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Post by Shoesy on Jan 6, 2009 23:56:07 GMT -5
We'll be renting a car (not sure which company yet) at CDG and driving to Normandy. After 4 days there, we'll be returning to Paris  for 6 nights. My question is this: Where is a good place to drop-off the car? ( I realize that we'll have to take a taxi from there to our hotel, the Britannique, which is located across from the Chatelet metro.) My definition of "good place" is one that is easy to drive to and one that has VERY clear signs once you get there. The reason for my concern is that I remember all too well how complicated it was to return our rental in 2006. We were coming back from the Loire, and we were to return the car at Gare Montparnasse, which seemed like it would be easy enough. NOT!!!  There was no problem driving to Montparnasse and locating the Pasteur Building, but there were no visible signs letting us know what to do once we got there. Needless to say, the whole thing was a real hassle, and I'd like to avoid a similar experience this time. Any advice? |
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Post by phread on Jan 7, 2009 5:54:03 GMT -5
Yup... Gare Montparnasse. You know the ropes now, should be easy as pie! As for very clear signs.... not really a Paris specialty. AVIS has an outlet on the rue Lourmel in the 15th that is VERY obvious. If you go to their St Sulpice drop-off, you simply enter the public parking ot under the square in front of the church. Same for the drop off at Les Invalides. So, while I am not sure these indications are clearly marked, once you know to simply enter the parking lots, all should be a snap.
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 7, 2009 5:58:47 GMT -5
You make it sound soooooo easy, Phread. ;D
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Post by mez on Jan 7, 2009 7:00:55 GMT -5
I have nothing to add about the car rental, but reading your post I realised you are staying at the hotel I passed on my last day in Paris. The street and corner where it was located was so picturesque that I went into the hotel to ask for a brochure! I will be very interested to hear what you think about it after your stay.  |
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Post by Anne on Jan 7, 2009 9:09:51 GMT -5
Chouchou, coming from the North-West of Paris, you won't cross the whole city or get yourself stuck on the Périphérique in order to reach Montparnasse in the South  ??! Different companies have different drop-off points, but all the major ones have at least a drop-off in each station, the more geographically-convenient one for you will be Gare du Nord unless the company that you end up choosing has a more conveniently located drop-off point . Also, both RER and metro go directly from GdN to Châtelet, no need to take a taxi ! |
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 7, 2009 10:01:39 GMT -5
Anne - I was also thinking Gare du Nord. I'm aware of the good transportation that exists to Chatelet, but with luggage we would only take a taxi.
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Post by Truffaut on Jan 7, 2009 11:37:18 GMT -5
You might consider avoiding the larger drop-offs at the train stations. Most of the major rental agencies have locations in the 17th, either near the Arc de Triomphe or near the Péripherique. You'd be passing by that way from Normandie, anyway, and it would be less busy than the train station agencies.
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Post by Truffaut on Jan 7, 2009 11:39:01 GMT -5
And a question. If you're renting the car at CDG, why are you returning it in Paris and paying an exhorbitant drop-off fee? Why not just bring the car back to the same place you rent it and then taking a taxi from there to your hotel. It would probably be significantly less expensive!
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 7, 2009 11:43:00 GMT -5
I never considered the price of the rental, Truffy. (Haven't checked that out yet.) I just assumed that we would waste time driving to CDG if we were coming from Mont St. Michel. Wouldn't it mean a longer drive and a more expensive taxi ride?
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Post by sunshine817 on Jan 7, 2009 11:51:25 GMT -5
We've dropped a car at GdN before -- it's not hard, but it's really badly marked. I don't think we paid a drop charge (we always rent from AutoEurope).
Shoesy, you might also consider dropping it somewhere just outside Paris -- there are offices aroung many of the major RER stops, as well --
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Post by Truffaut on Jan 7, 2009 14:09:28 GMT -5
I'm not sure of the specifics in France, but in the US, if you drop off a car at a different location, the extra fee can be several hundred dollars. The extra taxi fare from CDG instead of Gare du Nord to your hotel would be about 30 euros. The extra driving time getting to CDG instead of driving into the city would be about 30 minutes.
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Post by GitteK on Jan 7, 2009 14:23:47 GMT -5
Exactly as I have suggested, drop it off at CDG and take a taxi from there. No stress, no hassle. However, I disagree about the 30 euros. I usually pay 45 euros to Montmartre, so I doubt it that 30 euros will be enough. www.taxisg7.fr/ says 48-63 euros for the ride from CDG1 to Place du Châtelet. |
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 7, 2009 22:43:38 GMT -5
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. We'll definitely check out whether returning the car at CDG would mean saving lots of euros.
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Post by Sarastro on Jan 12, 2009 22:37:56 GMT -5
Generally when renting a car in France, there is no fee for dropping off the car at a location other than the pickup site. Avis is the only company I have noted who charges for dropping off at a different location within France.
There is usually no fee associated for leaving a car at a train station or airport either but expect to pay extra for picking up a car at either of these locations.
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Post by Shoesy on Jan 13, 2009 0:31:33 GMT -5
Good to know, Sarastro. Thanks.  Incidentally, I told my husband about this thread, and his response was that now he is more experienced than he was in 2006. Yeah, right......  I even remember warning him before our trip that I had read (on TA  ) that Montparnasse was a confusing place to drop off rentals, and he still wanted to return the car there, thinking that HE would manage.  The funny thing is that despite the annoying car-rental return, I was a bit amused at being able to say "I told you so". ;D |
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for 6 nights. 
There was no problem driving to Montparnasse and locating the Pasteur Building, but there were no visible signs letting us know what to do once we got there. 
??! 
I even remember warning him before our trip that I had read (on TA 
) that Montparnasse was a confusing place to drop off rentals, and he still wanted to return the car there, thinking that HE would manage. 
The funny thing is that despite the annoying car-rental return, I was a bit amused at being able to say "I told you so". ;D
hahahha