Ok I tried to figure the logistics out early in this trip: so maybe i have time to save my sanity, and rethink logistics with the help of the forum experts.

Iniiitally I was told to take the train Paris -Brive; p/u car...so I went ahead and booked a hotel for the last two nights of our week's stay 30 min.from Brive-- thinking that is where I will return car/ take train back to Paris. (a.special place to end the 2 weeks in France.)

Just found out only train Brive - CDG for 4:50pm flight home is 6:30am and-rental does not open til 8am!

Can I take train back to Austerlitz and then onto CDG? or Austerlitz to another train station and then onto CDG?
- I checked Austerlitz and seems they only had trains to Orley no mention of CDG

Or...should I cancel car and go to another area for train (keeping in mind I really want to stay at Treyne my last 2 nights and explore around that area. It is our anniversary and we wanted to stay at the Chateau.) VERY special to us

So for those familiar with the area (which obviously I am not) what do you recommend?
This one is taking me over the top.

If i kept the car rental and returned it the day before it is due, does anyone know a driver who could take me back to Ch, Treyne (hotel) and then tour us around the next day - pick us up the following morning for 630 train to CDG ? I know it would cost more, but at this point not entering a mental institute and missing the trip, it would be priceless.

Suggestions greatly appreciated! Please, and thank you,

FP

Austerlitz is just the name of a Paris train station. It's on the left (i.e. south) bank of the Seine, due east of the station called Paris Montparnasse.

I realize you have invested a lot of time, but if this were me, I would finish my trip in Paris - even if it meant splitting the week sojourn in Paris (which you mention in your other post) into two shorter segments. At the very least, I would finish with the last night in Paris. This way the last day of your trip- especially the day of your flight (and flights to the US these days are stressful enough) isn't filled with logistical details like this. Murphy's law says that if something will go wrong, it will, and in a manner directly proportional to one's need NOT to have things go wrong. This is why staying in your air gateway (Paris) for at least your last night would be such a stress reliever.

However: if you don't want to change at this point: Theoretically you could drive from Brive to some place like Versailles which is on the outskirts of Paris (assuming you don't want to drive in Paris itself, or drop direct at CDG); drop the car, and take an RER from Austerlitz to CDG. However viamichelin . com gives the journey length as 4.5 hours, which is a heck of a drive on your last day, and Murphy's law will apply with a vengeance with respect to traffic.

So: You could consider spending your last night in a place north of Brive, closer to Paris - say Limoges - which is about an hour's drive north of Brive, and which is a big enough place that trains to Paris are reasonably frequent. You could gas up the car the day before, drop it off in Limoges the day before, and catch a train the following morning that present weekday (you are leaving on a weekday aren't you?) schedules show as leaving at 8:48, arriving at Paris Austerlitz at 11:50. From there you make your way to CDG (allow another hour, so you would be there by around 1 p.m. ) The next train from Limoges departs (weekdays anyway) at 10:30, arriving at Paris Austerlitz at 13:42 - which is cutting it a bit fine.

Ugh, either way, I would hate doing this myself.

You want your last night romantic? Personally I'd shorten your Paris stay at the outset by 2 days, depart for the Dordogne 2 days earlier, do your Brive bit at the outset of your Dordogne stay, leave everything else in the Dordogne as is, except you return earlier, spending the last two days of your trip in Paris, and avoid all this last minute nerve wrack.

SUE, thanks for your (very) wise suggestions; sometimes the burden of doing the planning takes over sense -
but one thing I could not find was a train from Austelitz to CDG; when I filled in the blanks the only offering was Orly airport, so I am assuming all the train stations have trains to CDG?

I've rented an apt. in Paris the week prior and cut one day short already to avoid Ascension Day because I could not even get a car rental that Thursday.
From Brive, we were settling into Sarlat; staying the last two nights of our week at C. Treyne.

So I could cut out one night at C. Treyne, drive the hour to Limoge the next day o/n and catch the train on the Wed. l9, leave 8:48 arriving in Austerlitz at 11:50 - but will I be able to get a train from Austerlitz to CDG?
I tried several times to get CDG to pop up and all I got was Orly?? That is when all the confusion & anxiety set in

Of course I could take the train into Austerlitz from Brive and get a taxi/shuttle service to CDG...costs more but I would make the air, which is already booked of course!
There may be a curse to try planning ahead, haha

Yes I agree...I am sure C. Treyne will refund so far out (I've already sent in deposits as I was told a holiday weekend everything books quickly)

But thank you so for responding and giving me some options! At least my angst has lessened.

FP

oops, sorry, meant to write, if dropping car at Versailles, you would take RER from Versailles to CDG (with posssibly a change) - not RER from Austerlitz, which makes no sense. Sorry.

Did you check if the car rental place has arrangements for drop off before the official opening? I remember our car rental place in Brive was very close to the rail station.

Whoops again, just saw your post.

