CDG to Bayeux/Caen...Train or Rental Car?

This exact question has been asked before on the forum and most people thought it would be quicker to rent a car at the airport than to travel by train via central Paris - the trains on that route are not TGV.

However, what worries me is that you'll be arriving first thing in the morning. It might not be safe to drive at all the day after an all-night flight, especially in a strange country. I would travel to Bayeux by train all the way.

Yes, we are returning to Paris after our trip to Bayeux. There are two of us who can drive and we're not in a hurry so if we need to stop along the way it won't be a problem.

The easiest thing for you to do is climb aboard the train from Paris to Caen and pick up your rental car there. There is a very very small car rental in Bayeux operated from a nearby gas station which is not the most user-friendly option (I know because I did it). Driving in Paris is not fun and not for the faint of heart...and probably not for tired post transatlantic flight passengers. Yes, you can actually rest and recuperate a bit on the train. Be sure to pick up some snacks in the airport or the train station for your train trip - that will definitely make life more enjoyable.

We traveled from Paris to Caen on the train after flying into CDG at 7:00 am and it was a nice way to transition. Picking up a car in Caen is no problem as the rental cars are across the street from the train station and the trip to Bayuex is not very far (20 miles or so). The only problem might be that some of the rental car outlets are closed on Sunday.

We are considering this same scenario, and I had settled on getting rental car at CDG simply because it seemed like it would be a hassle to train from CDG, switch stations, etc. I found the below on the Paris by Train forum. Now, granted, I have no idea about early morning traffic, getting out of CDG in the direction of Bayeux, so any opinion on that from someone with experience?

Take the RER B; Direction: Massy-Palaiseau
Exit at Gare du Nord
At Gare du Nord walk (underground) to the RER E station at Magenta
From Magenta take RER E; direction Haussmann-St-Lazare
Exit at Haussmann-St-Lazare
Walk (underground) to Gare St. Lazare for train to Caen/Bayeux

Thanks!

As someone who has driven after getting off a transatlantic flight, I have to advise you not to do this. My driving limit is about an hour on that first day. Don't underestimate how tired you might be. And driving in Paris...definitely not advisable in your scenario. Or any scenario for that matter! Take the train to Caen and get your car there.

If you've driven in France before, then I would consider picking up the car at CDG and driving to Bayeux. I've done this myself after a transatlantic flight, and I didn't have any problems. You stay north of Paris when you drive from CDG to Normandy, and although the traffic can be heavy, it isn't as nasty as the Prepherique (the Paris ring road). Taking the RER into Paris, changing lines and then finally getting to St. Lazare with all that luggage and two teenagers is no picnic.

Thanks so much for all the terrific info! It sounds like a train to Caen is the way to go. We will probably take a taxi to the train station and then go from there. I assume this is much easier than the RER and following directions as bleary-eyed travellers.

mary,

It's great that you've decided to take the train for the first part of your trip rather than renting a car at the airport. Driving after a long international flight has been compared to driving in an impaired state, so really not the best idea. Since you likely won't arrive at the car rental office until late in the day you could perhaps go directly to Bayeux, get a good nights sleep and then rent the car the following day. Saving one night on the rental would be a benefit for me (since it will be sitting in the car park gathering dust shortly after you rent it). As I recall, there's also a small car rental office in Bayeux (Hertz?) that operates out of a gas station.

Note that each driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These can easily be obtained at any AAA office for a small charge and are valid for a year.

T -

We're on the same page. I appreciate the concerns about driving after the flight, esp if you've never experienced it and don't know how it will affect you. We've done it before and are usually full of adrenaline on that first day anyway (at least until later in the day). Husband was stationed in Naples ... he does pretty good in crazy driving situations. :)

Thank you for all of the very helpful advice. We now plan to take the train from Paris to Caen and rent a car there. Happy travels everyone!

We plan to do the same drive from CDG to Bayeux but not right after a transatlantic flight. How easy is it to rent a car from CDG and drive to Bayeux and on to MSM.

If you've got a credit card and a driver's license it's rather easy to "rent a car" at CDG. Now, can you actually DRIVE out of CDG and follow obscure signs in a different language and get to where you want to be without having a major fender bender or getting lost in the sprawl of the city? That's a different question about ease of rental cars.

We did the train to Bayeux and had pre booked booked a car at the Hertz/ petrol station at Vaucelles just about 500 m down the road. I walked down and despite having school boy French and the attendant less English, it was fine. Printed booking forms and credit cards are universal language. There is also a car agency nearer the station.
Just make sure the car is powerful enough as we ended up with a Chev Spark,one of the Korean GM products and it had little spark on the freeway down to Mont St Michel as large trucks thundered last. 'Change down!' Said my wife but I was in second! And we in Australia drive on the left so no power,dodgy gear change and driving on the right kept me alert. We changed it to a GM Opel Astra,which we have in Oz and it was a powerhouse! Well,in comparison. Go for more size and power than you want to pay for!