My husband and 2 friends will be traveling on the Eurostar next May, arriving in Calais on a Sunday. In trying to book a car for them, I see that there are several alternatives listed, all closed on Sunday. First, does anyone know where is the best pickup for a car hire in Calais, having come in by Eurostar? And second, does anyone have any thoughts on car hire on a Sunday? It would be difficult to change their itinerary at this point, but not impossible. Thank you in advnce.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
864 posts
Well I tried Avis and indeed they are closed on Sunday. Who would have thought! There's always staying the night in Calais. Will be very interested to know how this pans out as we are planning something similar in the Spring and frankly it wouldn't have occurred to me that the car rental agency would be closed on a Sunday, well, it should have but it didn't. Really, I've been caught up in the local version of the "bringing home the goats festival" which everyone, I mean everyone knows about of course! (That is unless you're not a local - lol.) Please PM when you get the low down.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The other thing, if you didn't already know, is that Eurostar trains arrive in Calais at Frethun station which is a long way out of town. There's a timetable for shuttle buses at http://www.calais.fr/article/navettes-des-gares-calais-ville which is unfortunately French-only but should be comprehensible (Sunday in French is "dimanche"). I assume buses are timed to connect with trains.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The Auto Europe site lists lists Sunday hours of 14:00-18:30 in Calais. Or you could take the Eurostar to Lille rather than Calais. The Auto Europe site lists Sunday hours that would coincide better with the Eurostar arrival times.
Posted by
OP
Reno, Nevada, USA
195 posts
Thanks, guys....very helpful. For some unknown reason I hadn't even thought of LILLE as an arrival point and that works much better!!! Also was not aware of the train station being so far out of town in Calais. So this is all helpful info. Yes, I knew of the posted hours on Auto Europe's site, but the rep told me that requires an additonal fee of upwards from 50 euros for special pickup. Was hoping to avoid any 'special' fees!! Lille will work well. Do you know if the station listed on Kemwell site...EuropeETgvVRail..Gare de Lille is the Eurostar arrival point? It sounds as if it is, but not sure.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33823 posts
Two things - France, Germany, and Belgium take Sunday closings seriously. Try to put fuel in your car on a Sunday in France and you may try for a little while. Lille has two nearly adjacent stations. Lille Europe is where most TGVs and all Eurostars arrive, and Lille Flandre where some TGVs and all local trains arrive. Don't know which would have your car place, might well be the far end of Lille Europe, past the rope.