We will be spending 12 days in France the first 5 in Paris. Can someone supply me with info. regarding car rentals and traveling throughout the country. Send email to [email protected], thanks<BR>Bob

Just two pieces of advice:<BR>1) Arrange the rental from here - much cheaper<BR>2) Get Michelin maps for the areas you'll be traveling in. <BR><BR>For more Paris information go to www.anamericaninparis.com

Try Autoeurope. And heed Fred's advice.

Thanks for the advise guys/girls. One more question. I am not familiar with the cars used by rental agencies in France. What size car do you recommend for 4 adults with one piece of luggage each, I hope?

Renault Laguna ot Safrane.

Oh yes and make sure you know how to drive a standard. Not many automatics in use.

Bob,<BR>Hubby and I rented car from the States beforehand. We flew into Paris then caught a flight into Nice where we picked up our rental car. I believe it was pre-arranged from Hertz as it has been over 5 years ago? We chose a Peugot 4-door sedan automatic for our drive throughout France. As we had lots of luggage this was recommended to us. You want to have a trunk that hides luggage (deter the theives) as you park in different places/towns/villages and this car worked out very well in that respect. We had one slight problem with the opening and locking of the doors, but after a few days it became easy once you know how. The Hertz people were very helpful in explaining how the automatic works, etc. <BR>

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=26217891<BR><BR>for my recent report on the Renault VelSatis, the replacement for the Safrane.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR><BR>By the way, you aren't Bob Slone with roots in New Albany, IN, are you?<BR>

topping, for Bob<BR>

Bob: We rented through Hertz before we left home. We picked out car up at the Versailles location and took the train there -- the Hertz place is very close to the station. The bad thing was it was raining, and we were driving to Beaune, and even though we were trying to avoid Paris traffic, we got stuck in it trying to get around the city and out of town. But once we got away from Paris, driving was a breeze.<BR> Our car was a VW Passat Diesel, and we loved it. We had a family of four and, and it was very comfortable and had enough trunk space for 3 large suitcases or 4 small ones.<BR>Have fun!<BR>Pam B.<BR>

Bob,<BR> Ask for a diesel if you can get one. Fuel is very expensive and diesel is more efficient. <BR> Vic Noir

up<BR>

www.kemwel.com or www.sixt.com<BR><BR>definitely get Michelin maps before you go - or the whole atlas.<BR><BR>an xSara 4 door should be good enough.