My daughter and I are arriving in Paris Monday October 21st at 8:45 am we have to get to our chateau in the champagne de Châlons area ( chateau de Mairy) check in isn’t till 3:00. How do you recommend we travel there. I saw the tgv goes to champagne de ardenne which is about 30 min from our chateau. It seems that fans are very expensive. Is it worth us taking a private driver from the airport and stop in epernay on the way since we have time? If so whom do you recommend. Thank you
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3713 posts
The Champagne-Ardenne station is about an hour from the Chateau. Will you need a car while at the Chateau? Maybe take the train and then rent a car or take a private driver from the station. From CDG, you are looking at around 500€ for a private driver. So if you think "fans" are expensive, I am not thinking a private driver is for you.
Posted by
80 posts
Closest train option would be CDG - champagne ardenne - chalons en champagne and then take a taxi to where you are staying. Cheapest price will be 32.80 per person plus 20 minute taxi cost. It looks like there was a limited bus service from chalons en champagne to mairy sur marne but the line doesn't seem to be active anymore and in any case would only be a couple times a day. If you only go to champagne ardenne the taxi will be much more as it's a 50 minute drive.
Best option is to rent a car. Pretty much anyone going to that domaine is going there by car. Driving from CDG to chateau de mairy is not a problem. Takes about 2 hours, bit longer if you go across to epernay (worth it) and you can make stops along the way. It's a pleasant drive. Can get a rental for a week for $180 or so, less for less days.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you so much.
Is it safe to rent a car in France if I don’t speak the language? Getting around may be extremely tricky!🙀 Do you need a special drivers license to drive in a foreign country.? Would it be best to take the Train to champagne Ardenne tgv and take a cab to the chateau? We are staying there for only 3 nights and my daughter is in photography training so I’ll be trying to tour around the area. Just want to be wise and safe
Thank you all again
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3713 posts
Yes, it is safe to rent a car in France. I would not drive all the way from CDG for safety reasons relating to jetlag but other than that safety is not really an issue for a non-French speaker renting cars. Assuming that you speak and read a language that uses the Latin alphabet, you should be fine. Just read up on driving rules in France. There is some debate on the topic but IMO, you should be sure to get an IDP which along with your regular license (assuming you are from the US) will be all you will need. The car rental place will not ask for the IDP. If I were staying at Chateau de Mairy for three days, I would definitely rent a car. There are car rental places at the Champagne-Ardenne station.
Posted by
Paris
6918 posts
You definitely need to rent a car in order to stay at that place. Otherwise you will be stuck.
But rather than rent a car at CDG Airport, I would recommend that you take the train to Champagne Ardenne TGV and rent a car there: the drive will be much shorter, and very easy in the countryside.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7333 posts
You may find our web host’s general guidelines (blue menu top center or left) about trains and cars to be useful.