As part of our France May 2020 trip, we are departing from the Saint Pierre des Corps train station (near Tours) for 5 nights in the Dordogne region staying in Beynac. We plan to tour the area by car. When we depart Beynac, we are heading to the Bordeaux airport for a flight to Lyon.
Question: what is the best train route to take from Saint Pierre des Corps towards Beynac? We plan to rent a car at a train station and drive from there to Beynac. I wondered about taking the train from Saint Pierre des Corps to Bordeaux St. Jean station, then renting a car from there and driving to Beynac. Would this be the best/ fastest route? Keeping in mind on the day we depart Beynac, we are catching a 200pm flight at the Bordeaux airport so would need to return the rental car at either the train station or the airport. Also, what is the best/scenic driving route to get to Beynac (roadway numbers)? Lastly, what is the best car rental agency in France(e.g Europcar, Sixt, etc). Many thanks!
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
The bahn.de website, a good planning tool for rail travel, shows frequent TGV service from St-Pierre to Bordeaux, where you could rent a car and drive to Beynac and surroundings. Auto Europe is a US-based broker that works with all the major rental companies. I and others here have had good experiences with them. You should have no trouble renting at the station and returning at the airport.
Via Michelin helps you find driving routes, but take its time estimates with a grain of salt -- they don't account for traffic delays or any stops. A presumably scenic route up the Dordogne valley on N89 and D936 takes about three hours (plus traffic plus stops), there are slightly faster alternatives on presumably less scenic highways.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I often rent through Europcar but book through AutoEurope.com, which gives a good price comparison. You can pick up the car either at Saint Pierre des Corps TGV station or at Bordeaux St Jean station and later drop it at Bordeaux airport. Europcar doesn't usually have any extra fee to drop in a different French city. No reason to go to Bordeaux airport for the pick-up.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Many thanks Dick, Laura and Andrew for your suggestions and comments. Really appreciate the feedback. First time to France and trying to avoid higher traffic areas for driving. I may get back to you after the weekend when I spend some time plotting out the routes. Is driving out of the Bordeaux train station towards the Dordogne area chaotic? We plan to bring our GPS and get it programmed for France. Tracene
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7887 posts
Don't forget to check the car rental station days and hours. For example, at St P des C, all are closed 12-2 for lunch.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Was considering train from Saint Pierre des Corps to Limoges but the car rental agency at Limoges station is closed on May 21st 🙁 (and we have pre-booked accommodations so we need to arrive May 21). Just not sure we want to drive for over 5 hours from Saint Pierre des Corps to Beynac.
Thanks for the comment re: be aware of rental car closures between 12 and 2. Wasn’t aware of that.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Decided to rent car in Saint Pierre des Corps, drive to Beynac and return car to either the Bordeaux train station or Bordeaux airport.
Question: which is an easier drive (less traffic, road confusion) - to drop the car off at the Bordeaux train station or at the Bordeaux airport? We are flying out of Bordeaux at 200pm (check in 1200) but if it is an easier drive/less stressful to the train station, we can take a taxi/Uber from train to airport.
Thanks again.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks for the feedback Andrew. Drop off at the airport it is.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
As a side note, avoiding car return to Bordeaux train station is wise -- lots of construction in the surrounding area.