We will be renting a Hertz car at CDG and visiting Normandy for a few days and on return from Normandy want to drop off outside of Paris and take the train into our hotel. There is a drop off site at the Louvre, but we are wondering if there is one outside of the city, where we could get a train in and not drive ourselves. Please advise ! Thank you.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
You're right, I wouldn't drive into Paris and return the car by the Louvre. I would consider returning it back at the airport especially since you already paid the surcharge to pick it up there. Also, it's the easiest to drive to, to find and to get public transportation back into the city. If you drop it off in a town outside of Paris, then you will be driving around looking for it. The rental car places aren't very easy to locate. The other option would be to call your rental agency (not sure if you're using AutoEurope) and ask them where you can return it. But, again, I would not drive into Paris proper. Have a great trip driving and exploring Normandy.
Posted by
Kansas
1175 posts
We prefer to take the train to Caen and pick up our rental right across the street from the Caen RR station. There are 3 agencies there and they are open late on Saturdays. We used AutoEurope. We drifted around Normandy from our rural B&B near Bayeux then returned the car at Caen and hopped the train into Paris. No hassles with traffic. If you are going directly to Normandy from CDG, then check and see if you can return the car at Caen, about a 2-hour train ride from Paris. Highway traffic can back up returning to Paris on Sunday afternoons if that is on your agenda.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I agree with Denise, just bring the car back to CDG and take the RER (cheapest), taxi (quickest), or Air France "Les Cars" shuttle (compromise) into the city.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
For Pete's sake, why chase all over hell's half-acre to get rid of a car. If you're antsy, drop it at Nord. You come off the peripherique and are channelized between two sets of railroad tracks so you can' wander off. Fifteen minutes after you leave the N13 you're trying to figure out which metro/rer platform to use.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
177 posts
Don't let people scare you about driving in Paris. Yes it's hectic. Yes you might do some mistakes and get really embarrassed. The book recommended not to use a car as your main transportation but you are only returning the car. Millions of people drive in Paris and they survived. I am sure you will survive a couple hours. Why are you so scared of? If you can drive in Boston, NYC, Los Angeles, anywhere in the world you can drive in Paris for a few hours. But if you are that scared, drive it back to CDG and take the RER back into the city. Drive it to Rouen and take the hour train back into Paris. Don't be scared or think time will be wasted it's part of the traveling experience.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
177 posts
BTW Hertz are very good at responding to your fear. If you email the location, they will give you detail descriptions on how and where to return your car. Also what signs to follow. I have rented so many times all over Europe with Hertz and Avis, I have never ran into unclear instructions on returning your car. If you really want to, a few days in Normandy. Just pick up your car from Rouen train station, drive all over Normandy. then return your car back to the train station parking lot where you already know how to get in and out of. and take the hour train ride back into Paris St. Lazare.