We would like to rent a car in Paris and drive to the Loire Valley with a family of five (three teenagers). Can anyone recommend a good car rental company? Should we rent a full size car? Also how long would it take to drive to CDG from Tours? or would it be better to stay closer to Cdg the last day? Anything charming up that way?? THANKS!! We leave thursday...

Dear Nan, <BR>Quick! call Hertz and Avis and pay for your full size car over here--much less expensive. If you chose another company be careful to ascertain what happens if the car breaks down: are you responsible for getting the car back to them? Exactly how long Tours to CDG will depend on the time of which day of the week-if you wish, write me for web sites <BR>or I can look at a Michelin map giving time and distance.Stay in Tours, you'll make it in time! Bon Voyage. <BR> <BR>

Auto europe is good - They work through budget rental and are usually cheaper-they have an easy website.the website below will give you fine directions to your destination and works very well- <BR> <BR>http--www.iti.fr-images-loghaut.en

that travel driving direction web site should have been- www.mappy.com

Rent from auto europe. Do not get car in Paris as driving there is insane. As you are heading SW suggest you get car at Orley, this way you avoid Paris. As Gas is about $5 per gallon suggest you get as small a car as will fit your family. A diesel es even better as the fuel is about 2/3 that of gasoline. Have fun. Richard

The best thing to do is take the train to the Loire valley and get the car there. Paris is not a good car city. Several times, we have been in a large European city and picked up the car in our first small town. We never needed a car in the capitals. Had one once, and regretted it. Much easier to pick it up on the outskirts. <BR> <BR>The country roads are really good. have fun. <BR> <BR>Dave

About ten years ago, during our tour of France, we drove a car back to Paris from Loire Valley, for scheduled departure from CDG the next day. We stayed that night in a wonderful chateaux in Chantilly, a suburb in the northern area, relatively close to CDG. The dinner was fantastic, and the building was a couple hundred years old. The king's hunting lodge, if I recall. <BR>To get there from the south (Loire) you need drive the belt way, which can be very harrowing (I got there during rush hour in the rain), but since nothing bad happened I now remember it as kind of fun. We almost missed the turn off to Chantilly, which would have resulted in another complete circuit of the belt way I guess. <BR>I know it can be costly, but I would rent a bigger car, both because of the number of people you will have riding, and, well... defense. <BR>You will find yourself going very fast just to keep up, and if you pull to the left lane to pass, get back quickly. The faster drivers have no patience for slow drivers in the "fast" lane. I don't mean to sound scary, cause we really had fun driving around Loire, Normandy, etc. When you get to Paris, you can get a book on chateaux, and plan your stopovers.

We just returned from Paris last night. We stayed the last few nights at Versailles, and drove to CDG for an 11:30 am flight - leaving our hotel at 8 am. It was an 1 1/2 hour drive, and some chaos at the rental return, but I wouldn't want to be any further away to make sure that you make your flight. <BR>Hertz had the cheapest rates, and the most pick up and drop off points, and the only one that had good service on Sunday - if that is part of your plans. <BR> <BR>Earlier in our trip we drove though Tours, and got lost. I would be leary of shooting for CDG from Tours unless you have an evening flight. The A roads are very fast, but the cities are very congested and Paris traffic is an "experience". <BR> <BR>While in the Loire valley - definately attend every evening "light show" at nearby Chateaus. Chambord in particular is very spectacular - I think teenagers would love it. <BR>Versaille's is only on Saturday night - and well worth it. <BR> <BR>The weather in both Paris and Loire was chilly and rainy - so pack with that possibility in mind. Rain can last the entire day. The Burgany area was hot in comparison. <BR> <BR>The size of the car should also depend on the size of the trunk - you might want to consider a mini-van, a very popular choice in France for traveling families. There are some really cool ones that we do not have in the US. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR>

Hertz has surprisingly good rates in France, but by all means avoid driving in Paris! <BR>

I second the comment on being concerned about the size of the trunk. You will need space for suitcases of 5 - that will be more of a challenge than fitting people. We had problems with luggage for 4 in what was classified as a 5 passenger car.

Thanks to you all for the great advice. We leave tomorrow AM! We rented with Hertz so we could prepay and will stay our last night in Laon. (1 1/2 hrs from cdg) Last minute reservations! I'm very apprehensive about getting the car at Montparnasse but the train to Tours for 5 people was $350! Wish us luck. Thanks!