Car rental in the Dordogne
Dec 29th, 2012, 05:22 PM
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Car rental in the Dordogne
We are planning a trip to Europe, and 5 of our days will be in the Dordogne region. I know we will need a car to explore this region. We will be taking the train from Paris to somewhere close to the Dordogne where we can rent a car. When we leave the Dordogne region we will be heading to Switzerland, again by train. Can anyone suggest where to pick up/ drop off a rental car?
We plan to stay in Sarlat, unless anyone can suggest a better town to use as a base?
(This will be a Sept. trip)
Thanks for any ideas.......
We plan to stay in Sarlat, unless anyone can suggest a better town to use as a base?
(This will be a Sept. trip)
Thanks for any ideas.......
Dec 29th, 2012, 05:45 PM
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Rent from AutoEurope. Check their European sites as well as their US ones for best prices. Pick up the car in Brive-la-Gaillarde or Libourne or Périgueux, drop it off before you head into Switzerland or else you'll pay a ginormous extra fee. Sarlat is one of the best bases for a visit to the Dordogne unless you want to stay in a small village, which is also nice.
Dec 30th, 2012, 12:10 AM
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Yes, Sarlat is a great and central location to explore this area. You can get a train from Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz) to Brive la Gaillarde, pick up a car there and within 30/40 minutes be where you want to be.
You can usually drop off in another location with no extra charge, which may make it easier to drive up to Geneva - as long as you dont cross into Switzerland.
You can usually drop off in another location with no extra charge, which may make it easier to drive up to Geneva - as long as you dont cross into Switzerland.
Dec 30th, 2012, 01:06 PM
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I have used Europe By Car as a rental resource: EBCTRAVEL.COM
They are located in NYC, in the Wall Street area (I too am in NYC). I have rented a Citreon C3 Diesel with a/c, a manual shift, 3rd party insurance, and unlimited mileage for about $250/wk. They use Citer, which is the European affiliate of National Rent A Car here in the US. There is a pick up point in Brive, which is a TGV stop. You could rent in Brive and within 45 minutes, could be in Sarlat. Furthermore, you can drop off within France at a different locale without additional charges i.e I picked up a car in Avignon and dropped off in Dijon with no worries..
They are located in NYC, in the Wall Street area (I too am in NYC). I have rented a Citreon C3 Diesel with a/c, a manual shift, 3rd party insurance, and unlimited mileage for about $250/wk. They use Citer, which is the European affiliate of National Rent A Car here in the US. There is a pick up point in Brive, which is a TGV stop. You could rent in Brive and within 45 minutes, could be in Sarlat. Furthermore, you can drop off within France at a different locale without additional charges i.e I picked up a car in Avignon and dropped off in Dijon with no worries..
Dec 30th, 2012, 01:56 PM
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You can fly from Brive to Geneva on several different carriers. Go to www.whichbudget.com. Might be less hassle than driving.
Dec 30th, 2012, 04:34 PM
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<i>Sarlat is one of the best bases for a visit to the Dordogne>
You do mean of course Perigord and not the Dordogne?</i>
I would amend that to one of the best bases to visit the Périgord noir, not as good for the Périgord vert or the western edges of the Périgord blanc and Périgord pourpre. But all the Périgords are in the Dordogne.
When I am asked where I have my house, I answer "in the Dordogne". If someone knows the Dordogne, I say in the Périgord vert from which I can truly see a small part of the Périgord noir and Périgord blanc.
You do mean of course Perigord and not the Dordogne?</i>
I would amend that to one of the best bases to visit the Périgord noir, not as good for the Périgord vert or the western edges of the Périgord blanc and Périgord pourpre. But all the Périgords are in the Dordogne.
When I am asked where I have my house, I answer "in the Dordogne". If someone knows the Dordogne, I say in the Périgord vert from which I can truly see a small part of the Périgord noir and Périgord blanc.
Dec 30th, 2012, 04:42 PM
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Thank you, Michael. Pal is, as ever, off base - and I don't think has ever even been to the Dordogne.
I assume your neighbors there, like mine (most at least octogenarians) refer to the area as Le Périgord?
I assume your neighbors there, like mine (most at least octogenarians) refer to the area as Le Périgord?
Dec 31st, 2012, 01:08 AM
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My goodness! It took a hijacked thread to deal with the issue of why English speakers refer to "the Dordogne" (often pronounced 'dordoyne' like 'bouloyne' on the Channel)and it seems to be "Le Perigord" in various couleurs for the French.
Does this have to do with the time when the whole place was English territory? I suppose I could find this on wikipedia, but it is more entertaining here.
Does this have to do with the time when the whole place was English territory? I suppose I could find this on wikipedia, but it is more entertaining here.
