We are planning to drive from Paris through Burgunday and staying in Beaune for two nights. From there should we continue with a rental car and drive to Geneva for a train through to Lucern for one night, then on to Passau Germany (where we are picking up a river cruise) or should we take a train from Beaune, OR should we continue with the rental car from Geneva to Lucern to Passau? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
One thought is to take the high-speed (160MPH) train from Paris to Dijon and rent the car right in the train station. Last we saw, there are three rental places right in the station. From there, you can drive to Beaune via the Grand Cru trail. Lots to see in Burgundy. You could then drive to Geneva and turn the car in on the French side of the airport to possibly avoid high drop off charges. If you should continue into Switzerland with the rental car, you will be required to have a vignette appropriately placed on your car. You get those at the border. You might consider the train from Geneva to Lucern. The train from Lucerne to Passau is a bit more problematic. 8.5hrs travel time with 3-5 train changes depending on the run. Hard to advise here but a rental car will be expensive to rent in Switzerland and drop off in Germany.
Posted by
OP
Eagan, MN, USA
14 posts
Thanks. Very helpful. Would Lucern to Munich be less hassle? I believe there is frequent transportation from there to Passau.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
It is easier to travel to Munich first. Still, it's over 5.0hrs travel time to Munich with 1-5 transportation changes depending on the run. You can pick up discounted fares as low as 39E on www.bahn.de for this run (which takes just under 6.0hrs and requires 3 train changes). I'm looking at this on the German rail website www.bahn.de. Here's a link to see a picture of what I see. http://gyazo.com/6054cac1a47881d8d7838724035c1515 Munich to Passau would be another 2hrs15min on a Regionale train from Munich. Some runs have no train changes; some have 1.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10623 posts
Your original idea of renting in Paris is a good one, since you are paying for a car that day anyway, and Burgundy actually beginss two hours north of Beaune, in Sens. There is a lot to see between Paris and Beaune if you choose to stop. We usually pick up our cars at Orly Airport to be right on the road beyond most of the city traffic.