My group of 4 plan on renting a car in Paris. We will be leaving around 8 am on a Monday morning in August. We will be heading to Germany via Reims. It looks like it will take the same amount of time to reach either CDG or Orly from our lodging in Paris. It also looks like it will take about the same time to reach our destination from either location. This is our first time to rent a car in Paris, is one airport easier to navigate than the other? Or will traffic conditions and routes be better from one or the other? Gare du Nord rental is also an option, but starting out that deep in the city concerns me. Thanks for any suggestions.
Posted by
Paris
6879 posts
Gare de Lyon would be the best location. A few hundred yards from the start of the highway to Reims (Quai de Bercy). August has lighter traffic on weekdays, and you'd be going against the flow anyway.
Or Reims would work too, especially if you plan to stay there.
By the way, you're not renting in France and dropping in Germany are you? That's very expensive.
Posted by
Paris
9549 posts
You could also consider taking the fast train to Reims and then renting a car there. Just an idea.
In any event, Gare de Lyon is much better than heading out to one of the airports (by the time you get to CDG, you could have arrived in Reims on the TGV).
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I generally train out of the big cities and pick up a car when I need it to explore smaller towns. If you're heading to Germany. It might be worth it to use the train until you're in Germany and pick up a car there (so you don't drop in a different country). Will you come back into France to drop the car?