On our last day in Paris, we're flying out of Orly at 6:30pm. To make the most efficient use of the day, I'm thinking we could take a morning train to Melun and see Blandy-les-Tours and Vaux le Vicomte and take a train from Melun to Villeneuve at 3pm and take a cab from there to Orly to arrive at the airport by 4pm.
Questions: Is this a bad idea (or a great one)? Is there a place to store our luggage at the train station in Melun? Thanks!
Will you have enough time to see both and get to the train station by 3 PM given that opening time is 10 AM. There is no luggage storage at the train station in Melun. You'll have to do something else with your luggage like maybe have it picked up by a service and then delivered to you at Orly. You did not ask but, the most efficient way to get to Vaux le Vicomte from Paris to to go to Verneuil l’Etang (no luggage storage here either) from Gare de l'Est and catch the dedicated shuttle bus. It used to be that you would go to Melun and I have done both and going via Gare de l'Est is easier. By the way, which train line are you planning to take from Melun? Do you mean Villeneuve-le-Roi, Villeneuve-St-George or some other Villeneuve (there are a lot of Villeneuves)?
I was planning on taking the train to Melun, but now it looks like I'll be going to Verneuil I'Etang instead. Thank you for the tip.
I don't know which train I'd be taking from Melun, or if I will at all - is it easy to get from Verneuil I'Etang to Orly Airport?
And can I store my luggage at Verneuil I'Etang?
If it doesn't work out that we can go on our last day, then we're going to go one day during the week.
There is no luggage storage at Verneuil l'Etang train station. Luggage storage is limited to major stations like most of the ones in Paris. You still did not say which Villeneuve you are planning to go to to get the cab to Orly but if it is Villeneuve St Georges, it is on the RER D line, which is the same RER line that serves Melun station. Having never gotten off the train at Villeneuve St Georges, I have no idea how easy it is to get a taxi from there to Orly. Nor do I know how easy it is to get from Verneuil l'Etang to Orly. You can probably get a sense of that at https://www.ratp.fr/en or https://www.transilien.com/en. My guess is that the trip will take about 2 hours by mass transit from either town to Orly but I know that the trip from Melun to Villeneuve St Georges via RER D is about 40 minutes and there is a shuttle bus from Villeneuve St Georges to Orly -- just google "Orly bus Villeneuve St Georges" for more information on that bus.
I'm afraid it's sounding like it's going to be more trouble than it's worth. I don't think I'm comfortable having out luggage picked up by a service and delivered to us at Orly, and we'd have to leave around 2. Thanks for your help, it'll come in handy on the day we go the chateau.
I think you are making an excellent decision. Plus if you leave from Paris, you always have options in case there is a problem with one way to get to the airport -- not so much if you are out in the unfamiliar 'burbs. Have a great trip.
