Saumur.
StCirq is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:46 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1. Germany or Belgium is not exactly the same as the Loire valley.
2. I don't advise on driving if OP and friends come from far away and all the more if the are used to driving on the wrong side of the way.

Taking a train after a (long) flight is a very sound idea.
Whathello is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:48 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Loches is better visited in pairs.

Les paires de loches are very famous.
Whathello is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 04:56 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My girlfriend's that I travel with to Europe once a year all live in different cities so we take different flights. Only once due to snow in May did one couple not make the meetup. It has always normally worked out ok. Next trip two of us have opted to go a day earlier due to better flights so meeting at the train station but they will have a two hour window so should be ok if there is a delay.
With my group we can make it fun anywhere. Most of the planning has been left to two of us and we run it by everyone with emails and options on apartments. Have a great trip.
flpab is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 05:15 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you very much.

In response to the questions raised:
No budget issues to limit the itinerary.
Time in Paris is three days.
Bordeaux will be a new spot for us and our interests are not exclusively wine.

I appreciate the helpful responses.
cmcfong is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 05:43 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CMC I see you're from NC, (I also see that you need big glasses to drive) - really good idea to take the train on arrival.

I agree that the idea of arriving one day idea is great - a day in Paris is always welcome and it saves a lot of hassle/lost time to board the TGV to Bordeaux (Montparnasse station) on a set date and benefit from the preferrable tarrif of a non cancellable ticket (40 € round trip non cancellable at 2 months's horizon).

Enjoy Bordeaux, if you drink don't drive (limit is 0,5 g/l), and pay attention to the speedlimits - lots of cameras in France and some US (grumpy) posters come and complain about the amount of fines they end up with ... ;-)
Whathello is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 05:43 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We also took the train from Paris to Bordeaux; we loved that city. We took our car to drive up through the Medoc, and then through St. Emilion on our way to Sarlat. We had travelled through Burgundy about 10-20 years ago, and liked Bordeaux and its environs more. Friends of ours took the short Bordeaux river cruise from Paulliac down to Cadillac and loved the town of La Rochelle. Perhaps you could include that while in Bordeaux. Try and stay within the Golden Triangle, formed by its three main esplanades. Easy driving once out of 'city proper' as it is most everywhere. 3-4 nights each sounds about right.
aliced is online now  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 05:50 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Whathello, it took me a minute to figure out why you thought I needed glasses! Very funny.

Thank you both for your counsel.
cmcfong is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 06:06 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The OP isn't intending to drive upon arrival, as far as I understand. They are arriving at CDG and taking the train directly to Bordeaux from there (at least that's what it sounds like, and is preferable to going into Paris to the Gare Montparnasse). And TGV tickets CDG>Bordeaux can be as low as 19 euros on an iDTGV train, sometimes bookable many months out for spring and summer travel times. Even regular TGV PREM tickets can be bought 90-120 days out for as little as 25 euros. I haven't paid 40 euros or more for years.

You might think about taking the train from Bordeaux to the Loire, also, as the drive isn't exactly captivating. One in the Loire a car will certainly be an advantage.
StCirq is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 06:25 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
40 € was toundtrip StCirq, forry for confusion, 19€ is one way I guess, which is fine for OP since they come back by car.
Whathello is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 06:32 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,773
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
I think that one of the attractions of cross country road trips is to find out for oneself if the roads and sights are interesting or not. I have often read in guidebooks that certain areas are not at all interesting and have driven through them anyway and found them to be fascinating.

Just being in a foreign country already makes so many things along the road interesting. It is only those of us who live in France and have taken certain roads too many times who find some of the places boring.
kerouac is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 06:37 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You might want to price your trip flying into Bordeaux and out of Paris. We did that once and was not much more than round trip Paris.
Judy is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 06:44 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I will check those flights, Judy.
cmcfong is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 07:08 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I see nothing wrong with your overall plan cmcfong. However, upon returning to Paris, you do not want to return the car to CDG if you plan on staying in Paris. It would make much more sense to leave the car at a rental location near to your hotel. Either that or at ORY as you return to the city. ORY is next to A6 and you should be transitioning from A10 from the Loire Valley onto A6 as you proceed north. CDG is on the opposite side of Paris, through possibly a lot of traffic and then it´s a long way back into town.

There are rental companies such as Europcar, Sixt, or Citer that will not charge you a one way fee for pickup/drop off at differing locations within France. Hertz or Avis may charge you for a different drop off which is way I never recommend either of them.
Sarastro is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 09:17 AM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That is most helpful, thank you.
cmcfong is offline  
Old Jan 13th, 2016, 10:57 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The return to Orly is dead easy--taxi queue directly across the street from the car return facility.
Gretchen is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Tisacco
Europe
6
May 23rd, 2013 08:47 AM
smitchell53
Europe
5
Nov 11th, 2012 08:57 PM
bouchet
Europe
4
Apr 22nd, 2011 04:42 PM
mntpa
Europe
15
Sep 24th, 2007 01:33 PM
fakemark
Europe
6
Feb 21st, 2005 09:07 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -