Need advice on getting from the airport to the proper train station. We have two options - Gare d'Auusterlitz for one route, or the Montparnasse for the TGV. Arriving early am. thank you.

If you have lots of luggage, the RER is not your best bet because most of those stations are to me seemingly endless steps and tunnels. <BR>The RER does not go directly to either Gare d'Austerlitz or Gare Montparnasse directly. You will need to change from the RER to another line to reach either of them. However, you can change RER trains at the station St. Michel - Notre <BR>Dame and continue on to Austerlitz. <BR> <BR>The Paris Airport Shuttle will get you to the door of the train station, but you might well go somewhere else first. <BR> <BR>A lot of the decision depends on time of day, how much time you have between the arrival of your flight and the departure of your train. <BR> <BR>In my experience, Paris rush hour traffic backs up on the highways about like it does in large US cities. <BR>For that reason, you might need to take the RER to make a tight connection because a van or a taxi will be caught up in traffic. <BR> <BR>So consider your times. And read other replies to your question and then make the best decision you can. <BR> <BR>Even under the best of circumstances, it is not a short trip to Gare Montparnasse. I would think 90 minutes minimum would be required to make the complete journey from clearing passport control until you are on the platform at Montparnasse. I hope others respond and give their time estimates for your transfer. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Thanks Bob- you helped me last year! Let me add some detail to my question. We are flying into CDG on a Sunday morning, and heading straight to Dordogne via train. Perhaps someone can suggest the best way to do that with the least amount of hassle and time lost. We can go either to Periguex directly, or TGV to Bordeaux and drive to Dorgogne from there and enjoy the Bordeaux region for a day - still in the planning stage. Thanks.

When you get me out of Paris, I am out of having much knowledge. <BR>Out of curiosity, I looked at the SNCF schedule site. There are two trains that travel directly from the TGV station at CDG that go to Bordeaux. <BR>One leaves at 8:55 and the other one at 13:45. <BR> <BR>One might be a little too early and the other one might be a little too late for you plans. But, you could avoid both the expense and the hassle of getting from CDG to Gare Montparnasse. <BR> <BR>If there are more than 4 of you, the van will probably take you to your destination early in the cue. The reason you might be the last ones is because of the location of Gare Montparnasse. It is right on the edge of the 14th and 15th Arrondissements, which puts it well down in the extreme southern part of the 6th. (I am not sure where the lines actually run, but our hotel was in the 14th, but very near Boulevard Montparnasse.) <BR> <BR>I think I know which one I would do. If the 13:45 departure time was a little distant relative to scheduled arrival time, I would sample the delights at La Brioche Doree for a little while and then board the train, after acquiring a ticket of course. <BR> <BR>

OH groan. Not cue, but queue. <BR>I am not playing pool or making an entry on the stage.

Surely there are more folks out there who can help Pat out!! Most Paris questions draw a barrage of responses. <BR>What's wrong with this one? <BR>