We did not pick the car up at CDG, as we were just getting off a 10-hour flight from CA, and I don’t think it’s a great idea to drive when we are jet lagged and adjusting to the time difference. We hired a driver to take us to Reims, where we stayed a couple days before picking up our car. We will be dropping it off in Dijon in a few weeks, and taking the train from there to Paris to spend the final five days before returning home to the US.

My husband, who is doing the driving, did get an International Drivers Permit at AAA before we left on our trip, but he forgot to bring it along. I posted about that here, because I was stressing about not having it at the rental agency, but they didn’t ask for it. I don’t know what might happen if we are stopped by the police, hopefully we won’t find out.

We we are sticking to rural non-toll roads for this trip, and so far we have found the French roads to be in great repair. Driving through the villages and the beautiful countryside is a treat.

An International Driver's Permit (it's not a license), as useless as it is, is a legal requirement still in France. Rental agencies, though, rarely ask to see it. If you're in an accident, though, you'd best have it.

I'm planning on the same starting itinerary for our fall 2019 trip. We fly from SFO to CDG & arrive at 10:30. There are 2 TGV departures to Reims from CDG. One departing at 12:45 & another at 15:07. We'll take the latter - getting us to Reims at 15:39. The train station is a little out of town, so we'll take a short taxi ride to our hotel.


Just to make sure I know all the "alternatives" - how much did it cost you to hire a private driver, and how long did it take between landing at CDG and dropping off at the hotel in Reims.


Next morning - back on the TGV & we'll be in Alsace for 2 weeks, followed by 2 weeks in northern Burgundy. Then we'll take a train from Auxerre to Paris.


Stu Dudley

We used KwikTaxi to pick us up at CDG and drive us to our hotel in Reims. I think it was about 170 euros. More than the direct train from CDG, but it was easier to just have the driver there right after baggage pick-up. I was hesitant to pre-purchase the train tickets in case our flight was delayed. The drive took about an hour and twenty minutes.

Have you looked at the Norwegian flights from OAK directly to CDG? Very reasonable fares.

If you have a smart phone, you can use it as a GPS. I use Google Maps, but choose your favorite mapping app.

If your phone is unlocked, you can buy a SIM in Europe to use it for the map/GPS app - so you can get real-time traffic data, etc. Otherwise, you don't need a SIM or mobile service at all to use your phone as a GPS (driving and map directions only, no traffic). Some map apps like Google Maps have an "offline" mode where you can download the map ahead of time and store the whole thing in your device. Then when driving, put the phone in airplane mode to save data, then drive. If you won't have mobile service at all in Europe, leave your phone in airplane mode the entire trip, but enable WiFI so you can use it at hotels.

Try the "offline" GPS/mapping at home first to see how it works. Download the map of where you live, then put the phone into airplane mode and go for a drive with it.

Be sure to take a car charger for your phone (cigarette lighter power port same in European cars as in North America) and a suction cup. The GPS function can eat the phone battery pretty fast. And pay attention to local laws about use of your phone or GPS while driving!

>>Have you looked at the Norwegian flights from OAK directly to CDG? Very reasonable fares.<<


There seems to be a "premium" for July travel on Norwegian. We have tickets for:
Departing on June 6 & returning on July 7 on United. Cost is $2,210 for 2 people. Same flight dates on Norwegian are $600 going and $1,360 returning ($1,960) for "steerage" (extra $ for checked luggage & food). Plus, Norwegian does not fly every day. And, we live less than 10 mins from SFO.


We're flying again to CDG in late Aug & returning in late Sept next year. I'll check again when United is open for booking.


Stu Dudley

All those things are in Google maps. Google has added virtually all the Waze features to Maps. I'm on the Maps beta but those features have been on Maps for years.

>>Same flight dates on Norwegian are $600 going and $1,360 returning ($1,960) for "steerage" (extra $ for checked luggage & food)<<


Oops - I made a "leetle" error in the dollar to Euro conversion rate. It should be $410 going & $936 returning - total $1,346 for 2. Non-steerage with checked bags & meals like on United is $1,680 for 2.


