Sarahbara5187

My roommate and I are studying abroad in Europe this summer (she'll be in London, I'll be in Paris). We were planning on flying into Paris, leaving some of our luggage there, backpacking around Europe for 11 days, and then coming back to claim our luggage in Paris. Does anyone know where we can find a secure place to store it? It will probably just be one large suitcase each.

kappa

A place I can think of is the coin operated locker at the lowere level of Gare de Lyon Railway Station that has X-ray security check but I don't know if they keep the luggage for 11 days. I have used it myself always only for a day or 2. If you have a hotel where you stay in Paris at the beginning of your trip e.g., they might do it for you but that's not your case, I suppose? I hope others will post other ideas.

W9London

I think similar manned coin lockers exist at many main train stations in Paris. It depends on the size, but probably €3.50 (small) to €6-7 for larger ones? The only difficult parts would be 1) most places seem to restrict maximum usage to 3 days, and 2) larger lockers are often in short supplies.

There are also manned left luggage services in London (definitely at stations, probably at airports as i haven't used them).

kappa

> I think similar manned coin lockers exist at many main train stations in Paris.

How many train station are there in Paris? 7 or 8? (am not counting metro/RER trains). Can anyone tell me if all those stations(Gare du Nord, de l'Est, Montparnasse, etc) are equiped with X-ray check/coin lockers?

Gretchen

I think it is the stations that serve the TGV.

ira

Hi S,

If you stay in the same hotel in Paris upon your return, you can ask them to hold your luggage for you.

PalenQ

Gares du Nord, Montparnasse, Austerlitz and Lyon currently have operating left-luggage (consigne) lockers with metal detectors - i assume Gare de l'Est may now but did not last spring at least due to station renovations.

After the max 2 days or 3 days at some the contents it says are removed and presumably stored elsewhere at a per day per bag fee - but ask upon depositing to make sure contents are not considered abandoned after the time period

Like Ira says IMO asking a hotel or hostel that you will return to to store a bag is your best bet.

GeoffHamer

Luggage lockers have a time limit (often three days) but, if that is exceeded and the luggage is removed from the locker, it will be treated the same as lost property, which is usually kept for at least a month.
You may have to pay more to get your luggage back, and the opening hours for manual luggage retrieval may be limited.
In London, the left luggage offices are run by a private company (www.excess-baggage.com) whose charges are high. Using a hotel is a much better option.