We are traveling to Burgundy this summer. We are planning on taking the train from Paris to Beaune (via Dijon). The next day we are renting a car from the Avis station at Jules Ferry in Beaune and returning it two days later in Lyon at the TGV station where we will catch a train back to Paris for our flight home from CDG. Does this make sense? Our rental rate for a minvan is 284 euro. We have two kids and mother coming so we need the trunk space and the passenger room. Can someone tell me if this is a good plan?

If you're really going directly to CDG from Lyon & not via Paris - your plan seems OK. If you're going to Paris itself then CDG, I would return the car in Dijon instead. It's much easier (and closer to Beaune) to drive into Dijon than Lyon.

Stu Dudley

Make certain that you know WHICH TGV station in Lyon is the one for your drop-off; there are two stations there, Part-Dieu and Perrache. Also, be sure to get directions for getting to the station.

You might consider renting the car in Dijon which has a number of rental agencies right at the train station. The drive to Beaune is less than an hour through some very pleasant countryside.
See if you can get a better rate there than at Beaune.

Thank you for your responses. But I think my plan may not work. We are heading from Macon to CDG. Our flight leaves early the next morning and we are staying at the Sheraton in the terminal. I thought that we could take the TGV from Lyon (drive from Macon to Lyon) to CDG but I just checked the Avis return station and it is listed as - Lyon Satolastgvfr-Ex TGV - RC6 Gare Sncf TGV. This is neither Part Dieu or Perrache. I also thought there was a TGV from Lyon to CDG which was the reason we were driving to Lyon to begin with but all the trains I see go to Gare Lyon.

If you can't get a direct TGV from Lyon to CDG (and I think you can), take the TGV from Lyon to Paris and go from there to CDG.

Perhaps the station you mention is the one at the airport? See this site:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel..._TGV-BR-1.html

The only reason we wanted to got through Lyon was to get a TGV to CDG. If there is no TGV to CDG I don't see the point in driving to Lyon. We are a large group so I am trying to keep our transfers, etc.. to a minimum. I guess then I need to research how to get to CDG by train from Beaune/Dijon or Macon (where our family is) without having to go into Gare Lyon.

Hi,
There is an early TGV at 6h30 (week days, an hour later on week ends)from Dijon to CDG.
Satolas is Lyon airport.

Thank you. Do you know if there is a TGV to CDG from any other towns between Dijon and Macon?

Between Macon and Dijon is Chalon sur Saone (70km from Dijon)
I've just checked the sncf website :
05h34 - CHALON SUR SAONE
06h20 - 06h20> 06h32 via DIJON VILLE
TER
06h32 - DIJON VILLE
08h21 - 08h21> Null via AEROPORT CDG 2 TGV
Actually it is the same train that leaves Dijon at 6h30...

A friend gave me her TGV book so I can answer my own question. It looks like there are a few TGV trains from Lyon Part-Dieu into CDG. I will need to return the car to the Avis closest to that station. Thank you all for your help.

There are many rental offices at the Part-Dieu train station. I've taken the TGV from both Lyon & Dijon directly to CDG several times for mid-day flights.

I use this site for determining train schedules
http://www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From - Lyon Part-Dieu or Dijon Ville
to - Paris CDG TGV
Date is DD/MM/YYYY format
Time is Military
You may have to input your age.


Stu Dudley