Update on strike Paris
 

So frustrated with the lack of reporting on the rail strike! It is expected to extend through the weekend. The ministers and unions meet on Monday

CDG baggage handlers to strike on Sunday.

Saw quite a few taxis today. That may be over, I hope

We feel victimized. Tried to rent a car for trip to Avignon on Sunday. They're either unavailable or cost 900+ euros for 24 hr lease!!

I did secure a cancelable room at Holiday Inn gare de Lyon after much searching in case we don't get out Sunday via train.

Isn't this why there's travel insurance?

If you think it's bad now, there my be a French Air Traffic Control Strike from 24-29 June, shutting down most air traffic (www.easytravelreport.com/#anchor_1725).

I don't think you should feel victimized, that's a rather strong word for being inconvenienced on your vacation. I'm sure there is big demand and prices are set based on supply and demand. It is just good business to me that if you have high demand for your product, you raise the price. I know you want to get things cheap but that isn't likely when everyone wants a car. Strikes are just a matter of fact in some European countries and you have to go with the flow. A lot of car rental places are never open on Sunday, no matter what, anyway.

I see a lot of reporting on it daily. SNCF has reports on their website all the time, and newspapers are reporting daily. Here is the website of the syndicat striking, they always have updates http://www.sudrail.fr/

Is there some way you can get there other than the main TGV routes? For example, SNCF has tickets on trains to Clermont Ferrand from Bercy tomorrow, I just looked, there are several and they are available. There's a train at 8:58 am, for example, that takes about 3-3:30 hrs. That may not be the most exciting place, but it's closer and then you could get a local train to Nimes. There is a TER at 4:40 pm, for example, direct to Nimes, although you might want to just wait a day to arrive earlier.

Nimes isn't that far from Avignon.

You can find more on the taxi/rail strike at http://www.france24.com/en/20140610-...-taxi-strike/?

Is it really such a trial to be in Paris? I'd love to be in Paris and not have any way to leave.

Well the thought of not having anywhere to sleep is very disconcerting. And yes, victimized is how we feel, at the mercy of those beyond our control. Our apartment is rented out the night we leave. The hotels and car rentals are gouging mercilessly.

Thanks Christina for the link and all those suggestions. We will take a look. Our tv viewing is limited to BBC, Skynews and reruns on CNN Intl

Sorry you are having to spend your time in Paris figuring out how to deal with possible disruptions to your travel arrangements instead of enjoying your visit. Hope things work out so you can enjoy the rest of your trip with no further glitches.

Travel insurance? Do those policies cover strikes?

In most cases, yes! But it would depend on your policy.

http://www.travelinsurancereview.net...lation/strike/

Investigate all other possible train routes to the south. I have no idea if there are any running, but certainly with all the north-south train routes there are plenty of options for picking your way to/toward Avignon. Or see if you can get a cheap flight to Marseille.

Our friend who was coming from the US to Paris on the first day of the strike,when taxis also were out, took Easyjet to Toulouse, and missed all the hassle of trying to get out of the airport to a perhaps non-existant train. But SNCF does in fact have info on their site.

Thank you everyone, Maine especially because I just needed to vent! If we can't get out tomorrow, at least we have a hotel and can try again on Monday using the suggestions above. It is reported that anywhere between 1/2 to 3/4 trains are running so there is hope.

Also, be happy that you can (apparently) read French. As frustrating as your situation is, at least yo can follow the news and read the SNCF updates.

So true Ackislander. W reads it a little. Me, not so much .

There is a lot of discussion of this on some other sites. The advice:

Go to the station.

Get on a train going to/toward your destination.

Conductors are not checking tickets during the strike.

Be prepared to stand much/all of the way.

Perhaps Kerouac or someone else can add to this.

I noticed that you apparently secured a place to sleep, but I looked on booking.com for the upcoming days and found 54 hotels with doubles available for less than 200e per night, with air con, wifi, and that were rated by guests on a 1-10 scale as 8 or higher. (Six had rooms for Booking.com is a great resource for finding hotel rooms if you continue to be in need.) You can find rooms in other destinations as well if the only trains available for exiting Paris go to places where you don't already have reservations.

One of the reasons I like Italy is that they have fewer strikes (yes, it is true) and when they do, the strikes are very orderly, with almost all major trains between cities guaranteed to run. They begin and end on schedule. But you are in France and sincerely, bon chance!

Sorry, part of a sentence dropped out. Of the 54 rooms Booking.com showed as available, six were less than 150€ per night with same amenities (in Paris).

Merci Sandralist. Yes we have a room just in case. I didn't use booking.com because I thought I would have to pay for it upfront and I would not be able to cancel.

Ackislander, hmmm, very interesting. Just get on a train heading south? Let's hope we don't have to test that but good info! They say 1 in 3 trains are on schedule now

I think just getting on a train heading south sounds like an excellent adventure!

Mary good luck to you.

And I don't mean to make this about me, sorry, but I had a mild panic attack reading that there will be an air traffic control strike when I'm schedule to leave Paris on June 26. Now I certainly don't mind staying an extra day or two in Paris, but I sure don't want to be stuck sleeping in a cot at CDG.

Advice anyone? I'll be flying CDG-ORD on United.