StuDudley

>>However, the itineraries being discussed here lend themselves to picking up a rental, at some location near the périphérique, joining it, orbiting around to an autoroute starting point (A13 in this case), and driving out of Paris.<<

Banff prefers to start her visit in Dinan. Your recommendation has her somehow getting into Paris from CDG and finding a car rental place near the peripherique (possibly on a Sunday when they might be closed), and then drive 4+ hrs to Dinan while the three of them might/will be jet-lagged. All this for a first-timer on the France roads.

And this is preferred by you to my recommendation of getting on the TGV at CDG and 2 hrs later they are in Rennes where they can rent a car (open on Sunday) and drive 50 mins to Dinan???? Even if they were to start their visit in Paris, I would recommend the TGV to/from Rennes instead of driving there & back.

Stu Dudley

Sarastro

<i>Your recommendation has her somehow getting into Paris from CDG and finding a car rental place near the peripherique </i>

You appear confused as I made no such recommendation. I was quite clear, in more than one post, that I strongly recommend against anyone´s driving to Normandy after an all night, transatlantic flight.

My recommendation to drive from Paris to Normandy was in response to the OP´s stated option #2, <i>Take the train into Paris for 2 nights and then pick up a rental car in the city </i>.

If Banff wants to go from CDG directly to Dinan, taking the train would be my only recommendation.

Banff

As of right now, I have a car pick up at CDG upon arrival and plan to drive straight to Normandy. From my perspective, it just seems much easier to pick up a car and go rather than to make several taxi, train, car connections.

I do completely understand the stress level of driving back into the city of Paris upon my return but this is a direct shot straight to the rental drop off in Montparnasse which, on a map, doesn't look all that difficult to get to. With the advice provided here, I am considering dropping the car off in Rennes or CHartres now and taking the train in from there. Nonetheless, I have driven in numerous countries and feel confident that a direct drive straight to a rental drop off in Paris won't be too difficult.

Just went to Costa Rica and read all the "warnings" about NOT driving there - I found it to be a breeze. Although I am not suggesting Paris is a breeze to drive around .... I am only driving out from the airport and in to immediately drop it off.

StuDudley

I've landed at CDG many times, rented a car, & off I went. I've also landed, walked inside the terminal to the train station, and taken the TGV to Rennes, Avignon, & Nimes. I found the train option to be "much easier" than the car option - especially after a long flight. We really love "recovering" on the train. I would never get into a car after a long flight and drive 4 1/2 hrs to anywhere (we drove 2 hrs to Epernay/Champagne last year) - but you may be different.

BTW, Dinan is in Brittany, not Normandy.

Stu Dudley

Banff

Stu, I am definitely interested in a direct train from CDG to Rennes but the TGV train doesn't leave to Rennes until late in the afternoon, correct? And the other option is to take a train or taxi to Montparnasse to connect to another train to Rennes to pick up a car and drive to Dinan.

StuDudley

The TGV leaves CDG at 2:49 PM and arrives at 5:47. What time does your flight get in??

Stu Dudley

Banff

730am

StuDudley

OK - that would be a long wait for the TGV.

Car:

- Out of passport control at 8:30

- at Car rental office at 9:00

- in car and out of parking lot at 9:30

- Viamichelin says it's 4 1/4 hrs to Dinan. I use viamichelin all the time - and it is very accurate. But on a trip of over 2 1/2 hrs or so I would add about 45 mins for a trip of 4 1/4 hrs to "budget" for back ups at toll booths, pottie breaks, food, the unavoidable "deviation" on autoroutes where everyone is funneled into 1 lane traveling as fast as the slowest truck. So that's a 5 hr trip arriving in Dinan at 2:30.

- if you have checked luggage - add 3/4 hr. Arrive in Dinan at 3:15

- Check into hotel & "ready to go" at 3:15 or 4:00 w/check-in luggage


TGV from CDG

- Get on TGV at 2:49 & arrive in Rennes at 4:47

- Secure car (office is next to the train station) at 5:30

- Drive 50 mins to Rennes. Arrive at 6:20

- Ready to go at 7:00.

