Where should we pick up our rental car in France?
 

Our plan is to go to Givnery on the way out of Paris but since lots of folks on here say not to drive in Paris, in what town would everyone suggest we pick our car up?

Merci,
Amy

BTW--
We'll be heading towards the Normandy beaches.

Hi L,

If you want to avoid driving in Paris, you coould pick up the car at ORY airport, but there will be an extra fee.

Have you called www.autoeurope.com and asked about where to pick up the car that is most convenient to the perimeter road?

((I))

Thanks Ira,
I will contact them and see what they have to say.

We've gotten cars twice IN Paris, for day trips. Once was with Avis right next to St. Sulpice (in an underground garage). The directions to leave there and gain direct access to the highway and head straight to Giverny was simple as could be. I see no reason to spend money and time taking transport clear out to Orly or another town, when that is so easy. Another time we picked one up at Montparnasse. Equally easy.

But no I wouldn't normally rent a car and "drive all around" IN Paris. Nor would I take any route that included having to circle Concorde!

Why not pick it up at Giverny from :

GARAGE DE GIVERNY
6 CHEMIN BLANCHE HOSCHEDE MONET
27620 GIVERNY
tél : 0608819584
tél : 0232512814
fax : 0232518993





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Look for a rental agency at the Porte Maillot or La Défense. For the former, the agency should have an address with the postal code of either 75016 or 75017.

Thanks for all the helpful hints!!

NeoPatrick-
I looked at Avis and they were $100 more than autoeurope.

So if we were heading towards Giverny, Montparnasse would be a good stop to pick up a car? Autoeurope doesn't seem to have a spot at St. Sulpice.

Merci,
Amy

Okay, here are autoeurope's choices for Paris. Which would be the best choice for heading out of Paris towards Givnery?

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*Paris Gare De Lyon Railstation
193 Rue De Bercy

*Paris Railstation - Gare Nord
Rue De Dunkerque

*Paris Montparnasse Rrs
Gare Sncf

*Paris Gare De L'est
Place Du 8 Mai 1945

*Paris Austerlitz Railstation
Cours Des Arrivees

*Paris Disneyland Tgv Station
Marne De Vallee

*Paris City Office - Invalides
Esplanade Des Invalides

*Paris St. Lazare Railstation
92 Rue St. Lazare

*Paris Downtown Office
399 Rue De Vaugirard

*78, Rue Du Rocher

*82 Avenue De La Grande Armee

*82 - 86 Avenue De Stalingrad

*100 Boulevard Francois Arago

*Paris South West Office
40 Rue Michel Tassign

*145 Avenue Malakoff

*Esplanade Des Invalides

*48 Rue De Berri

*5 Avenue D' Italie

*Parc Des Princes

*225 - 231 Rue De La Garenne

*17-21 Boulevard Romain Rolland

*Face 8 Avenue Foch

*Boulevard De Courcerin

*88 Rue De La Roquette

*27 Place St Ferdinand

*Carrousel Du Louvre

*Parc Des Princes,16th District

*24 Blvd De La Mission Marchand

*213 Blvd Vincent Auriol

Since I do not have the postal code or area for the other streets, I would take Parc des Princes which is on the west side of Paris.

Does it make any difference to you how much the rental is going to cost? Many of those locations you list represent various agencies. AutoEurope is a broker for many of them. If you commit yourself to a single location, you may end up paying a couple hundred dollars more than if you commit to picking up at another location.

I would think Montparnasse and Esplanade des Invalides would work well for you based on my experience. So would Rue Vaugirard. Many of those I have no idea where they are.

My suggestion is to CALL AutoEurope, tell them where you are staying, and ask what agencies they have near there. Or say you're looking for easy access out of the city and to the northwest. (although once you reach the periphique, any direction becomes easy.) They will also be able to do a price comparison. My experience has been that most of their phone agents are very knowledgeable and can help you find exactly what you need and price it for you at the same time.

I have rented several times from hertz. The pick up that is the most easy is in the parking garage at the Louvre. It is called the carousel de Louvre. You exit on to Rue Rivoli and it is a straight shot out of town - for the most part you just go with the traffic.

Okay, got it reserved. Thanks for all your help!!

Littlehouse,
I am going to Normandy next month. Where did you end up renting your car? Were you just renting it for the day trip?