Dec 31st, 2012, 04:53 AM
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I am also planning a trip to that region (June) and when I went to AutoEurope I put in Sarlat and got a quote picking up from "Sarlat La Caneda Office Le Pontet". Is there a car rental office in Sarlat? Isn't is possible to take the train all the way from Paris to Sarlat? I notice this is not usually suggested so there is probably a reason but I'm wondering why? I see in some trip reports people pick up their cars in Limoges. Is that because train connections to Limoges are better than all the way to Sarlat?
Dec 31st, 2012, 06:55 AM
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Brive is easy to get to from Paris and often recommended as a good place to pick up a car. I wish we had, but we went to Bordeaux and got our car at the station there. It was a long way to Sarlat. it is a long way from Limoges to Sarlat as well. If I were doing it again, I would do it from Brive, though someone above recommends Perigueaux, which is a very attractive town in itself, one which you may enjoy visiting on its own.
Do be aware that car rental offices outside the major cities often are closed for lunh and on weekends.
Do be aware that car rental offices outside the major cities often are closed for lunh and on weekends.
Dec 31st, 2012, 07:08 AM
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Sarlat does not have a good train connection. Brive-la-Gaillarde is the best to pick up a car rental. Limoges is worthwhile only if one intends to visit Oradour-sur-Glane and/or Hautefort on the way to Sarlat. Périgueux is another possibility, but requires a change of train in Limoges, whereas Brive does not.
Dec 31st, 2012, 07:59 AM
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isabel, you definitely do not want to pick up a rental car in Sarlat or Limoges for a trip to the Dordogne. You MIGHT want to take a train (NOT a TGV) from Paris-Austerlitz to Limoges, then switch to a Corail line to Périgueux (which I have done many times) - that puts you about 40 kms away from Sarlat, so it's an easy drive, and the car rental outfits are mostly there at the Périgueux station. But getting off at Limoges makes no sense unless, as mentioned, you are planning to visit some of the sites, notably Oradour-sur-Glane between Limoges and the Dordogne.
Sarlat is pretty much useless as far as trains go. Most trains that go there are not passenger trains, and the ones that are require first going to Bordeaux, then getting on a local train that stops in every backyard along the route - slow and takes forever.
What I prefer to do is to take the TGV (usually direct from CDG) to Bordeaux, then connect to the Corail train to Périgueux...but I'm not heading to Sarlat, but rather to my house, which is only about 25 kms from Périgueux. For me to take the train to Brive would mean a lot more driving. Brive would probably be the better option for you, though.
Sarlat is pretty much useless as far as trains go. Most trains that go there are not passenger trains, and the ones that are require first going to Bordeaux, then getting on a local train that stops in every backyard along the route - slow and takes forever.
What I prefer to do is to take the TGV (usually direct from CDG) to Bordeaux, then connect to the Corail train to Périgueux...but I'm not heading to Sarlat, but rather to my house, which is only about 25 kms from Périgueux. For me to take the train to Brive would mean a lot more driving. Brive would probably be the better option for you, though.
Dec 31st, 2012, 08:34 AM
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<<Does this have to do with the time when the whole place was English territory? I suppose I could find this on wikipedia, but it is more entertaining here.>>
No, it has nothing to do with when "the whole place was English territory." For one thing, it wasn't. South of the Dordogne river was loyal to the English; north was loyal to the Francs (that's why there are opposing castles all along the river), up until 1453, when the whole matter was sorted out once and for all at the Battle of Castillon.
But anyway, the Gallic people who originally inhabited the region were called Petrocores. In 778, emperor Charlemagne organized the country into provinces (each called a pagus), and selected a compté to govern it (in the case of the pagus called Périgord, he named Wildbade). Successive comptés of the Périgord included Charles d'Orléans (who was captured at the Battle of Agincourt and held prisoner in England for 25 years), two women (Jeanne d'Albret and Cathérine de Bourbon) and, in between the two women, Henri III de Navarre.
In 1790, the provinces were abandoned in favor of départments, which is when the Périgord became the Département of the Dordogne, which it has been ever since. The geographical boundaries of the Dordogne are almost identical to those of the former Périgord. The Département of the Dordogne is divided into four areas, each of which retains the word "Périgord" in it: black, white, green, and purple, each of course with its own local significance. Residents of the city of Périgueux are known as Périgordins.
No, it has nothing to do with when "the whole place was English territory." For one thing, it wasn't. South of the Dordogne river was loyal to the English; north was loyal to the Francs (that's why there are opposing castles all along the river), up until 1453, when the whole matter was sorted out once and for all at the Battle of Castillon.
But anyway, the Gallic people who originally inhabited the region were called Petrocores. In 778, emperor Charlemagne organized the country into provinces (each called a pagus), and selected a compté to govern it (in the case of the pagus called Périgord, he named Wildbade). Successive comptés of the Périgord included Charles d'Orléans (who was captured at the Battle of Agincourt and held prisoner in England for 25 years), two women (Jeanne d'Albret and Cathérine de Bourbon) and, in between the two women, Henri III de Navarre.
