What is the easiest, quickest way to get from CDG to Vernon? We want to rent a car in Vernon and head to Saint-Saens in Normandy. We will spend 5 or 6 days visiting Saint-Saens, Dieppe, Honfleur, Bayeux, the D-Day beaches, and Mont St. Michel. Then we will return the car in Vernon, visit Giverny, and take the train to Paris.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3021 posts
iamchickaddd,
Vernon is a relatively small town. You would take a train from Gare St Lazare in Paris. I recommend taking a taxi to the station from CDG, then a train from there. The taxi will have a fixed rate and cover up to 4 people with luggage. Renting a car in Vernon may be problematic, however, as it is a small town with limited options of cars and not long hours of operation. I wouldn't bother going there to get my car if you wouldn't be visiting Giverny at that time.
I suggest taking the train al the way to Rennes and getting a car there, seeing Mont St Michel, driving to your other destinations in Normandy (Bayeux, Honfeur, etc.), then driving to Vernon and visiting Giverny. Leave the car there and take the train to Paris. If there is an added fee for leaving the car at another location, it should be quite small. If you opt to skip Vernon on your way to the coast, you will need to take a train from Gare Montparnasse instead of Gare St. Lazare.
There is (I believe) the option of a TGV from CDG to Rennes, which would avoid the Paris train station. I don't know the frequency or times, but it is worth looking into to see if the timing is good after your flight arrival. With just a tweak of your arrival day you might spend less time on your arrival day dealing with transportation issues......Just a thought.
Posted by
Paris
7832 posts
If you don't follow the good suggestion to take the train to Rennes first, which implies reversing your whole trip, I would rent the car at CDG and return it in Western Paris or Mantes-La-Jolie, after the Giverny visit.
CDG to Saint-Saëns is a 2-hour drive that's not prone to traffic if you go via Beauvais; it should be fine to do that after your flight. Any longer is a bit iffy due to tiredness, but this should be okay.