Paris Airport to Train station

from cdg you can take a train ride into town and then tranfer to the train station. probably take you 1 to 1.5 hours.

If the timing is right, you can take a TGV directly from CDG to Lyon and not have to go into Paris at all. Direct TGVs depart CDG at 06:54, 07:25, 08:21, 09:25, 12:58, and 13:54. You can also depart at 10:27 on a TGV to Massy, changing there to a TGV to Lyon.

Otherwise you'll need to get from CDG to Gare de Lyon to catch TGVs from there to Lyon. You can take the RER B to Gare du Nord, transferring to the RER D to Gare de Lyon. Fare: 8.20€. Or you can take Air France coach #4 directly from CDG to Gare de Lyon. Fare: 14€. The RER route will take just under an hour. The Air France route will take a little over an hour, but the exact time will depend upon traffic conditions.

Thank you Tim,We have never driven in Europe,but the roads look challenging.We LOVE to drive,our plan is to fly into Paris then find our way down to Provence and Riviera.Not doing Nice too city. would it be better to fly like to Marsaille then pick up a car.We will be there about 18 days,when we pick up the car do we apply for a license there??heard we can get a SENIOR discount on the trains,we did not want to change trains,heavy luggage,but if it is significantly less we would consider that..THANK YOU Diane

Having a car is definitely the best way to see small town and rural Provence. You'll need a detailed map. See here: http://tinyurl.com/2pybcc. You can buy Michelin maps that cover smaller areas and are even more detailed on the same site.

I recommend renting from Auto Europe, a consolidator that finds you the best rate from among the companies with which it has contracts. While you can book online at www.autoeurope.com, call the toll-free number to ask about specials that aren't on the site.

All you need to rent a car is your US driver license, but I recommend you get an International Driver Permit from your local AAA office. It's a translation into eight languages of the essential information on your regular license and will make the French police happy if you should need to deal with them.

If you are art lovers, don't bypass Nice. Nice and the surrounding area have the best art museums in France outside of Paris. The Chagall and Matisse museums in Nice are outstanding!

Thank you Tim for all your information,really appreciated.Is there any where you would recommend as a B&B or small apt??? We are art lovers so thank you for the heads up about Nice,will really enjoy these 2 museums.We feel better about driving and getting around now that we have more infomation..Thanks again Diane

If you book far enough in advance (up to 90 days allowed) at www.voyages-sncf.com, you can get Prem's fares as low as 22€ for CDG-Lyon. These are non-exchangeable and non-refundable so be sure to allow at least two hours between your scheduled arrival at CDG and your departure on a TGV.

My wife and I spent three nights in la Maison de Mistral, a B&B in Joucas which is near Roussillon in the Luberon area of Provence. See here: http://tinyurl.com/32ts4t. The rooms named Marine and Manon overlook a gorgeous valley. The other rooms are in the back and are up against the hillside.

Back to the Cote d'Azur: There is a wonderful Picasso museum at Antibes which has a special section featuring the artist's paintings on pottery. Museums we ran out of time to see include the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul and the Leger museum in Biot.

Buy the Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera guidebook. For even more detail, buy the Lonely Planet Provence & the Cote d'Azur guidebook.

Tim, Again we can not Thank you enough...HAPPY TRAVELS Diane

One more thing, Diane. Even though you'll be renting a car and not dragging luggage on and off trains very often, it pays to pack light. Do NOT leave any luggage inside the car when you're away from it. Why rent a bigger car than you might otherwise need just to have a trunk large enough to accommodate all your luggage?

Tim, Would you suggest Barcelona as a starting point instead of Paris??When we rent our car is it easy to cross the border into France?? We have not made up our minds yet. I have been to Paris before so it is not necessary, but looking for least expensive flights...Thank You Again Diane

I haven't been to Barcelona so I can't comment on where would be the best place to start. However, I do know that if you pick up a car in one country and drop it off in another, you are likely to have to pay a hefty drop-off fee. It may be cheaper to turn in your first car near the border of the first country, take public transportation across the border, and then pick up a second car.

Diane, if you want to spend time exploring Provence and the French Riviera, you should get a flight that takes you there (Marseilles or Nice), not to Paris. Especially if you have a lot of luggage. Why complicate things?

I don't understand your question about Barcelona, in this context. Go there by all means if that is what you want to do, but not as a gateway to Provence, which is a good six hours away.

Good luck!