In 1790, the provinces were abandoned in favor of départments, which is when the Périgord became the Département of the Dordogne, which it has been ever since. The geographical boundaries of the Dordogne are almost identical to those of the former Périgord. The Département of the Dordogne is divided into four areas, each of which retains the word "Périgord" in it: black, white, green, and purple, each of course with its own local significance. Residents of the city of Périgueux are known as Périgordins.
Dec 31st, 2012, 09:47 AM
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Do you really need to get rid of the car??? We've been to the Interlaken/Junfrau region 3 times and always had a car. Although for several days we didn't use the car at all (we took trains).
Taking the train from Toulouse to Interlaken will involve an overnight in Toulouse and a 9 hr 40 min train trip with 3 train changes. Driving straight to Interlaken from Sarlat will take about 10 to 11 hrs with stops for lunch, dinner, pottie, "deviations", etc. That's too long of a driving trip for me.
If this was my trip I would:
- Drive from Sarlat to Ussel. This is a 2 hr trip. Visit Ussel. (this is what we're doing in July '13)
- Drive from Ussel to Perouges & visit Perouges. This is a 3 3/4 hr trip. You could stay overnight in the charming village of Perouges (backdrop for many movies). Then it is a 3 3/4 hr drive to Interlaken the next day
OR
- Sarlat to Ussel & visit
- Ussel to Perouges & visit
- drive from Perouges to Annecy & stay overnight in Annecy. This is a 1 3/4 hr drive from perouges to Annecy.
- drive from Annecy to Interlaken. 3 hr drive.
- If you fly home from Geneva, return the French car at the French rental desk at the Geneva airport before your flight
- If you don't fly home from Geneva, you'll go by the Geneva airport on either of these two itineraries - so you could return the French car & pick up a Swiss car at the Swiss rental office
- or you could just pay the drop-off fee & return the car elsewhere in Switzerland.
If you drive a French rented car on the Swiss Autoroutes, you'll need a "pass". I don't recall how much one costs. If you pick up a Swiss car in Geneva, it will likely already have a Swiss pass.
You could take a train from the Geneva airport to Interlaken. It is a 2 hr 50 min trip with 1 train change in Bern. You could spend a couple of hours in Bern (we love Bern).
If you drive to the Lyon Pt Dieu train station, it's a 5 3/4 trip to get there from Sarlat. Let's say you leave Sarlat at 9am & get to Lyon at 3PM. You have to return the car. There is a train that leaves at 3:38 and arrives in Interlaken at 10PM with 2 train changes. You might miss this train if you have any "delays" like lunch, pottie, or filling the car up with gas. Next train leaves at 5:16 and arrives at 11:45 PM. I wouldn't do this - mainly because this travel day would be completely "lost" - no sightseeing, no dinner, etc.
Stu Dudley
Taking the train from Toulouse to Interlaken will involve an overnight in Toulouse and a 9 hr 40 min train trip with 3 train changes. Driving straight to Interlaken from Sarlat will take about 10 to 11 hrs with stops for lunch, dinner, pottie, "deviations", etc. That's too long of a driving trip for me.
If this was my trip I would:
- Drive from Sarlat to Ussel. This is a 2 hr trip. Visit Ussel. (this is what we're doing in July '13)
- Drive from Ussel to Perouges & visit Perouges. This is a 3 3/4 hr trip. You could stay overnight in the charming village of Perouges (backdrop for many movies). Then it is a 3 3/4 hr drive to Interlaken the next day
OR
- Sarlat to Ussel & visit
- Ussel to Perouges & visit
- drive from Perouges to Annecy & stay overnight in Annecy. This is a 1 3/4 hr drive from perouges to Annecy.
- drive from Annecy to Interlaken. 3 hr drive.
- If you fly home from Geneva, return the French car at the French rental desk at the Geneva airport before your flight
- If you don't fly home from Geneva, you'll go by the Geneva airport on either of these two itineraries - so you could return the French car & pick up a Swiss car at the Swiss rental office
- or you could just pay the drop-off fee & return the car elsewhere in Switzerland.
If you drive a French rented car on the Swiss Autoroutes, you'll need a "pass". I don't recall how much one costs. If you pick up a Swiss car in Geneva, it will likely already have a Swiss pass.
You could take a train from the Geneva airport to Interlaken. It is a 2 hr 50 min trip with 1 train change in Bern. You could spend a couple of hours in Bern (we love Bern).
If you drive to the Lyon Pt Dieu train station, it's a 5 3/4 trip to get there from Sarlat. Let's say you leave Sarlat at 9am & get to Lyon at 3PM. You have to return the car. There is a train that leaves at 3:38 and arrives in Interlaken at 10PM with 2 train changes. You might miss this train if you have any "delays" like lunch, pottie, or filling the car up with gas. Next train leaves at 5:16 and arrives at 11:45 PM. I wouldn't do this - mainly because this travel day would be completely "lost" - no sightseeing, no dinner, etc.
Stu Dudley
