plambers

Hi all. We will be in Paris for 6 days before we depart to our rental in Sarlat. I was looking at trains to Bordeaux (can't do Brive bc we need an automatic) and just decided to look at flights. There is a 1 hr direct flight from Orly to TLS where we can rent an automatic. $70 pp. Seems like a great deal.
Isn't TLS closer to Sarlat than Bordeaux? What am I missing here? Have never flown in our out of Orly. Do we need to do customs or anything given that we are from US? Thanks

PalenQ

Lilbourne, well before Bordeaux would make a good station to rent a car for Sarlat or take trains from there to Sarlat and save a day of car rental or two. closest TGV station to Sarlat.

plambers

why would I not fly? it is an hour direct to TLS and costs $70 pp. We will be renting a car for 2 weeks (going to Provence next.)

StuDudley

It is easier to drive from Toulouse to Sarlat than from Bordeaux to Sarlat because the Toulouse airport is on the north side of Toulouse and you therefore would not have to drive around Toulouse to get to Sarlat. Bordeaux's airport is on the west side & you'll need to drive around Bordeaux. The Bordeaux train station is in town - but a tad difficult to drive out of town.

You could take the TGV to Libourne & rent a car there (don't know if they have automatics):

Lv Paris 8:46 arrive Libourne 12:06
Lv 10:46, arrive 15:06

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

I would choose a 3 hr 20 min train over a 1 hr flight. Trains are enjoyable and relaxing. Airports/flights are not - for me.

This far in advance, you can get first class PREM fares for less than about 70E PP

No customs.

Stu Dudley

plambers

Stu, is there a reason I would not fly? The price seems great and TLS is only 1 hour and is closer to Sarlat.
Libourne does not have automatics.
Do we need to do customs? this seems like a no brainer so am concerned I am missing something.

plambers

I thought I could not book a train this far in advance.

plambers

also, no automatics in Libourne.

Michael

If purchased three months in advance, the train will be cheaper than the $70 per person airplane fare.

Michael

The TGV takes 3.5 hours to go from Paris to Bordeaux, which might actually be shorter than going to the airport at least one hour before departure time plus the flight time. The train station has car rental agencies, and is more conveniently located than the airport to get to the Dordogne.

plambers

Hi. There are a lot more automatics to rent at TLS airport than at Bordeaux airport.
How far in advance do I need to arrive at ORY? Is it a smaller airport?
How far is the drive from TLS to Sarlat? From Bordeaux to Sarlat?

Christina

What are you asking about customs? You don't go through customs even upon arrival in Paris from the US, you sure wouldn't go through it to leave Paris to go to TLS. Do you really mean customs? Do you know that that is, it is about importing or carrying certain kinds of goods beyond allowed limits.

I've flown in and out of Orly, it's a smaller airport than CDG and closer to Paris, I prefer it if possible.

StuDudley

>>How far is the drive from TLS to Sarlat? From Bordeaux to Sarlat?<<

Give a person a fish & you feed him for a day. Teach a person how to fish - and you feed him for a lifetime.

use www.viamichelin.com to determine driving times. Sarlat is really Sarlat la Caneda. The TLS airport is in Blagnac.

Stu Dudley

plambers

Christina, immigration then. Just trying to determine if the1 hour flight is really much longer with wait time etc. So since it is a domestic flight, do we arrive an hour in advance. Taxi is about 40 minutes...

StuDudley

Autoeurope says there are automatics available in Libourne. Compact, seats 4-5, 2 large bags & 1 carry-on in trunk. Europcar.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

There is no immigration checks for flights from France to France. If you have checked bags, I would budget

Flying to TLS
1 hr to get to Orly
1 1/2 hrs to check in bags, get boarding passes, and wait
1 hr for flight
1 hr to get off plane, retrieve bags, and walk to the car rental office.
4 1/2 hrs total

train to Libourne
1/2 hr to get to station
1/2 hr to wait at station & get on train
3 1/2 hrs for trip
1/2 hr to walk to car rental office.
5 hr total

Stu Dudley

plambers

Stu, I was on Kemwell and that didn't show but did show on autoEurope. I think a 4 seater Golf will be too tight for the 4 of us. I was looking at a 5 seater Peugeot 2008 in case we need extra space for luggage. We will be renting the car for 2 weeks and doing a decent amount of driving so want kids to be comfy in back.

so it seems ride from TLS airport and Bordeaux train station to Sarlat are both 2.5 hours. Just checked on Raileurope and most basic seats are $78 for Nov dates.

StuDudley

Never use Raileurope. Use http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train to determine prices. And https://www.capitainetrain.com/ to actually purchase the tickets.

For travel to Libourne or Bordeaux 3 months from today (when PREMS are first available):

1st class 40e
regular class 20E.

Lots of automatics in 4 different sizes of cars available at the Bordeaux train station.

Stu Dudley

maitaitom

We took an early train to Limoges and then drove to Sarlat via Oradour-sur-Glane, the scene of a horrific 1944 massacre of 692 French men, women and children. It was a remarkable and sobering stop, but well worth the effort.

It was a two hour drive from there to Sarlat.

Here is our day in words and photos.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/chap...with-a-detour/

plambers

Mattaitom, I have been reading your blog and just bookmarket it-it is wonderful!
Stu, I don't speak French. The SNCF website is in French only, but the second is in English. Will I be able to navigate the SNCF site?