Parking outside of Paris
 

We live in Germany and are planning a weekend trip to Paris in April. Since its only a 4 hour drive, it is much cheaper for our family of 7 to take our car than it would be to take the train. The problem is that I like my car, and it isn't exactly small, so I'm very reluctant to take it into the city.

So here's my question: Would it be better to park outside the city at an RER station and then take the train in? Are there even parking lots or garages available? Or how about parking at the CDG airport?

I don't even know if my ideas make any practical sense, so I'm also open to any other ideas or solutions. Thanks!

There are roomy garages underground in many locations all over Paris. I would choose the one, right by the Arc de Triomphe, about one block away (on Avenue Foch, I think).

Best wishes,

Rex

Where are you staying with your group? Is it feasible for you to drop them off at the hotel/apartment with their luggage and then take the car yourself to a garage.
We usually stay at the Sofitel LeParc in the 16th because (among other reasons) they valet park it for us at the same rate as the local public garage. We also find driving into that part of the 16th from the peripherique is quite easy, even with a larger car. However, you're coming from the east, so perhaps it's too far around on the "other side" of Paris.

I haven't confirmed yet, but have found availability of a quad and a triple at Hotel Sevres Azur, address 22, rue de l'Abbé-Grégoire 75006 Paris. Maybe someone can tell me if this is a good area. We were hoping to stay in the city center since this will likely be my parents only trip to Paris, but maybe we should just stay further out?

I guess my real concerns are 1.) fitting into a garage, which Rex kindly addressed for me, and 2.) whether we can handle the "crazy Parisian drivers" without getting our car dinged up (or worse).

We drive a Volvo XC 90, if that makes any difference...which just got a brand new paint job thanks to an unfortunate encounter with a deer :)

VINCI PARK has parking lots/garages in Paris but also in the suburbs..
You could park just south of the peripherique and take the metro to your hotel and while in Paris.

Montrouge is just south of the 14th arrondissement, with access to Metro Line 4 at Porte d'Orleans - you can take metro line 4 to St Placide to your hotel. The walk from either location to Porte d'Orleans is about 800 meters. The 24-hr fee inside Paris seemed to run 21-24€ to give you an idea of what it might cost per day.

Vinci Park - Montrouge

70, Avenue Aristide Briand 92120 Montrouge
Tél : +33 1 46 55 28 52
Fax : +33 1 46 55 28 52
E-mail : [email protected]

33, avenue Gabriel Péri 92120 Montrouge
Tél : +33 1 46 55 28 52
Fax : +33 1 46 55 28 52
E-mail : [email protected]

There is also parking at Gare Montparnasse, with Vinci Park and probably others.

Hote Sevres-Azur is in the area of St Germain, reasonable walks to Jardin de Luxembourg, Tour Montparnasse (easier to get up there than the Eiffel), lots of shops on rue de Rennes/blvd St Germain area, plenty of restaurants in the area.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and info. Thanks especially to you Travelnut for taking the time to do a little research on my behalf. Sounds like I have several good options.

Now that I've got the logistics under control, I can start planning the fun stuff!

Look on pagesjaunes.fr (click on British flag in the upper left side for English if you don't read French)and enter your hotel's address and then click on map and you'll see parking lots noted. Then ask your hotel to recommend the closest garage (you can also get directions at pagesjuane or mappy.com).

We've parked in the underground lot adjacent to St. Sulpice and it was easy, albeit we were in a smaller car. FWIW, it was a lot easier to drive in and out of Paris than we thought. Good luck!

Here's the link to pagesjuanes:

http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?lang=en

Most RER stations have a park and ride lot but maybe only for the day. Consider getting an accor hotel (www.accorhotels.com) on the edge of Paris with free parking and close to a metro/RER station - then you need not drive into Paris, the hotel will probably be much cheaper and you won't have to pay the every expensive daily parking fees in Paris itself.
Note in August parking on the street is free in Paris - not in April however.

Just to add, most underground parking lots are large, clean and well lit. If you end up in one that doesnt look nice, just head to another. Vinci park lots tend to be really good as another person suggested. I have parked in the Saint Michele lot as well as the Bercy lot in the 12th and they are both very nice. The Bercy lot is closer to the edge of the city and has access to the Line 14 which is a high speed east-west line that will get you to the center of Paris in a matter of minutes.

Thanks again! You guys are great. Looks like I've got some links to check out...:)

Last summer I drove to Paris from the UK in my Renault Espace (7 seater). Don't worry about driving a large car in Paris; I did a bit, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Driving on the peripherique was actually the worst part!

I stayed at the Hotel Monge on Rue Monge in the 6th. I had an easy drive in off the peripherique at Porte d'Italie, around Place d'Italie, up Avenue des Gobelins and there was a large underground car park just at the bottom of Rue Monge. It was very well lit and clean, with good sized spaces - very important when you drive a large vehicle! There are staff patrolling, and at the office by the exit. The external doors are actually locked for security so you need to have your ticket with you to gain access when you go back. I left my car there for three days, and when I paid at the automated credit card machine the cost was only around 50 euros, which I thought very reasonable.

I looked into parking at the airport, but that came up much more expensive, around 25-30 euros a day, and then still having to pay to get into Paris.

I had a DK Eyewitness guide which has car parks marked on the maps, but the hotel advised me to use this park.

Have a great trip!