Train options Bergheim (Alsace area)-Paris

I'd pick the Strasbourg option: shorter train ride, no need for transport from car return to train station, big city with more taxi if needed... We did day trip while staying at Riquewhir, driving is not bad, you can choose all freeway or local roads, or some freeway, some local.

Joby, I don't find Rome2Rio to be reliable. I have better results with Google Maps. Also, train schedules in April may be different than what you are seeing today.

I would choose either Colmar or Strasbourg depending on ease of drop off and ease of getting you and your belongings to the train station. I would also choose the 10ish departure depending on the fare difference.

I can't find the address 15 rue d'Agon in Colmar.

I would not pick any drop off before 9 am. (Or maybe 8 am if you have looked up the agency at know that they are open).

Dropping a car off to catch a 6:30 am train surely means leaving it for the agency people to look at later, leaving Tory self at risk of them deciding to charge you for some damage that you are not there to defend yourself against.

The 15 rue d'Agen address in Colmar is easily findable on Google maps, but you will want to be sure you have taxi or something reserved to get you to the train station from there.

Thanks everyone for the responses :)

jeanm--I don't really use Rome2Rio but, I like that it has different options and estimates on the same page. I just use it for that and a guesstimate. Yes, I like Google too!

Kim, my choice, if all things were equal would be--
TRAIN option Strasbourg-Paris: 08:52 AM–10:38 AM (quick trip into Paris and easy drop off at the train station)

BUT, I'm wondering if the traffic going into Strasbourg at that time of the morning on a Monday and the requirement of a Crit'Air sticker would come into play?

How easy/expensive might taxis be able to get in Colmar and Mulhouse from the car drop off to the train stations?

There is a bus stop around the corner from the Hertz location in Colmar called Fleischhauer at 16 Rue de le 1ere Armee Francais. It is about 800 ft walk to the bus stop for the "D" bus to Colmar station.

But I do think you can arrange a taxi to the station.

I do see 15 rue d'Agen. It would help if I spelled it correctly.

Colmar: there's an Avis office that currently opens at 9am on Mondays at the Colmar Station, so no taxi required.

The Hertz location, open at 8am, has a bus stop a few minutes walk with buses currently running every 10 minutes. My experience was that Colmar buses don't run exactly on time, so allow some extra time. If you need a taxi, you should prebook.

If Strasbourg is your preferred drop off, I would email your pick up location and inquire if it's possible to reserve a car with the Crit Air sticker.

Regarding trains from Colmar or Strasbourg to Paris, when reservations open up for your dates you will probably find better fares departing at 10ish than earlier trains frequented by business travelers. That was my experience.

Hi,
Would a bus to the train station in Colmar be a reliable way to get to the train station? How much time would you guesstimate it might take from waiting on the bus and the ride to the station total?

Are taxis reliable and timely when pre-arranged usually?

I did look at the Avis location, but the cost was about 200 euros higher than all of the other companies I looked at.

Are there any additional thoughts?

Bus is about every 10 minutes and takes 12 minutes to the station. Always figure you may arrive just as the bus is leaving, so a 10 minutes wait and 12 minute on the bus. Figure 10 minutes walk to the bus stop (but should be no more than 5).
Here is the site for the bus.
https://services.fluo.grandest.fr/en
Start is Fleischhauer and destination is Gare de Colmar. The website automatically adjusts the time to French time, so subtract that from your desired departure time. So for where I am, USA CDT, I have to put in 1:30 AM to get the schedule for 8:30 AM.

I would just figure on arriving at the Hertz office when they open at 8:30. Then you should be able to make the 10:01 train to Paris without any problems.

Joby, your trip is far off. If you can lock in a good rate now, do it. But, keep checking the rental agencies- Hertz, Avis, Auto Europe, whoever. The rates will probably fluctuate several times before your trip. Just keep rebooking when you find a better deal.

My experience with buses in Colmar was during a week in October 2023. Even with the schedule, there was sometimes a wait ranging from several minutes up to 15 minutes for the bus. I would consider the bus reliable. Just allow extra time to be safe.

The bus D that Sam mentioned that has a stop a few minutes walk from Hertz, is a 12 minute ride currently scheduled about every 8 to 10 minutes in the morning.

Check with your rental agency or b&b host regarding availability and pre booking of a taxi or ride share in Colmar.

Really helpful info, Sam and Jean! I appreciate it.

Another possible option--

Return the car to the Strasbourg airport (SBX-which is 20 minutes west of Strasbourg city--avoiding going directly into the city on a Monday morning) and take the train from SBX to Strasbourg train station and then on to Paris.

Thoughts?

Of course Strasbourg is an option. But, I thought the Crit Air sticker was a concern your trying to avoid.

Are you committed to Hertz?

I just did a quick car rental search for 2 weeks in April and I'm not seeing a huge difference between Avis and Hertz. However, I don't know your requirements: manual or automatic, electric, size, 2nd driver, where you're picking up (I think you said somewhere in the Loire Valley previously), .... Maybe you have AAA or some other discount that's making Hertz a better deal.

Have you looked at Auto Europe?

Hi Jean,

Yes, the Crit'Air sticker is a worry and we would need to make sure we had a car with one on it. The traffic driving INTO the city center of Strasbourg would not be a good situation it appears either. Dropping off at SBX would enable us to miss some of that traffic.

No, we're not committed to any of the main rental agencies. My search for our exact dates/times/places gave me that result. Auto Europe was considerably higher :( We would also like to go through the rental company itself, no 3rd parties if at all possible.

While I almost always say book direct, Auto Europe is an exception. They are a reliable company. If the rates drop with them, I wouldn't hesitate.

SBX keeps you out of heavier traffic, but it is still in the Crit Air zone.

Keep checking with Avis for better rates since drop off at Colmar train station would make things much easier for you.

And keep scouring the Internet for promo and discount codes that may help. AAA, AARP (min age 18 to join), frequent flyer programs...

I've never gotten the best car rental rates more than a couple months in advance.