Bonjour! Our party of 4 will arrive at 10:30 a.m. at CDG, T2 on Saturday, April 20. Our rental car pickup will be in T1. Rick Steves says it may take 1 one hour just to get to T1. Anyone have experience doing this? Do we go pick up baggage and then go through customs in T2 and then try to find our way over to T1 on a train? Will that be clearly marked after we go through customs? I am just worried about having to circle back and find T1 after going through customs. Thank you for any ideas!
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
662 posts
lives4music03,
We have picked up rental cars at CDG. Go through immigration (not customs). Get your bags before going to get the car. After you have the car you will leave CDG. You don't want to be driving around the airport any more than necessary.
Posted by
4527 posts
You will have a customs check, and immigration, unless you went thru Iceland and did immigration there but the arrival time makes that unlikely.
Find your way to the light rail connector, called CDGVAL, take it to the last station (3 stops or so), then find the T1 rental car counters. Your car may require access via a paid parking structure, so you may need a card for that, or get a card while exiting then give it up to exit the paid area. It helps if you can read the signs (French only).
It's really easier to rent from T2 if that is your arrival.
It's no more than a 15 minute journey.
Do we go pick up baggage and then go through customs in T2 and then try to find our way over to T1 on a train?
YES
https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/image-files/cdg-map-full-size.jpg
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you, Tom. What do you mean when you say "you may need a card." Wouldn't that be something provided by the rental car company? And do you mean it will be interesting to read all the signs in French? We have some knowledge but with the stress of the car rental, leaving, I hope not to have this stress as well. I appreciate your insight and help!
Posted by
4527 posts
This was years ago and T1 has now been upgraded so things could have changed. But the rental cars then (20 years ago) were "behind" the paid parking area, on top of the terminal, so a person had to enter the paid area to leave, so a card needed. I think we were given a paper card at time of rental to get out of the paid area. I recall the return was very convoluted, needed to press a button to get the card, then drive through the paid parking, then at another place insert that card to get to the rental car return area.
Only United and Icelandair (from the US) use T1 so not too many here are familiar with the rental situation.
Posted by
PA, USA
67 posts
Can you change your reservation to pick up your car at Terminal 2 since you arrive there? If it's reserved through Autoeurope it's easy for them to make that change.