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Paris & beyond: Multiple questions, need advice

Posted by (Chicago) on

I've got multiple things to sort out for my trip to Paris and then a week elsewhere in France, the Paris bit is sorted out, in October ('09). I'm traveling with a friend from Australia, she will have 3 weeks for traveling, the first 2 of them with me. We've both been to parts of France and were trying to come up with what we haven't seen yet, between us we've been to Dijon, Lyon, Marseilles, French Riviera, Chamonix.

  1. (Oct 11-18) She has suggested we do a driving route via Orleans, Tours, Poitier, Limoges, ending in Toulouse where I will fly back to Paris and she will finish on her own visiting friends. Does this sound like a good itinerary?

  2. Car rental - we think this is the logical way as will give us more freedom. Who do you recommend for car rental companies that offers budget pricing, but still good service? Is it true that we will have to purchase the insurance even if our credit cards offers some travel insurance? I've been told we need to buy the car rental insurance.

She also thinks maybe we should train it out of Paris to Orleans (or other option) rather than deal with Paris to do this, pick up the rental car in Orleans and return in Toulouse. Good idea? Other suggestions?

  1. I need to get back from Toulouse to CDG airport, my flight back to the US is on American at 12:15pm on a Sunday (10/18). I've found some cheap flights that morning, but need to go into ORY airport and have limited timeframe. Is this do-able or would you recommend something else? The alternative is flying in the night before and paying for the flight and a hotel, seems like an expensive option and would prefer flying in the same morning as I want to spend more time with my friend. Air France has a flight leaving at 7:45am and arrives ORY at 9:05am for $68. If this is do-able, what's the best way to get from ORY to CDG and can I make it in time?

Thanks so much for your help, we're very excited for this trip!

Posted by
196 posts

I think that your friends Itinerary sounds like a great time. I agree about the car rental as well. I trained all the way to Chinon and rented there at a fantastic rate from Hertz. The prices will be cheaper at these satalite locations and I think it is good to avoid the Paris traffic. The Loire valley didn't appeal to me at first... Palaces are still really not my thing but I just loved the area. Food, people the sights..... I even found my self likeing a couple of the castles. The flight back might be a difficult thing to swing. You might try working some trains in where you can, get a train pass and use the TGV to get back to Paris. That way you will not have to rent cars for the whole trip and the train will return you to closer to the center of Paris so you will not be out in the boonies at an airport to spend the night before a flight. Then just arrange transport from the hotel to whichever airport works best for you in the morning.

Posted by
10344 posts

That's a complex set of questions. We'll do our best.

Taking this one first: She also thinks maybe we should train it out of Paris to Orleans (or other option) rather than deal with Paris to do this, pick up the rental car in Orleans and return in Toulouse. Good idea? Other suggestions?

No one here recommends driving in Paris, except maybe to or from CDG (and a couple other exceptions). So, yes, it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to train it to Orleans and pick up your rental car at the train station there.

Or picking up at CDG if you're going to be there any way.

Posted by
10344 posts

Re this question: Is it true that we will have to purchase the insurance even if our credit cards offers some travel insurance? I've been told we need to buy the car rental insurance.

This is a complicated subject. People here do it both ways: CDW or credit card coverage. There have been a few bad outcomes reported here in connection with credit card coverage, people thought they were covered, then there was an accident/incident, and sometimes it didn't work out the way they thought. Others have been okay with credit card coverage.

It doesn't help you to hear from people who have gone with credit card coverage but never needed to find out if the coverage was good.

This is Rick Steves' opinion on the subject of car rental insurance

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/carrental_cdw.htm

Posted by
842 posts

Car rental, absolultely! But don't forget, France has some great hi-speed trains that can wisk you to and from Paris easily. Car and train make for some good combos. Start your auto rental looking with Auto Europe. They are a broker who works with all of the major rental agencys. Find a better rate; they will meet or beat it. Need help answering these questions; give them a call on ther 1-800 phone line.

They are based in the US, and will go out of their way to help you. We love working with them

And don't go without bringing your own GPS. Learn how to use it, and enjoy your journey.

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