jody

In order to avoid the problem I had in Lille trying to find the Lille Europe station and ending up being led there by 2 motorcycle policemen with sirens blaring, I need to know which station or city is easiest to navigate.

we will be staying somewhere outside in the countryside and equidistant from both. We need to drop off the car at Avis and train to Paris. If any other nearby towns would be even easier, I'm open to suggestions.

Underhill

Beaune is smaller and would very likely be the easiest place to drop your car; it might depend on where the train station (and probably car-rental agencies) is located in Dijon, which would be closer for your trip to Paris. You could get the TGV there but not, I think, in Beaune.

39Steps

Hi Jody. We faced the same decision several years ago. While we love Beaune and much prefer it to Dijon as a tourist destination, we found it worked better to return our car in Dijon and then take the train to Paris. Dijon has the far superior train connections, and the rental car returns are right at the train station. We also stayed out in the countryside, drove into Dijon early in the morning, dropped off the car and the keys in a return box (the agency was not open that early AM) and off we went. It worked well for us.

Patrick

Gee, I think if any city will guarantee you a police escort to the station with sirens blaring, I'd go there!!!

Seriously, your train connections will be better from Dijon that from Beaune. I'd go for that.

StCirq

jody: I have to laugh, because my parents once had a police motorcycle escort with sirens blaring to a hotel in Lille years ago when they got lost. Those Lille police are very special!

I don't know the Burgundy part of France well, but I'd suggest you use www.mappy.com to plan the route to whichever station you choose. Print out the directions and take them with you. Good luck!

jody

Since we hope to get there early, I guess we will try for Dijon. Both Dijon and Beaune have Avis drop off at the train station.

Patrick,,,the whole thing in Lille is a stand out in 40 some years of travel! We planned to do a return at the airport, ended up in Lille center, tried a cafe at 7 am ,no English speakers, they pointed out a taxi stand...we were going to pay for a taxi to lead us...no taxis at that hour!! Cconfusing street signs..finaly saw 2 cops, not much English from them either, But they took pity on the poor lost American lady, lead us there, blasted the sirens at red lights and delivered us to L:ille Europe, bowed and waved us on! I think they had just as good a laugh as we did!

jody

St cirq!

If there is a nomination for wonderful tourist assistance, we can both nominate Lille!!

39Steps

Great story Jody. We once hired a cab in Rouen to lead us to the rental car return and then take us to our hotel, so I can relate. Good advice to print directions using mappy or viamichelin before you leave.

Sue4

I always freak out about where to pick up and drop off rental cars! I'm afraid of driving in big cities (in France). I was in Burgundy last October, and picked up my car in Beaune, drove around for 2 weeks, and dropped off car in Sens. I took train from Paris to Dijon at beginning of trip, and spent 2 nights there, then trained to Beaune, instead of picking up car in Dijon. I spent a couple of days in Beaune before picking up the car at Avis. I think you will be fine dropping off in Dijon, though, since Avis is at the train station, and there are such good connections back to Paris.

The previous May I had picked up a car near Tours (at St. Pierre des Corp. TGV
station). That was supposed to "be a breeze" to get to Amboise. I got hopelessly lost just finding my way out of there! A very nice woman somewhere along the way told me to follow her to very close to Amboise. I have found that French people are extremely nice and helpful to lost Americans!

jody

Just to add to the confusion....now I am looking at Auxerre! The near towns are interesting and we will be staying somewhere in the countryside rather than in the towns..does anybody know how easy it is to find the Avis drop offs at the SNCF stations!

There is not much diference in the train schedules..though Dijon does come out ahead for frequency and times.

LoriNY

We've dropped off a car at the Avis at the Dijon train station twice. It was fairly easy to get to from the outskirts, and there is much better train service from Dijon directly to Paris (TGV).