We will be crossing the English Channel by ferry, arriving in Ouistreham, Fr, and plan to rent a car. We are told that there is a shuttle that will run from Ouistreham to Caen until 5 pm each day. We would appreciate help in finding the car rental location that is closest to the shuttle that runs between Ouistreham and Caen.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
There are several major car rental agencies located around Caen train station (searchable on Google Maps) and it looks like Auto Europe will book through several of these. Buses also stop by the train station. At http://www.busverts.fr/, you can get schedules from Ouistreham Port to Caen Gare SNCF.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
We did the same trip a couple years ago. There is a bus at Ouistreham ferry terminal that takes you the 10 miles or so to the Caen railroad station and you will pass by the famous Pegasus Bridge, taken and held by British paratroopers on gliders on the night assault preceding D Day. There are at least 3 rental agencies right across the street from the RR station. We had booked through AutoEurope, based in the US, and had no problems at all. We picked up our car and headed to our rural B&B near Bayeux, about 15 miles. I would advise you to prebook your car since you might just get leftovers or even no car at all upon arrival. We had our own GPS with Normandy addresses we'd saved into favorites and it was a lifesaver, plus a Michelin map of Normandy. We toured Normandy and Brittany, returned the car at Caen, and hopped the train into Paris. It was really easy and hassle free.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Sixt are all across the street from the Caen train station.