Travel_Nerd

I will be traveling from Paris to Metz in a couple of weeks and then onto to Thiaucourt to visit the American cemetery there (where my great great Uncle is buried).

We will not have a car and there does not seem to be a regional bus network from town to town in this region (if there is, please point me in that direction as I have been researching like crazy and have come up short).

The cheapest train option of for us to arrive in Metz, but then we have another 45 minutes/ish onto Thiaucourt, via taxi...but about how much will that cost?

kerouac

This taxi sit says 66€ one way: http://www.itaxis.fr/tarifs/meurthe-et-moselle.php

kerouac

taxi <b>site</b>

kerouac

You could get a commuter train to a closer town, though. Perhaps, Pont-à-Mousson (where my mother went to high school).

Travel_Nerd

Thank you, Kerouac, this gives me something to go on. The closest recommended commuter train is Toul, which it's price one way is about 110Euro.

At this point, we may consider renting a car outside of Paris for the day. I know the surcharges are insane for a one-day car rental, but getting to the cemetery via public transportation seems to be just as bad.

StCirq

No, the cost of a one-way fare from Metz to Toul ranges from 13.50E to about 29E. Don't know where you got that 110E figure.

Travel_Nerd

I apologize, that fare was figured from Paris to Toul via the SNCF website. Further, again my apologies, it figured for all three people.

The return fare from Toul to Paris was another 90 Euro (again, all three people).

I could be doing it wrong, but that seems to be what it comes up with, approximately a round trip of 200 Euro for three people to travel.

StCirq

What are your travel dates?

Travel_Nerd

StCirq, we will be arriving in Paris the morning of 3 October and leaving the evening 7 October, with planned visit to the cemetery to be either the 4th, 5th, or 6th. Based upon my research, the weekend appears to be cheaper.

If it helps, we are one adult, and two "seniors" (over 60).

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

StCirq

The cheapest fare I can find for 3 people of those ages on those dates is 123.20E. Other fares are around 189 - 207E (those are fares for all three of you RT). So yes, it's going to cost a minimum of 123E RT for all 3 of you (and that fare leaves from Paris at about 1 pm - if you want to leave earlier, it gets more expensive).

Travel_Nerd

Okay, and that is on top of additional taxi charges once we actually land in whatever city and then onto the cemetery--and back.

We may either rent a car or eliminate this from the trip. I think I would rather rent than eliminate it, the thought of doing so breaks my heart.

Any recommendations for car rental outside of Paris? Never have driven in Europe before--this should be interesting!

StCirq

In addition to rental costs, if you rent a car and drive from Paris it will cost you about 50E each way in fuel and tolls. It's a 4-hour drive from Paris, too. What you might want to consider doing is finding cheap PREM tickets from Paris to Nancy and pick up a car there for a day. I haven't checked, but it might save you money, and it would certainly save a lot of driving! And if you've never driven in Europe before, it will be easier to make your way from Nancy, staying off the highways. But just so you know, driving in France is not difficult (I prefer it to driving in the USA). Roads are great and so is signage.

I always rent from AutoEurope or their sister company Kemwel.

kerouac

I have often rented cars at the Metz train station. The only thing to keep in mind is that the agencies are closed between 12:00 and 14:00. This is particularly annoying when you arrive on the TGV from Paris that arrives at 12:04.