Reims/Epernay

Much quicker than driving the same distance. Driving, from the train station in Reims, you'll crack the Paris peripherique in exactly one hour. After that, the distance/time to the Paris hotel is as unknown as the distance from Paris Est to the hotel. Also unkown is the distance from the Reims hotel to the train station. A car goes door-to-door with an infinitely flexible departure time. Also not factored in the statement is the fact that only about half the trains are TGVs. If a regional train is involved, a car wins hands down. Blanket statements need to include all the facts, not just the slanted ones.

Just so I understand correctly about this 'reasonable' plan: 1. On two days you're going to have a car already paid for, but pay again for another form of transportation as well? 2. You're going to turn four hours of logistic time into eight (considering getting back and forth to train stations at each end twice)- - and lossing a full day doesn't bother you since you have four whole days for Paris anyhow?

Or if you really want to leave your car and let the train take the strain have you asked the hotel where you will stay if you can leave your leased car with them?

This may be reasonable, depending on the overall costs. The TGV goes between Paris and Reims in less than an hour. Much quicker than driving the same distance. If you stay in a hotel in that town, perhaps you could arrange to leave the car there at the start of the 4 days in Paris since you'll be staying a nite on your return. In my area some hotels offer a "ParkSleepFly" package in which you stay a nite to be close to LAX and then can leave your car in their lot for up to a week; this would be doing something similar. I don't recall seeing a lot of parking on the surface at the Reims train station; you'd need to check whether it would be possible to leave it there 4 nites without it being impounded or something. Reims is a nice town, and with a car you can get out and visit some of the champagne houses as well as tour the countryside. edit: one more thing I'd add is that driving in Paris can be a challenge. I've never done it personally, but friends who have say they would definitely try to avoid it if they could.

I did the same thing... but for only one night. Already had my car on a weekly rate so I drove from Paris to Reims... spent the night and then took the TGV to Paris for one nite. The hotel I stayed at in Reims did have a rate where I could leave the car there. Not very expensive. @Ed...I didn't want to drive in Paris as I didn't want my grandson to hear me swear any more than he already does:))
I also wanted him to have the experience of the train.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I realized I wasn't completely clear as to why we weren't driving in to Paris. And, as Ann figured out, it is because we were concerned about driving into and around Paris. (We are staying near the Orsay museum.) Because we wanted to spend a night or two in the Reims/Epernay area anyway, we thought it might be less stressful to just leave the car for a few days and take a train in to Paris. Rick's book was indicating 8 trains a day, 45 min. trip, so it sounded like a possible alternative. So it's a decision of driving hassle vs. train hassle I guess. Having lived near and worked in San Francisco for years, I never found the driving there to be too pleasant any time of day. Worse of course during rush hour. Hence our consideration of the above plan. Thanks again.