In Paris now and need help!
 

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I are in Paris now and had plans to take the train to Bayeux on Tuesday Oct. 4th. Hotel reservations, tours, etc have all been booked around this date. Unfortunately we've just learned about the possible strike that day and aren't sure what to do (concierge is less than helpful).

We're thinking about driving but are a little intimidated. If we do rent a car, should we rent from the airport? Would that be an easier drive than trying to drive out of Paris? Is the drive to Bayeux fairly easy?

Any advice would be much appreciated as we try to figure this out!

I have driven *IN* Normandy but I did not drive from Paris. However, I think if you are patient it should be no problem driving. Getting out of Paris and onto the highway will be the hardest part. I was worried about driving in Normandy myself but found it very easy and fun.

I'm guessing that car rental at the airport might be easier as you would skip driving into/out of the city directly. I have no idea about cost benefits of driving from the airport vs elsewhere.

Have you considered taking a bus to Bayeux or even to nearby Caen? I took the train to Caen and rented my car there and that worked well. Or are the bus drivers going on strike, too?

Andrew

I rented a car at the airport 2 years ago and drove to Bayeux by myself with a stop at Giverny first. Get a good Michelin map and ask for directions from the airport when you pick up the car. The drive is almost all freeway and not difficult.

Hi Kim,

I too am in Paris but fortunately my train is not on the 4th. Tonight (Oct1)I asked a taxi driver if all transportation was on strike and his answer was only SNCF. I would see about a bus as suggested above.

Good luck!

Rent a car for the 4th - now, while they last. Driving is no big deal, help each other in looking for things and get a good map first - memorize route numbers.

WK

Thanks for the quick replies. We hadn't thought of the bus becuase we weren't sure if they were on strike too. Tomorrow morning we'll check into that. The car from the airport also sounds like a possibility. Should we rent from CDG?

Rather than the airport, try to see if you can get a car at La Défense, which is west of Paris. Porte Maillot would be another possibility.

SNCF is projecting 50 percent train cancellations for that day. Renting might not be a bad idea.

I would not rent from the airport. That is on the opposite side of Paris from where you need to be to go to normandy. You would have to come back towards paris and get on the ring road which is a pain and the sinage is confusing.

Rent at Porte Maillot. From there you can immediately get on the freeway (A14 Rouen) that goes to Normandy. VASTLY easier. Roads are toll and some require change so have that ready. If you dont have change there can be lines at the manned booths. The tollroads in france are very good and easy driving.

A few years ago, we were in Paris and were renting a car to go to Normandy. We decided to rent in Chartres. I think we used Hertz. Their office is only three or four blocks from the train station. We went down early on the train, visited the Cathedral, and then picked up the car and drove on to Normandy. It seems to me it took us about three hours to get to Bayeux, and that was taking our time (stopping by Camembert) on the way. That trip is on our web page at the following address:
http://www.warobison.com/ta/frcar

I don't know if a bus is available to Chartres or not. Have you considered checking out of Paris one day early and taking the train to Normandy (or another town to get the car) on the 3rd?

Good luck! We've been caught in one of those strikes before and it can be very frustrating.

Shouldnt you be in bed? Its late! :)

Go up on line to Auto Europe or other large car rental agencies. You may find that you are walking distance from where you can rent a car in Paris. It is no big deal getting out of Paris by car. It would be more of an expense and waste of time to go all the way back to the airport to rent a car.

Last fall we rented a car in Paris, picking it up near a place west of Eiffel tower that used to be a military hospital 100 yrs ago. For one used to driving thru Chicago or Detroit, it was easy to exit the city (past the Arch of Triumph) just following the traffic and not changing lanes. We drove to Honfluer on the expressway, easy drive, that continues on to Bayeux. Hope you enjoy the tapestries as much as we did. PS I suspect the car rental would be cheaper if you rent from within Paris, as opposed to the airport. PPS The drive out of Paris was easier (better marked) than the drive into Paris. Avoid trying to return during rush hour.

Take the RER or a taxi to Orly Airport and rent the car there. After that you'll have a relatively easy drive to Bayeux on major roads.

If you cannot, or don't want to change the reservations, I think you should leave on Monday with the train.

Renting a car is a possibility but remember that all the workers that usually take the train will also be driving that day; I would not choose to be on the road =)

I would really advise against planning travel on the day of the strike.

Last year, during one of the strikes when the SNCF cancelled most of its services, it took over 2 hours to get from CDG to central Paris, as the raods were completely jammed. Will it be the same on Oct 4th? I have no idea, but it hardly seems worth the risk of spoiling part of a vacation.

I drove from Paris (in my right-hand drive English car) to Bayeux via Rouen this summer, and it is an easy drive.

I had actually driven into Paris; I stayed and parked in a secure carpark in the 5th (well, I stayed in a hotel nearby, not in the carpark!). I would definitely suggest if you rent in Paris you rent south of the Seine as the roads are much easier - no Etoile or Place de la Concorde to negotiate!. I took a wrong turn and ended up driving out over the Ile St Louis, but although I joined the peripherique further round than I'd planned it was fine. I found the roads around Porte Maillot quite confusing, and would not have liked to rent there and get straight out on the roads there! CDG is the opposite side of Paris from where you want to be heading. Orly airport or the Eiffel Tower area would seem good places to start off from. Once away from Paris the roads are really good and easy. I only had to have change at one toll road - the rest of the time it was pop in the credit card and off we went, even for such small amounts as 2 euros!

Once away from Paris it is so easy to drive in France - and you won't even have to be on the wrong side of the road! So don't be intimidated, it's not that bad at all, and driving in Normandy along the coast roads is a doddle.

Have a great trip.

We have rented a car and have driven to Giverny and the Bayeaux and Normandy. It is no big deal. I would recommend what other posters have suggested and get a good Michelin
map. We bought the big book 10m years ago and still use it. We got our car at Montparnasse near the rail station and parked it near our hotel for the night and then left very early the next morning. The roads will be empty if you leave at 7:00am. The driving is very easy especially if someone is navigating and the driver doesnt have to think too much. have fun!

Julia,

I'm surprised you had trouble with porte maillot. You would need to just take avenue Neuilly which turns into the N13 and then into the A14. Its literally the beginning of the interstate right there at Porte Maillot. You do have to watch the signs to get up onto the interstate rather than staying on the surface roads. Maybe thats what happened. You are on the interstate towards Normandy in under 1 mile.

From Orly you have to take the A106 to the A86 to the N286 to the A12 and then finally the A13. To me that is much more complex than a straight shot and requires a a good idea of the layout of the roads. A total of 35 km before you reach the interstate you need to be on.

I agree that driving out of Chartres is easier than getting the car in Paris. However, we did this two years ago with no problem at all. We arrived on the train from Amsterdam into Gare du Nord. The Hertz Rental agency was located near the Gare--maybe a level below. After getting out of the parking lot we made two right turns and drove for maybe three miles to the Peripherique and made a left turn to enter it. The flea market at Clignancourt will be there on your left and after passing it you get on the major highway. We were in Giverny very quickly. Driving in the large cities is always a little nerve wracking but at least you won't be driving on the left. Good luck!