car rental Paris vs. Brittany

It will be much cheaper to take your car at a hotel or downtown location. The Airport fees are added to your cost of renting.

I always avoid them by taking the car at another location. Research your auto rental agency webpage for remote offices or use the toll free phone number to talk with an agent.

If you're going straight to Brittany from the airport and will need a rental car once there, it would make sense to just pick up at CDG and just drive. Carl's suggestion would have you buy RER tickets into Paris, then train tickets, just to save the few dollars of fees for an airport rental car pickup.

If you're planning on a few days in Paris first, my advice would be different.

I agree with Doug on this. It is easier to get yourselves on a highway from CDG towards your destination, than it would be from inside the city of Paris. On the other hand, I believe there are a couple of TGV trains a day, directly from CDG to Rennes. You could research this on the SNCF website. If this would work for you it would make your life a lot easier.

I would just pick up the car from the airport...CDG. If you take your GPS do not forget to put a marker on right at the car rental plqce before you leave. Then when you return the car you will ge back easier.Rent the car from the US though. It is cheaper.

I agree with the last 3 posters--just pick the car up at CDG. This is one of those times when convenience and saving time are worth paying extra for.

Before you decide which way is cheaper, ask for a rental estimate for your car and look at the last page provided where the airport taxes and fees are added to your rental fee.

You will see how much it will cost you for a 2 or 3 week rental! Then decide if you want to take your car at a local rental office.

A side note: If you decide to use a rental car from the airport, and don't have GPS, make sure you know that towns and cities listed on the road signs will be in French. Many travelers recommend the Michelin guides. However, some maps use the English translation, which could cause confusion.

Also add the VAT into your cost calculations, in addition to the airport pickup fee.

Actually, the VAT is included in the fee. The VAT is included in all starting prices in Europe.

And, while honoring the wisdom of someone with a stated record of traveling to 50 countries in 30 years, I still marvel that such wisdom provides that the small charge for an airport pickup surely outweighs the public transportation cost, time and sheer driving terror to pick up at a downtown Paris location if one is simply leaving for Brittany. But advice here, (including from me), is sometimes worth what you paid for it...

Thank you All for your input; a car from CDG it is! Now, how difficult is the return to CDG? Thanks again!