Renting cars in Paris/France
 

Any advice on this one? My mother and I would like to rent a car in early June for a week when we arrive in Paris...for those that have successfully done this, please post your tips! Thanks!

You didn't ask for this, but I just have to say it: You'd be better off not renting a car. Unless you have some very specific reason to use an auto in Paris rather than the excellent public transportation system, you'd be financially and emotionally better off if you don't rent a car.

I have driven in Paris out of necessity, and I simply wouldn't advise it. The Metro is probably the best in the world, and you can go anywhere you want. If you want to take some day trips, trains are frequent and reliable. Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip.

I forgot to add that if you will be renting the car to explore the French countryside outside of Paris, then by all means do so. It's easy enough to rent a car right at the airport when you arrive in Paris, and from there you will find it easy to drive to your destination. Good luck.

Reserve your car before you leave. It is astronomically expensive to rent it once you get there. Otherwise, no problem. France, once outside of Paris, is easy by car

Yes, we are leaving Paris once we rent the car and driving straight to La Rochelle. Any car rental agency recommendations? Is it hard to find an automatic transmission? And purchasing insurance is recommended?

Try Autoeurope: http://www.autoeurope.com/

Rent from the US. AutoEurope has always had the best rates for us. Check with your credit card company to see if it will cover the collision insurance--Gold and Platinum cards usually do. Reserve the automatic transmission but it will probably be more expensive. You might rent from the office nearest the Peripherique so you would not need to drive in Paris itself. Get a Michelin map of the specific area you will be driving in--wherever La Rochelle is. Your "navigator" needs to keep track of the next town/direction as that is the way French roads are laid out--not by route numbers. You will need to decide where you will be returning the car and get EXACT directions to the car rental return.

Yes It's about half the cost if you rent from the states before leaving and ask to picked it up at the airport. A car in Paris itself would be a burden.

Also good is Nova Rentacar, http://rentacar-europe.com/

We used them last year in Germany--they had the best price out of Frankfurt at that time. But shop around--no one company has the best price everywhere all the time.