My wife and I are seriously considering visiting Paris (and other areas) for our ten year anniversary at the end of May. I've reviewed a lot of the forum posts on travel within Europe but no one mentions car rental as a common form of getting around. Is renting a car out of the question or is the rail just so fantastic that it makes a car seem clumsy. We were hoping to get out to the countrysides and possibly other countries. We've planned to be be there for two weeks. Any advice?

May I suggest that you stay in Paris for a few days, then leave town by rail, and then rent a car in any one of dozens of outlying French cities. Just do NOT drive in Paris -- it's no fun, believe me. We, for example, took the train west to Quimper in Brittany, rented a car there, and drove around Brittany and Normandy for two weeks. On another trip, we went by rail to Lyon, stayed a few days, and then proceeded to Nimes in Provence, where we rented a car and drove around two weeks. Then, on both trips, left the cars and headed back into Paris by train. Saved money, time, and nerves!

A rail/drive pass is a great way to do this. We've done so a couple of times in France. You pick up the car right at the station, and can return it at another station when you're ready to train again. <BR>Rail Europe is great to work with to -very helpful. <BR>

James, <BR>I've traveled extensively in western Europe, always by car and have rarely stayed in any of Europe's larger cities. One of the advantages of the auto is the ability to stay in outlying suburbs, invariably at much more reasonable costs for accommodations. Doing so also gives us the opportunity to find unexpected delights away from tourist dominated areas. During our most recent stay in France, we stayed at a lovely inn in Compiegne, about 40 minutes from Paris. Each room of the inn had a thematic decor: the Edelweis had Swiss pine furniture and framed photos of the Alps; the Lautrec was decorated with Toulouse Lautrec prints and furnished fin-de-siecle style. Angelo Boneschi, the inn keeper and chef, served prepared superb meals served in a glass walled dining room overlooking a lovely secluded garden. Compiegne itself offered unexpected delights: its Palais, Museums, the Chateau de Pierrefonds and forest. Go for the car, but not in Paris itself; look to the suburbs for accommodations.

James, I agree with everyone else. First of all, people drive very fast in Paris and they are not very sympathetic to tourists that do not know the city. I think that you'd find a car more of a nuisance than a luxury. Secondly, the rail system is the cleanest and most efficient of any of the European cities I've visited. I think a good idea would be to use the public transportation in Paris and pick up a car somewhere else. Take care and have a great trip!

Thanks for all the helpful posts! I hope the trip is as fun as planning it!

James: <BR> <BR>If you stay in Paris don't rent a car. If you travel beyond the city take the train and then rent a car in the country. The Eurail Drive program might be what you need, www.erail.com. The rail service in most European countries and the mass transit systems in most cities are fabulous which most often makes a car "clumsy" in any major city.

Just to even things up a little. I also always rent a car and drive. Even in Paris and Rome. The convenience is obvious and the french don't drive that fast. Yes, the Metro is cheaper and parking can be a problem if you are headed over to the Bd Saint Germaine area, but you can park somewhere more convenient and still take a Metro for those times. Having a car also allows you to see many areas of Paris you would not normally see. With a car you can als o take day trips to Giverny, Versailles, Fountainbleu (and Barbizon). Normandy is also about 3 hours which can also be reached. The choice is really yours. If you can afford to rent a car, I would recommend you do so. Just don't let people who have not driven there scare you out of it.