I plan on spending a week in the Dordogne region next summer. It looks to me like the closest airports to the area are Toulouse and Bordeaux. Does anyone have experience flying back to LAX from either of these airports? It looks like I will need to spend the night before in whichever city I fly from, which is fine. I will have a car and can drop it in my departure city. Any suggestions on the best airport/route to take? I will have come from Paris as I will start there and move south after a week in the city. I do not want to haul all the way back to Paris for a flight home. I know there are options, I would just like opinions on the best ones. Thanks so much!
Posted by
Peterborough, ON, Canada
1631 posts
We had to make the same choice (except flying to Toronto) in 2011 and went with Toulouse because it was a cheaper flight. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express right near the airport for our last night. Car drop off was incredibly easy; you can walk easily into the airport from the car rental area.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I've never used Toulouse airport, but flew home from Bordeaux, changing in AMS to JFK. It was an easy airport to use (don't remember details, which for an airport is always good, because that means no problems). Both TLS and BOD have flights to lots of European cities; you don't have to connect through Paris. In your situation, I'd look on http://www.kayak.com for flight options from both BOD and TLS to LAX, and choose the one closest to where you'll be finishing your trip, the one with the best routing (fewest changes, best times), the one that uses the airline you have more miles on (Star Alliance vs SkyTeam vs OneWorld), and of course, the one with the best price.
Posted by
OP
San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA
98 posts
Thank you for the replies. I really appreciate the information.
Posted by
Bordeaux, France
3 posts
I flew from LAX to BOD recently. BOD is a small airport and it was very easy to go through the line for the passport checks/leave the airport.
Posted by
Rockport, Maine, USA
98 posts
I have taken the TGV from Angouleme directly into CDG in order to connect to a flight back to US. Depending on your airline schedule, but you might want to consider taking the TGV back to CDG in lieu of flying back from the area. The TGV runs directly into the airport from Angouleme, Bordeaux and Limoges.
Drop car off night before and leave in morning. Can be at CDG no later that 12HR.