Cindywho

Four traveling and we have three options at the very end of May from Monterossa:

3-4 hour train to Milan
Fly Easyjet to Lyon arrive 4:35
Rent car and drive 2 hours to Dijon
Arrive 6:35
Return car to Paris 3 days later
Cost w/o gas and tolls $405
Not sure about a drop fee to return car to Paris

1 hour train to Pisa
Fly Easyjet to Paris Orly arrive 2:35 pm
Rent car and drive 3-3 1/2 hours to Dijon
Arrive 6:00
Return car to Paris
Cost w/o gas and tolls around $560
This option would give us a few hours in Pisa which we have not been to previously.

Throw hands up and take1 hour train to Pisa
Rent car and drive to Dijon
Arrive 8 pm
Cost w/o gas and tolls $250
Return car to Paris three days later
Unknown drop fee to return car to Paris
This would give us time to stop along the way if we wanted

I know I have heard about astronomical drop fees to return car to another country, but what about another city? It seems AuoEurope doesn't quote thé drop fée until you hit "submit" and then they send the voucher and allow you to cancel in three days if you don't like it.

We could spend about $600 and 12 hours on a train and go directly from Monterossa to Dijon and arrive at 7 or 8 or maybe even 10 pm. Still have to get a car and pay a drop fee to return to Paris.

What have we missed?
I know this complicated so I do appreciate your advise.

nytraveler

How many days do you have? If you will have time to stop between M and dijon - and other days to tour the area - I would definitely rent the car.

But, although we often do road trips in eruope we don't usually rent a car just to get from one place to another - only when touring.

Cindywho

We only have three nights in Dijon before heading to Paris. I would definitely consider one night of the three along the way in a midpoint location if we do it this way.

vietritiles

You don't pay a drop off fee if you rent the car in France.

I don't see how you can make a decision about option 3 unless you know the drop-off fee. You never pay anything until you rent the car anyway, so why don't you see what AutoEurope says what the fee is?

I assume you know that these are not your only options. For instance, you could take a train to Menton, rent a car and drive, saving yourself the drop off fee.
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However, if you've considered all the other options and narrowed it down to these three as most appealing, I'm not sure what answers you are looking for from people who are not taking your trip as to which will be more enjoyable for your party. All you'll get is answers telling you how "I" like to travel. So what? No two people travel alike.

Are there things you want to see along the way? Are you all going to be happy sitting in a car for several hours? Are you moved to see Pisa? Are the 4 people all adults who could discuss this among themselves? How many drivers are there?

Cindywho

Vietriles - thank you and I didn't think about a train to Menton- in fact I have never heard of Menton. I will check this out. Definitely.

I was really looking to see if there are issues, or problems in my thinking - something that others know and I don't, because I am not very experienced in this.

If all options would work out as presented, then I feel better choosing any of the above.

I will try "submitting" and see what happens, or I will call today.

vietritiles

One more option you may not have considered:

Fly to Paris, take the train to Dijon and rent the car in Dijon when you need it. If you are considering some scenarios where you are arriving by train at 10pm, then apparently you don't need a car the minute you arrive in Dijon.

vietritiles

One reason it is hard to help you decide which way is "better" is that you haven't said if there are any kids in the mix and how much luggage you are carrying. Planes or trains work best if everybody has simple carry-ons. If you have lots of luggage, then piling into the car can be better, and worth the drop off fee.

Cindywho

Vietritiles- thank you so much.

I believe the Menton option is a great possibility! We would get there earlier and be able to drive through some countryside and maybe stop one night midpoint. Grenoble?

We are husband wife and two daughters ages 19 and 21. We wil be with carry ons only and one each. I expect us all to handle luggage very well regardless of travel mode.

This is why I posted the question. Thank you so much!

vietritiles

One more thought:

Driving into a city you don't know for the first time after dark can be really stressful, especially if have already been on the road many hours. You might want to eliminate any scenario that has you doing that.

Cindywho

Didn't think about that-probably very wise advise. Keep the stress levels down!

vietritiles

We were posting at the same time. I'm not sure what would be a good overnight stop for you. There are no doubt endless possibilities, so you should just choose on the basis of interest.

If you are picking up the car in Mento, think about whether you want lunch in Menton. Since you will have already been traveling for close to 5 hours, one way to do this is to not drive very far that day. Pick some place with interest for your family no more than 90 minutes from Menton, Start out fresh the next morning, and you can stop at other places of interest along the way.

vietritiles

Consider Avignon.

jamikins

FYI - we have been charged a one-way drop off charge in France 3 times now booking through Autoeurope using Europcar. I think the charge was €35.

StCirq

Sounds like your plans are coming together, but just as a general comment, anyone who's renting a car overseas should pick up the phone and call the rental outfit rather than just doing it online. AutoEurope (800-223-5555) has the most knowledgable, pleasant customer service people around. They can answer all your questions about fees - there's absolutely no need to commit to something online and then cancel it.

Cindywho

Thank you St Cirq, I will give them a call. Thank you all for sharing your experience and knowledge!