We are headed to Rouen from Paris to rent a car and travel Normandy. Our plans at this moment is to rent in Rouen and back track the next day to Giverny, luggage presents a problem the day before.. I had the brain storm that perhaps we could rent a car, at a location somewhere along the rail line to Rouen, closer to Giverny.
.This is the first time we have rented a car and we prefer to avoid driving near Paris.
Any great ideas out there? Familiar with towns, train stations with car rentals?
Posted by
11205 posts
Pick up a car in Paris near the Peripherique( highway). We picked ours up at a train station.
Posted by
OP
Darmouth, MA, USA
352 posts
Thanks Suki - name of train station?
Posted by
6 posts
I can't say which train station Suki was referring to; we are currently debating between renting in either Mantes la Jolie, or Vernon. Both have train stops and car rentals.
Posted by
the Middle Coast
292 posts
Mantes-la-Jolie has rental offices closer to the train station than Vernon if I am thinking correctly. My initial thought was Vernon to be closer to Giverny when you pick up a car but with luggage you might prefer something very close to the station, so that would tip things in favor of Mantes-la-Jolie.
Posted by
Paris
6920 posts
Mantes la Jolie is a very good option, as it's also significantly cheaper to reach than Vernon - especially if you have a Navigo Découverte for your Paris stay: it's free! However, the car rental offices might have limited hours. So, if you have trouble with that, renting from the porte Maillot or La Défense areas in Paris will work as well.
Posted by
73 posts
We rented at Gare du Nord in paris; complete nightmare. Once we did the paperwork they sent us to a nearby building to get the car that we initially couldn’t find. Then we couldn’t find the elevator (you have to go down 5 levels). When we finally found the car there was no attendant to review it with us for damage and show us how everything worked. Then we discovered there was no gas in the car. We had to schlep our luggage back to the desk and do everything over. The car manual was in French only, and the on-screen info in the car was also in French. We discovered that Google Translate doesn’t translate car manuals. We had to stop the next day at the Avis place in Vernon for help. Not to mention the nail-biting traffic getting out of Paris. Do not want to rent anywhere near Paris ever again. Returning to CDG airport was also a nightmare.