Orly vs. CDG for flights to/from Paris

Jean-Paul, Using ORY is generally easier as it's a smaller airport and not as "hectic" as CDG. Were you planning to fly directly into ORY from the U.S.? Orly is used mainly for domestic flights, and not sure whether they also have international flights? Yes, the public transportation out of ORY is "well established". The easiest method (IMO) is to use the RER "B" to Antony station and then the OrlyVal "people mover" to the airport. CDG and ORY are at opposite ends of the RER "B" line. ORY likely won't be as convenient for connecting with a TGV to Tours. From ORY you'd first need to travel by RER to Gare du Nord or one of the other large stations and then connect with the TGV. OTOH, there's a TGV station right at CDG so you could board the train at the airport and be in Tours in as short as 1H:56M (one change at St-Pierre-des-Corps). Happy travels!

Do flights out of the US even still land at Orly? Anyhow, if they do, you've got to get to Gare Monparnass to catch a train to Tours.

Open Skies flies Newark to Orly.

I stand corrected. Outfits with a flight a day and a fleet of two point six three airworthy machines just don't register sometimes. Do they code share with anybody but BA maybe?

Even if there are direct flights to ORY from the U.S., that still leaves the problem of connecting with a TGV to Tours. Using CDG would be the easiest and most direct method (IMO).

Super wild bet: Rungis to Montparnasse is under an hour. Rungis to Roissy is close to an hour and a half. There are more frequent trains to Tours from Montparnasse than from CDG.

@Ed, We had a good experience with Open Skies a few years ago. I'd fly them again but their price is way up. Using up miles instead. JP, Orly is much easier to deal with than CDG. Ed is right about Orly to Montparnasse for the train. You take the connection to the RER B, change at Denfert Rochereau to either the 4 line direction Porte de Clignancourt or the 6 line direction Etoile. They both go between the two. The six is better because it dumps you on the right side of the huge station for your train. I think it's even faster than Ed's estimate. Did a lot of living in that part of town. You can also take the Orlybus directly to Denfert and then catch the metro. Now let me throw something new in there: if by any chance you are going to rent a car in the Loire, why not just pick it up at Orly. It's a very easy drive from Orly down to Tours, quick freeway all the way.

To muddy the waters a little more, you could look at flying Delta/Airfrance from IND to Tours (St Pierre-des-Corps TGV station). The connection from CDG to Tours via TGV would be considered part of the airline ticket, so you would be "protected" if there was a delay arriving at CDG. Prices look good Dec-Jan. Who knows about summer.

If Sam's idea of buying a flight all the way to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station interests you, the "airport code" for that station is XSH. This code may only be recognized on Air France's website, however.