amy_torres_sd

I would say that if you can find a reasonable flight, to book it rather than train (as you're already at the airport.) I'm finding a flight on Air France leaving FRA on July 10 at 12:10 pm, arriving CDG at 1:30 pm for 62 USD each. That seems to be a great price.

vjose

Amy ,Thanks for flight info. Price is quite reasonable too. more over it saves loads of time and hassle with kids(I Hope!)

Any idea on the Transfer process between Flights. Is it going to be the same terminal.

Do we have to clear immigration and collect baggage and then proceed to some other location. Is it a different terminal building for FRA-CDG check in.

How about baby strollers, would it be considered as a piece or we can include it in the extra baggage which we have to buy.(planning to buy 2 extra baggage, which should give us 46 kg for hold)

amy_torres_sd

No idea about the transfer... would depend on what terminal you're flying into! I found the following document on the Frankfurt Airport website which should answer some of your questions. http://static.fraport.de/ONLINE/Flip...ndex.html#/28/

vjose

Amy, Thanks for the link. Will check it out.

My worry is that if 3 hours(arriving at 8:55AM) would be good enough to catch the Air France Flight leaving at 12:10.

LisaG

vjose,

3 hours is definitely enough. Remember, your bags will be checked through from your original departure location to Paris CDG. You will have nothing to do in that 3 hours but get yourselves from one terminal/gate to another. Even with 7 people, your biggest problem will be wondering what to do with your time, and enjoying the fact that you are not in a crazy rush!

Staying in Paris for the entire time is a great idea. Flying from Frankfurt to Paris is also a great idea. Enjoy!

LisaG

vjose

LisaG, thanks for the reassurance . It helps a lot.

Note that as per our visa application(Schengen)we are arriving at Germany(as the visa issued from German Consulate, so I would reckon we would need to do the immigration process and get a stamp on the Visa.

on the above scenario, I am not so sure how we need to handle the arrival and baggage.

Woyzeck

Vjose,

Are you arriving in Frankfurt from the overseas? If you've just completed a red eye with your family, it might make sense simply to take the 9th as a recovery day and simply overnight in Frankfurt, even if just for one night. It might be asking a lot of the smaller children to continue travels from Frankfurt shortly after arrival. You could even just try and visit Frankfurt a bit, have a nice meal, and get a good night sleep on the 9th before leaving in the direction of Paris on the 10th.

PalenQ

We are planning to use Train for Travel between Frankfurt and other places. Help on train bookings would be appreciated.(specifically, Train station names etc.)>

Well why not stay in a nicer smaller town near Frankfurt Airport other than the Manhattan on the Main - Frankfurt being a boringly to many modern city of high rises and little of the old-world romance you will find in say one of the cute wine towns on the Rhine which are also very close to the airport.

Then the next day have the family do the classic few-hour Rhine cruise on K-D (www.k-d.com) boats - like the popular Rudesheim to Koblenz portion that passes thru the famous Rhine Gorge. Towns like Rudesheim or Bingen or St Goar, etc all will fulfill you romantic ideas of Europe and Frankfurt, though a fascinating city in many ways, may not.

Then take the train to Paris - www.voyages-sncf.com has some nifty discounts if you book weeks or months in advance to get the limited in number cheaper tickets and do not have to change or refund as they cannot be I believe. But you can save a bundle over full fare, especially for a family.

I think rather than traveling from the get-go upon touchdown of the plane it is nice just to head to a nearby town and recuperate - jet lag can last the whole next day too for some.

Anyway for lots of great info on European trains check out www.seat61.com (good info ondiscounted tickets); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Your indications are that you are not doing enough train travel to merit consideration of any railpass (unless you are doing more than indicated like after Paris).

vjose

Woyzeck, We will be arriving in Frankfurt from Dubai which is about 7 hours of flying.

Because of the timing of the flight I hope we wont have red eyes.

Thanks

vjose

Thanks PalenQ. How ever note that I given up on Frankfurt and surrounding areas.

Current plans is, after arriving at Frankfurt, we would continue to Paris.(won't be spending anytime in Germany except that the time to catch a train or flight to Paris).

Note that as per our visa application(Schengen)we are arriving at Germany(as the visa issued from German Consulate, so I would reckon we would need to do the immigration process and get a stamp on the Visa.

There is an Air france flight(with discounts) leaving after 3 hours.

