We are flying into Paris and then going to Normandy/Brittany for 5 days. Any suggestions on whether to rent a car at CDG for the trip to Normandy or rather take a train to Rouen and rent a car there? Also, if renting a car at CDG, is it difficult to return to CDG? Our last night outside of Paris would be in Dinan so we would be returning to Paris from the west/northwest (Chartres).
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You can get the car at the airport and be in Rouen faster than you can get into Paris, metro between train stations and, even step onto the train northbound. Getting out of and back into the airport is easy and well-marked. The last part of your question is confusing. Dinan is, indeed, northwest of Paris. Chartres is southwest. If you're heading back to Paris (not the airport) from Dinan, drop the car at Nord. If from Chatres, at Montparnasse. I might want to modify the preceeding paragraph if I knew your apporach path and rental agency. Options abound.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
We like to stay overnight in Paris then train to Caen and fetch our rental car across the street from the RR station. We stay in rural Normandy at a wonderful farmhouse B&B, near Villers-Bocage, then return the car to Caen and train back to Paris. We avoid Paris traffic and with our GPS and a Michelin map, Normandy and Brittany are at our feet. Perfect.....
Posted by
Florida
186 posts
George,
After having just returned a couple weeks ago from a great vacation there, my personal opinion is your recommendation makes great sense.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
11128 posts
How you handle it, Ed's way driving directly or George's way taking a break with a night in Paris first followed by the train, depends on how much you are affected by jetlag and an overnight plane ride. Some people have been traveling for so many years and so often for work or pleasure, that they have very little jetlag and fatigue upon arrival. Others hit a wall.