You decide if the extra 3-4 hrs in Dinan is worth the 5 hr drive.


TGV from Paris:

- 45 min taxi to Montparnasse - arriving at 9:30

- Catch the 10:08 train to Rennes perhaps. If not - take the 11:08 that arrives in Rennes at 1:28.

- Secure car & on the road at 2:15

- Arrive in Dinan at 3:05, & "ready to go" at 3:45

This is the same time as the drive option. You know which option I would choose.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

>> Get on TGV at 2:49 & arrive in Rennes at 4:47<<

in Rennes at 5:47

thursdaysd

The issue with driving is not simply the time difference, it is the fact that is <i>dangerous</i> to drive when jet lagged, for the driver, the passengers, and other people using the road.

Banff

Stu,
I do plan on checking out your option more closely once the discount pricing comes out in a month or so as you indicated (3 months prior to travel).
But to clarify, we have three nights in that area but our first night is actually in Mont St. Michele, not Dinan. I think that should shave .5 hr off. One other option we have considered is spending the first night in Honfleur??? The only issue with that is that it will cut down our time in Mont St Michele/Dinan/St. Malo. Do you think Honfleur is worth cutting out time in the other locations? By spending the first night in Honfleur, we would only be driving about 2 hours upon arrival. Thoughts?

StuDudley

You never specified where you live. But Honfleur is farther north than any place in the continental US - if that is where you are from. What's the weather like in Winnipeg Canada in late March??? Honfleur is a very nice port town in the summer - but not in March. You also need to reduce your destinations - not add to them.

Also, I'm not a big fan of Chartres. The city of Rennes is much more interesting, IMO - as is Rouen. Also, IMO, the main reason to visit Chartres is the cathedral. Rouen has a great cathedral also - but when we were in Rouen about 5 years ago - it was hidden under scaffolding. This (hidden) is the case with many monuments in France. They need to clean and/or restore them once in a while - and I "guess" that about one out of every thirty major monuments are "hidden" under scaffolding or netting at any point in time. So if you plan to visit Chartres because of the cathedral - make sure that there is not any restoration on the inside or outside while you are there.

I would just stick with Dinan, St Malo, and MSM for your 3 nights in that region. Visit some coast north of Dinan also.

Stu Dudley

Banff

Thanks for all the help!

WoinParis

MSM like mister Sado maso ?

Helsie

I'm with Stu and his plan.. and driving in Paris unless there is no other option is crazy !

MichGuy

Lots of good advice. Details too! Mine:

Do NOT rent a car for a 4 hour drive after a trans Atlantic flight. This is VERY dangerous.

When estimating costs don't forget parking. You can pay 20 euros per 24 hours even if the car is just sitting. More if you drive to attractions.

The stress of driving in a big city, American or European, is not so much the traffic. It's not knowing the roads and where you need to turn.

So hop a train when you arrive at CDG and drive back to Paris from Normandy. With a 13:30 departure you can stay in Paris the night before but remember you'll have to leave the hotel by 10:30.

kja

Driving with jet lag is, as several people have mentioned, extremely dangerous, to yourselves and others. It is just as bad as driving drunk. And the chief problem -- microsleeps -- are something you might not even be aware of and that you cannot prevent, not with caffeine or sleep on your flight or anything else.

You have easy options for convenient and comfortable public transportation. There really is no excuse for risking yourselves or anyone else.

rouelan

If You prefer to take the TGV in Montparnasse, There are 3 recommended options.
RER & métro is the cheapest and not too bad. Take the train till Denfert-Rochereau, change for line 6. Few stairs and métro stop close to train station.
Bus direct (formerly car Air France) have comfortable coaches That go from CDG to Montparnasse for 17E.
Taxi is of course the Most convenient at 55E.
You could think of buying a TGV ticket That You Can change (in case You are late or early in Montparnasse!)