Any ideas if I could get that flight comfortably after passing though the immigration(arrival) at Frankfurt airport, waiting for the baggage and past customs then check in at Air france counter to Paris.(all this in 3 hours)

or should I just forget the flight and head for the train.

Sassafrass

One in Paris, if you fly, you will again have to wait for bags, etc, then get into Paris. Kids might enjoy the train more, and it is easy from the Frankfurt Airport. Unless there was a huge savings to fly, I would just head to the train upon arrival.

pollydill

Easy train trip when you are tired from overnight flight:
Train to Bingen/Rudeshiem.

Next go to the Hotel Kröne in the town of Assmanshausen http://www.hotel-krone.com adjacent to Rüdesheim.
There you will find beautiful vineyards/wine country--across the Rhine from Bingen.

Take a river tour of the castles to St. Martin and back and afterward, have a nice glass of wine with an unbeatable view from http://www.rebenhaus.com/.

Bingen/Rudesheim is just an hour or so from the airport in Frankfurt and is so pleasant and relaxing. Grab breakfast before or after your stay in the Cafe Koppel at http://www.hotel-bingen.de/Hotel_Bin...kommen%21.html in Bingen.

Then train to Strasbourg http://www.regent-petite-france.com and off to Paris.

Easy to do in 2 days---and so much fun.
Enjoy,
polly

Woyzeck

Yeah,

Your best bet for flexibility is just head right for the train once you get through immigration/baggage/customs. Trains will leave frequently throughout the day. The ride will be a little over 4 hrs.

While the flight to Paris itself might be much shorter, you burn up a lot of time on either end of the flight with checking in and luggage. The train leaves right from the Airport and will take you right into Paris (with usually just 1 change). If your flight from Dubai is delayed, or immigration/baggage/customs takes longer than expected, you're still able to move on, rather than be stranded if you miss the flight to Paris.

vjose

pollydill, the way you put it, quite tempting but have decided to be in Paris and have a confirmed accommodation.

Sassafrass, Woyzeck

Finally booked on Air France to Paris. Though we wanted to risk the 12:10 Flight, due to their web site not being refreshed correctly , we end up with 15:15 Flight which should arrive at CDG by 16:30.

We will have about 4 to 5 hours to departure to Paris. Hope,I could take a short trip to outside the airport for a brunch.


Many Thanks to all of you have contributed and in turn helped us to make appropriate decisions.

Since I have nailed on the Point to Point travel as well as the accommodations, I would be opening up another thread exclusively for France- Mostly Paris- for day to day activities and places to see.

I hope to see you all there with your valuable inputs.

Much appreciate

parkhill24

Consider taking the S-8 or S-9 local train (I think either, but ask) from Frankfurt Rhein-Main airport to Mainz, less than half an hour away. The trains run right through the airport. Mainz is a neat small city and a real taste of old Germany. Get off at the Römisches Theater stop just before the train reaches the main station and it's a short taxi ride to the old town's pedestrian Augustinerstrasse. Check out my Trip Report: Mainz and Frankfurt: Rhein to the Main.

By golly, a kind word for Frankfurt, even though you've eliminated it for (understandably) more time in Paris. Not an old cutesy city, but the old Roemerplatz is wonderful, and Frankfurt as a whole is much more enjoyable for visitors today than in years past. And do make it to Strasbourg sometime!

PalenQ

We will have about 4 to 5 hours to departure to Paris. Hope,I could take a short trip to outside the airport for a brunch.>

Mainz is a good idea but I prefer its neighbor Weisbaden for a little more romantic town - Mainz is modern due to war damage but Weisbaden is a spa town - pleasant walks thru a verdant setting.


https://www.google.com/search?q=wies...=1600&bih=1075

PalenQ

You may consider going into Frankfurt itself as the trains to Paris start from there, not the airport (from airport you go to Mannheim or Karlsrhue to catch them) - so spend a few hours walking around Frankfurt and get on the train where it starts - put your bags in a station locker. Frankfurt is a nice city if a larger and not so old-world city. But for a few hours head to its lively pedestian zone, have lunch, shop a bit or whatever and get on the direct train to Paris.

Cowboy1968

When you check in in Dubai, show the agent the confirmation of your flight from Frankfurt to Paris.
You will probably be able to get your luggage checked through to Paris, so you don't have to pick it up and re-check in Frankfurt.