We’re going to France on vacation in September. We’d like to rent a car for part of the trip.
I’ve read in various places that the smart thing to do is to rent from an agency near the airport. Easy to get into and out of Paris that way. However, we’ll be spending several days in Paris city center both before and after we rent the car.
From what I gather, the city center of Paris is a bit of a haul from the airport - 45 minutes by car/bus/taxi, plus the cost (18-60 Euro, depending on method). I also gather that hauling luggage through the metro isn’t that fun.
So, given that getting to and from the airport sounds like a hassle, is it really the best place to go to rent a car? Is Paris traffic really that bad (Mr. Athena will be driving, and though we live in a small town, he’s driven in plenty of cities before.) Can anyone suggest a good area to rent from?
You may already be aware of this but the majority of European rental cars have standard transmissions rather than automatic. If you want an automatic, be prepared to pay extra.
Don’t even think of bothering with a car while in Paris - you won’t need it, the traffic really is quite unpleasant, it’ll cost more than the alternatives while in the city. And, depending on your plans after Paris, I’d suggest considering getting a train to your next destination and renting a car there.
To clarify: we’re not planning on having a car in Paris. We’re staying in Paris for a few days at the beginning, renting a car, and returning to Paris for a few days at the end.
We don’t want to take a train anywhere and rent a car that way, as we are going to be touring around Champagne, Burgundy, and Alsace. If we happen to end up in Champagne the last few days before we have to return to Paris, we don’t want to have to drive to Beaune to return the car then take the train back.
Taxi or train into the city on your arrival, then rent from an agency in town on the day you are going to leave Paris and head out into the country. There are rental agencies for Avis, and maybe Europcar, at the major railway stations in the city. Note that the opening hours are likely to be shorter than at the airport.
Taxi or train into the city on your arrival, then when you are ready to leave the city, principal driver goes out to the airport, picks up car, drives back into the city to pick up the passengers, then you head off on your adventure. Reverse procedure on your return.
I’ve used both options and yes, there’s a little hassle involved but I didn’t find it all that bad. Traffic in Paris is horrendous during the work week, but is not so bad on weekends, particularly Sunday.
I used option 2 to make a quick blast from Paris to Geneva and back in March. Just make sure you reserve ahead of time as the agencies in the city tend to run out of vehicles on the weekends; as a walkup customer I’ve sometimes ended up with bizarre selections such as a pink Renault Twingo, or a camionette (small, car-based box van). I’m not all that picky so it was all good.
Oh, while touring, leave nothing, and I mean nothing, visible in the car when you park. I’ve been a victim of theft from a vehicle myself, and I know of a person who found the window of his car broken so that the thief could steal a pack of cigarettes.
Personally i wouldn’t bother going back out to the airport. Others may disagree but I prefer to be hooted at, while I’m getting used to a new car & city, for being in the wrong lane or slow off the mark at traffic lights on an urban road going 30mph or less than on a four lane motorway going at about 70mph.
We usually book online and pick up cars from the Gare du Nord - Avis, Hertz, Europcar, National/Alamo. The opening hours are generous (approx. 8h30 - 23h) and it’s not too difficult to get to the périphérique and thence any of the autoroutes.
Depending on where you are staying in the city the Montparnasse station or Porte Maillot could also be a good location.
Try to avoid driving back into Paris on a Sunday evening tho’ - stress will result, just from the volume of traffic rather than dangerous driving conditions.
A minor related issue: Sometimes I have noticed that people from different countries expect a different standard from cars or rank cars differently. Make sure that you read the fine print in the offers and that it’s what you want. e.g. I remember someone a while ago who thought they had booked a BMW and was annoyed because he got a Volvo in the same size-class - I wouldn’t see anything wrong with that but he felt cheated. Especially in France, be prepared to get a Diesel. Air conditioning is common these days but in Europe it’s still not guaranteed. We even have a small urban legend about an American who rents a car and returns it because “there’s only hot air coming out of the AC”
I did something very similar to this. We took the train from the airport to our hotel, and then after a few days, rented a car and drove out of the city and around the countryside.
Then we drove back to Paris, got rid of the car went back to public transport.
Driving in the countryside was no problem. In fact, I was really impressed with the road system there and the way things were marked clearly.
Now in the city of Paris, things were different. I live in NYC and I sometimes rent a car here and have to drive through the city and let me tell you. Paris was much, much worse. Thank God Mrs. Z was really good with a map.
We returned to Paris on Nov, 11th, which is some sort of holiday there. (yes I know what day it is) Anyway, we had chosen which office to rent our car from based on how easy it would be to drive out and back into the city to get to it. Coming back, we came to our only turn, only to find that familar ‘no left turn’ sign. We drove past and then circled around, with much difficulty with all the one way streets and no grid pattern. When we came back to our turning place I was second in line at a red light. I realized that the car in front of me had his left turn signal on. I looked in the rear view, and that car was the same way. I looked up and there was the sign that I still think ment ‘no left turn’ and I didnt’ see any qualifiers on it like only during certian times of the day. So I make the left turn and pull up to the office only to find it closed. We had to go to the train station and drop off the car.
Now at the train station, we circled around looking for the Avis sign. (I think it was Avis, or maybe Hertz) Anyway, no sign. Finally we parked and Mrs. Z went into the station and found the office and they explained that you just go into any of the underground parking entrances and then you find the Hertz, (or maybe it was Avis) area to return.
That was 5 years ago. My car was a standard but it had air. Listening to French radio was kind of neat as well.
That’s true, the rental return areas are in the underground car parks at Gare du Nord, you should be given a map for finding your way back.
As for extra charges etc. we book and pay online - it is cheaper and there is nothing extra to pay unless you take out extra insurance cover. Just check in the small print that you are getting unlimited mileage.
Don’t even think about just turning up and seeing what there is on offer - booking is essential.
That’s true, the rental return areas are in the underground car parks at Gare du Nord, you should be given a map for finding your way back.
As for extra charges etc. we book and pay online - it is cheaper and there is nothing extra to pay unless you take out extra insurance cover. Just check in the small print that you are getting unlimited mileage.
Don’t even think about just turning up and seeing what there is on offer - booking is essential.
