Hi, my husband, our almost 4 year old and I are planning on traveling to Lyon in July for a one month stay. We plan on landing in Paris early in the AM and either spending a few days there or heading straight for Lyon and then traveling from there around the country and maybe to Switzerland. Please let me know the best areas to stay - other than airbnb and VRBO do you recommend I look for short term rentals on any other sites. Should we take the bullet train from Paris or should we rent a card and drive. Please give me any and all tips you can think of, I appreciate it.
Posted by
233 posts
The TGV (bullet) train from Paris to Lyon is the way to go. You do not have to go through the hassle of going to a car rental agency in Paris, and then trying to navigate the often confusing streets to get to the freeway (also, if you leave Paris at rush hour, it will be even worse). and then in Lyons you do not have to drop off your car at the rental agency. Besides the train is very comfortable, and you can all watch the scenery as you go there. Peter
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you Peter!
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1659 posts
dvalero21,
For rentals for one month, try gites-de-france. We have found places to stay from a couple of days to almost two weeks through them. They have been around a long time and are an excellent source for all types of rentals.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
will search through there. thanks ou!
Posted by
Normandie
364 posts
If you prefer quiet surroundings, I would suggest the 6th arrondissement. Easy access to Parc Tête d'Or and the presqu'île via either bus or Métro, or just walk across the Rhône on one of the several bridges. Lots of grocery stores to choose from as well. The park has a free zoo that might be of interest to your son.
The boulangerie at the corner of rue Créqui and rue Lt. Col. Prévost has one of the best baguettes traditions in town. There's a very well-regarded traiteur on the corner of rue Duquesne and rue de Vendôme, called Pignol. And of course you shouldn't miss the chocolatier Bernachon on cours Franklin Roosevelt.
Be prepared for heat, and if your stay extends into August, be prepared for lots of businesses and restaurants to be closed.
TCL runs the excellent transit system, and weekly renewable passes are 23.20€. That pays for buses, trams, Métro (i.e. subway), and funiculars. Kids under 4 ride for free. In summer the Métro can be hot (and fragrant) so you might prefer buses, which are air conditioned. The weekly pass doesn't however, cover the RhônExpress light rail between the airport (Saint-Éxupéry) and gare Part Dieu.
And the badly needed expansion of the heavily overused Part Dieu area is ongoing, so there is construction work around there, as well as around Perrache, the second largest train station in town.
In town, a car is a liability because of parking issues. In mid-summer, there may be limitations on driving as well because of air quality problems. I would rely on transit and rent for a day or two if you need it to go somewhere out of town.
Posted by
90 posts
We have rented apartments for 1-3 month stays from Au Lyon Dort and from Cocoonr and been happy with both companies. Cocoonr offers more service (clean sheets provided even during long stay).
Lyon is small enough that it doesn’t take too long to get around. For tourist purposes, I’d probably recommend arrondissements 1-7 as 8 and 9 are a little further out.