Stu Dudley

Our experience has validated that you need a map combined with gps on your rental vehicle.

Thank you to all fodorites for for your insights.

We had IDP’s for 2 if our 4 drivers purchased from AAA.

One more piece of advice for American drivers in France :

Many, if not most, gas stations in France are automated, with no human cashier available. You must use a credit card at the pump, and they do not accept the chip-and-signature cards that are typically issued by US bank cards. There is no option for cash payment at the automated stations.

We discovered that fact yesterday, when we tried to buy gas at two stations, one was connected to a small grocery store and still did not accept our card, nor cash payment either. The other was a much larger station just off the highway. Our card was declined in both - and the persons working in the attached stores said they could not take a cash payment for gas.

We we were surprised, as we had last filled up in Germany with no issues. In the end we googled “gas stations near me that accept cash” and luckily found a TOTAL station about 8k away where we could pay cash.

Good idea not to let the fuel level get too low before refilling!

Most gasstations are manned during business hours. You go into the booth and give them a banknote of 50 € and you'll be able to tank up to 50 e, and they will give back if you didn't fill for 50 e.
During nighthours, yes, you pay by card. Card that have a code.

That has not been our experience. Both times our card was declined at the automated pump, there was no one manning anything. Both times were midday.

When you download Google maps to your phone, they are good for 29 days without requiring updating -- and you can always update by WiFi in your hotel if you are staying overseas for more than 29 days.

We do not have a lot of experience renting cars in Europe (once in France and once in Ireland), but both cars had USB ports. (Rental agencies generally do not use old cars, and nearly all cars these days have them...but it pays to ask.) Remember to keep your phone plugged in, because, as said earlier, while GPS does not use cellular data, it does use battery.

You will need to use data to get real-time traffic info...at least, I assume so.

sander

I once encountered an unmanned gas pump in France.
Oh, oh, what to do?
A car pulled up at an adjacent pump. I gestured to the driver; "sil vous plais"??? (the extent of my French), waving a 50 euro note, my credit card, and pointed to my open gas cap. The Frenchman totally understood my pantomine; said something with a smile, put the nozzle in my tank, took the 50, ran his own chip-card in the pump, pumped 50, and drove off.
Not a word exchanged.

• The French are as intelligent as anyone else, including us
• It's not brain surgery.

The problem is many larger phones today aren't using basic USB to charge. If you plug a phone like mine into an USB port the charge isn't high enough to deal with the screen and GPS being on. Worse the phone often gets putting in the sunniest part of the car and charging can shut off to avoid overheating

If you have a power hungry phone best to bring the right 12V charger with you and not count on the car USB port.

Yes, that would have been a “Plan C” option. We are using diesel, so would have had to hang around and wait for someone also using diesel.

Instead, a better idea - if you have Internet where you are staying, is to google “gas stations that accept cash near me.” And never let the tank get too low.

I just wish that the US banks would go to chip and pin. It’s much more secure than chip and signature. When I get back from this trip, I’m going to see if I can request it, as I will be back in Europe in the spring.

Well, waiting for someone who needs diesel around here would generally mean waiting for the next car to show up.

And twice in the past 2 years we have left home without our Carte Bleue and had to use our American credit union pin-and signature card to get gas at the machine. No problem. Whether it's an issue elsewhere or on toll roads I have no idea.

But googling for stations that accept cash sounds like a smart idea.

Lucky you, awash with cash. I just got to the pharmacy, searched for notes and coins and - zilch, as usual. Had to pay with a card.

I just wish that the US banks would go to chip and pin. It’s much more secure than chip and signature.>>

Banks generally do what it in their economic interest. They are not doing it because they don't think it is. Also, I don't know the percentage of fraud, but every single time there has been fraud on my cards, it was online and that does zero to guard against online fraud.

Spend a good hour yesterday going through the scrap yard that Avis calls their "rental fleet" at Madrid Barajas.

Went through three cars: Citroen Cactus ( broken passenger seat), VW Golf (low tire warning light ) and a Seat Ibiza (cigarette stink).

They all had a factory installed and functioning GPS.
As I expected , the agent tried the GPS up-sell.