Big Picture Itinerary Question

Ignore this if you've already tried this, but not everyone is aware of it. First, clear all the cookies on your computer. Many sites use them to keep up with your search history and will increase the prices the more times you go to the site. Second, rather than pricing two one way tickets, use the multi-city option to price U.S. to Paris and Nice to U.S.

David, Is there a reason you want to book this as two one way flights as opposed on one open-jaw (multi-city) roundtrip ticket?

FYI- there is really cheap airfare on Norweigen airlines out of Oakland/SF to Paris and out of Nice and back. They are not everyday, so the days will have to match your plans.

When you search for airfare choose "muti- city" rather than one way or round trip. Just put in your arrival city and then your exit city. You get the same thing as two one way tickets, essentially.

There are not generally drop fees if you rent and drop in the same country. The fees are terrible renting in one country and dropping in another.

I would like to invite you to our travel meeting on the third Saturday of each month at 10:00 located at Panera Bread on Truxel in Sacto. We have a big group that meets and people can answer any questions you may have.

There are not generally drop fees if you rent and drop in the same
country.

The operative word is "generally." Last Spring we paid a drop fee of 50E for a one week rental in France.

I very much appreciate the information from these four responses. My take away is to proceed with the plan as it can be made to work. I hope to join the local travel group that responded.

I did a similar trip, but finished in the Alps to take advantage of cheap, Icelandair flights (into Paris, home from Geneva). Could be an option for you, depending on your sightseeing priorities.

-Matt

We have flown open jaw to Europe every year for the last 25 plus years. It is no more expensive to fly into one city and out of another than the average of a round trip to each city. Since Nice is not a major destination from the US, it might be a little more expensive than a round trip from the US into Paris but it won't be anything like two one way trips. Every site has a 'multi destination' option which is what you use for open jaw flights. Last year we flew into Vienna and out of Paris, the year before into Paris and out of Amsterdam, the year before that into Paris and out of Madrid. Easy to arrange.

some agencies will charge a drop fee to return in the same country, most don't. It is nothing like the several hundred Euro drop fee across borders. Avoid Hertz which charges drop fees; you should be able to choose one on one of the consolidators that does not.

Yes, Hertz does charge a €50 drop fee in France if not returned to pick up location. But, if you come across a special rate or discount for the rental you can sometimes beat other companies' prices even with the drop fee - I did.

If you get a really really good round trip flight to Paris you could always do that - land in Paris, take the train to Nice and rent the car there, do your road trip ending in Paris, drop the car and fly home from there. That's what I actually ended up doing because the flight was so much cheaper and the order of my stops on the road trip portion could easily be arranged to make that work.

Lots of thought and planning goes in to finding what works best for you.