I don't know what site you're using for the train schedules, but On bahn . de, (German rail site, has English translation, and gives schedule for all Europe) I put in Paris Austerlitz, randomly picked Paris CDG T2 (terminal 2), and got a response of about 1 hour. You would need a bit longer to get to Terminal 1.

You don't really need to worry TOO much about the CDG connection. When you are in Paris, you can learn more about the RER network which is sort of like a local commuter train system, as opposed to the 'heavy' rail system which operates between cities. I've taken it several times, although as you surmise many people eschew this method and take a cab instead. It may be worth the expense to you, especially if you have a lot of luggage. Point is, your Paris hotel will be able to help you, or a good map of the Paris metro/RER system. Then everything will be much clearer. RER system is much more frequent than 'heavy' rail trains, it's like a subway.

What's this about a holiday weekend? That, alas, is going to add to the unforeseen difficulties department. If this is a holiday weekend we're talking about, I'd seriously consider not just dropping the 2nd night in C.Treyne, not just driving to Limoges and dropping car, but take train direct from Limoges to Paris (as opposed to o/n in Limoges) and instead o/n in Paris. (or it might work to leave from Brive, you'll have to 'play' with schedules a bit.) Regardless, even if it means you have to spend a little in the way of cancellation fees on C. Treyne, I still say it would be worth it. Good luck, and bon voyage.

Marija, I will do that; although they would have to get in so very early - like 5:45am!

and to all the English experts, I am sorry I mispelled DILEMMA! In my anxiety ridden rush this am to post, I forgot to change it..

Where is spellcheck on this site; one more thing to worry about!

Going to check with Hertz now; although I've also read they are a bear to deal with in Europe and we always use them here, so thought it would be ok...
oh well, there are too many other problems in the world for me to obsess!

Tx
FP

Yes Sue, unfortunately there is a holiday that apparently lasts through the weekend (from all my emails with b&bs, etc. ) called Ascension Day. I am happy that folks have the opportunity to celebrate such a special day for them;
but had I had done proper research on dates I would have know. Alas friends were going to be in Paris and suggested we meet up. Of course I jumped on that!

Then we added the Dordogne as we wanted another week ;after all, we will be in France!

I wrote the Chateau; they have been very kind in their emailings etc. with help so we will see. If I have to lose a night, so be it. I have a lab I have to get home to and she is more important than a hotel room.

I asked them to find me a driver; I could drop the car off the day before, he could take us to Rocamadour which was my plan "dujour" and back to Treyne. Early next morning, taxi or private driver - whichever- to Brive train station by 6or so am. Then I know I'd get to CDG from Brive.

IF none of this works out, I'll just stay and open a b&b......

Thanks again,
FP

FP,

Here is the official site for Paris region public transit.

www.ratp.com

I did a trip query for Gare D'austerlitz to Aeroport Charles De Gaulle terminal 2 and it recommended taking RER Line C (direction of Pontiose)to Saint-Michel, then transfer to RER line B and take direct train to CDG T2. Predicted travel time 39 minutes.

As others have stated the RER train lines are more like 'commuter trains' that intersect with the Metro lines and the intercity train stations.

Price wise and time wise, the RER is the best for getting to the airport.

Hi, there.

First off, it's madness to try to get from the Dordogne to CDG for a 4:30 pm flight. Do not do that.

Second, the car rental agency doesn't have to be open for you to drop off the car. Make sure they have a drop box and tell them in advance you'll be leaving the car there early in the morning (if that's what you end up doing). Make sure you leave both the keys and the insurance packet.

Third, I don't see any advantage at all to driving to Limoges. If you do take the train to the Gare d'Austerlitz, you just switch there to the RER to get to CDG (still a massively logistical PITA on your last day of vacation). Whether you arrive at the Gare d'Austerlitz from Limoges or Brive, it's still the same deal.

Personally, I'd rethink your entire plan. As I mentioned in other posts, you have many train options. Why not begin your trip by arriving in Brive and spending 2 nights at the Ch. de Treyne, then move on to the Périgord, then leave from Périgueux or Bordeaux or Libourne, which will give you WAY more options (I still wouldn't plan to get to CDG from the Dordogne the day of your flight, though).

It is not a big deal to drive to CDG from the southwest on the peripherique -- on a weekend certainly.

That being said, I join those who would never try to drive from Brive to CDG for a late afternoon departure. All it would take is a wreck on the highway or a fenderbender with your car involved, and you don't make the plane.

Ok, youall are great, I screwed up (rushed into decisions because of Accension)
but think this will work; talked to A/F; they extended my reservation one day with not much of a penalty ; so I can take the Brive train into Paris (at a much later time after dropping off car)
and overnight for actually a better timed flight out the next day - Thurs instead of Wed.

However before I commit; any suggestions on a decent but not luxurious hotel near a gard so I can make a l0:30 am flight.

I owe everyone on this forum case of champagne!
Thanks,
FP

We took a late train in from Brive and spent the night at an airport hotel in Paris. That made it very easy the next morning.