paris

And I find Orly easier to navigate whenever I'm given the choice.

The city center is easily reached from either airport - - pick the one that's cheaper or has the fastest flight, in that order. If they're exactly even, I'd pick Orly. With no idea of where in Ardeche you're heading, it can't be more than a couple of hours' drive from Lyon - - maybe three if you're going way the heck up in the southern mountains. If you're going into the eastern portion, the first hour and a half will be four-lane freeway. For figuring costs/time from Paris to Lyon, if you drive it's about five hours with around fifty bucks in tolls, and seventy-five for gas with a small car. You're about to be bombarded with ideas of where to stay in Paris. For the short amount of time you have, you might want to draw a one-mile circle around Notre Dame and try to stay within it.

Been to both airports and personally prefer DeGaulle over Orly any day.

"You're about to be bombarded with ideas of where to stay in Paris. For the short amount of time you have, you might want to draw a one-mile circle around Notre Dame and try to stay within it" Well said, Ed. That's the perfect location for just a few days.

I agree completely with Ed on where to stay in Paris. I would stay in the 4th (Marais & Ile Saint Louis), the 5th (Latin Quarter) or the 6th (St. Germain). My favorite neighborhood of all is Ile Saint Louis (the little island east of Notre Dame).

I would suggest you get a copy of RS Paris Guide Book if you do not have it already. It had lots of good information we used in planning out Paris trip.