Hi all, thanks for any help offered. My husband and I will be taking Eurostar into Paris in April to meet out son and family, who are flying in to CDG. They will rent a car and pick us up. Rather than rush a very early train ride from London and having them get us at Gare du Nord, I was thinking we'd come in the afternoon before and stay over somewhere along route. We're headed to Loches and looks like recommended route from airport is down to the ring road and left around the city and out.... I was thinking the 19th or 20th Arr. areas? OR, is it even necessary to stay out that way. Just figured the less they have to drive into central city the better.
Appreciate it... R and R
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5447 posts
I hope your family isn't really contemplating operating a vehicle for over 4 hours on strange roads after flying transatlantic! The potential for a serious consequence is not inconsequential. But perhaps they are coming in on a shorter intra European flight, so jet lag won't be a factor. Or pehaps you and your husband will be doing the driving. In which case, ignore this. You could arrive late afternoon/evening at Gare du Nord and at take the RER to CDG, and stay at one of the hotels at the Airport.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3993 posts
I think CJean's suggestion to spend the night at CDG is spot on. Meet your son at the airport. Anything could happen on the arrival day and they could be routed in a way that makes them getting you from the 19th or the 20th a total pain.
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2710 posts
Firstly, if I were driving from CDG to Loche, I would absolutely not approach the blvd Périphérique, if that is what you mean by "ring road". If you mean A86, also a "ring road" around Paris, that would likely be a lot better, with potentially less congestion. Before I left CDG, I would check traffic conditions as I find that exiting CDG to the east, taking N2 to connect with A104 (la francilienne) via A4 and A86 to A6/10 to be much faster, in spite of its being a longer route.
Secondly, I might consider everyone´s taking the train to St Pierre des Corps and renting a car from there. This would likely require your son meeting you at Gare Montparnasse in Paris. This could save time and would be my only choice if your family is arriving CDG after an all night transatlantic flight.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10637 posts
Tocard has given so many excellent suggestions about driving, renting after taking a train, etc.
If you still want to meet them "near" CDG, a CDG hotel, as suggested by the others, is your best option.
Posted by
Paris
10236 posts
I like what Tocard said about everyone meeting at St Pierre des Corps and going to Loches from there.
I can not even imagine how much of a hassle driving from CDG into somewhere in Paris like the 18th or 19th to meet someone at their hotel, pick them up, get their luggage in the car, and drive back out would be-- all while jetlagged, tired, sweaty and icky after arriving on an overnight flight. And how long it would take. I wouldn't dream of doing it, and I have lived here nearly 20 years and would have a rough idea of what I was doing.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33881 posts
if you are even mulling over driving on (and getting on and off) the blvd Périphérique, please read up on it - it has special rules which can cause you real headaches and loss of a lot of money if you don't understand them, and follow them.
Not a road for somebody driving in France for the first time.
Posted by
OP
Sebastopol, California, United States
104 posts
So grateful to all of you for the advice. Much better options. And I've been pushing for train. Will keep on it. Maybe if we meet them at the airport connection to train that would make it easier.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3993 posts
And the good news for you is that there are direct trains from CDG to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. The station there has at least two rental car locations and is less than an hour from Loches by car.