We will need to get home - train or plane?
 

Hello, After two months travel our last place will be Oberwesel. From there we have to make our way to Paris CDG where we catch our flight home. I am trying to decide if it would be better to catch a train to Frankfurt and then fly to Paris or use the trains. Cost is not a factor (Air France has a great special on), but convenience, ease of changes and more importantly being able to enjoy our last breakfast in Germany and not rush about are key factors. We need to arrive at the airport by 5.30pm on Saturday 23 April. I could not work out if there were any fast trains (our ideal) from anywhere close to the airport TGV station. Thank you for your help.

I don't know which web site you looked at for trains. If you look at www.bahn.com, you will find out it takes more than 6.5 hours to travel to CDG from Oberwesel. If the Breakfast time is usual 8am, then you can make it to CDG by 5:30pm with many train changes. Flying is more attractive.

It is risky to be so far from the departure airport on the departure day.

Hi Greg, thank you for replying. We weighed up the risk but having one extra day was too hard to resist so we will make sure we have insurance. I did check the trains and even though it takes 7 hours (I thought that there were fast trains from places near Oberwesel but don't know how to find which ones) but even with 7 hours I am wondering if it is less risk than flights that might be delayed. It would be on HOP air.

We booked flights on HOP last year a few months in advance. The in-bound flight was cancelled about 2 weeks prior to the date with no alternative offered, and the return flight departure time was changed.

If going by train, I'd want the fewest changes. Since you said cost was not a factor, you could eliminate one train by taking a taxi from Paris to CDG.

You do not want to be traveling HOURS to get to your departure airport. It almost sounds like you <i>want</i> to miss your flight . . .

That had better be a good travel insurance policy.

Hahaha, truth be told it will be hard to go home. I love Europe dearly. We were so called "stranded" by the volcanic ash some years ago and it was wonderful! We made the most of the extra time.

We have seen a lot of Paris but have not been to the Rhine area before and we did not want to lose a day. Having said that I am now a little worried so am thinking that it would be better to skip the lovely hotel breakfast and leave early in the morning to leave more time for any delays.

Our flight is only at 10pm and we are blessed to be able to go to the Cathy Pacific Class First Class lounge (thanks to flying so often) and we will shower and relax there. I made our arrival time at the airport by 5.30pm to give us a buffer.

So following the advice so far:

There is a train that leaves Oberwesel at 7.33 and arrives in Paris Est at 12.50 - ICE train - (only one change).
Lunch somewhere in airport vicinity OR go straight to airport?
Taxi to Airport

If all this still sounds risky then please posters let me know.
Thank you for your replies.

Hi jinz,

Well, there's a departure from Oberwesel at 11.30 that gets into Paris at 16.50 after only 1 change. Or an earlier departure at 09.26 with arrival at 15.59 after 2 changes. Either one of those will give you your last breakfast and a woarkable arrival at CDG.

Have fun as you plan!

s