Best Way to Rent a Car?

SalB

Hi Denise. In all honesty we don't rent cars, we lease them. You have to keep it for at least 17 days to do that so I think you're going to have to rent one. You are wise not to keep the car in Paris; they are an expensive nuisance in town.

A couple suggestions:

(1) In the blue side bar is a Travel section and the last link is Car Rentals. I'd click on that and check the prices. If it doesn't come up, it is http://carrentals.visitfrance.travel/

(2) We've leased through http://www.autofrance.net/ http://www.autoeurope.com and Kemwel but I don't have their web site. Sixt has also been recommende by quite a few people but we've never used them.

(3) Most American dealers have French offices so check those too. For instance Budget, National, Avis, Enterprise, etc. Get as many estimates as you can because rates can vary wildly.

You can pick up in Paris but then you are faced with driving in horrible traffic. We've done it and survived but we don't do it any more. We take the train into Paris, visit a few days, go back out to the airport to get our leased car and take off on our trip. At the end of the trip, we return our car to the airport, take the train into Paris and spend a few more days before taking the train (RER train) back to the airport to fly home.

If we're headed north or west, we pick up at CDG airport. If we're headed east or south, we pick up at Orly. This avoids nearly all city traffic.

 Hope this is some help. Do be sure you are insured. Leasing takes care of all insurance and I have no idea about rentals.

SalB

Sorry, missed a question. There is no problem getting in and out of the airport, especially CDG. It's way out on the edge of town and served by an excellent network of roads. There are signs and the rental people will give you directions.

Do rent before you go because it costs a lot more if you wait to rent after you arrive. You also may not get the car you want if you wait.

Get the smallest car you can get yourselves and your things into. Parking places in Europe are small, roads in the towns are very narrow and fuel is very expensive. Smaller is better.

Be sure you have covered space for your luggage too. We've never had a problem but there are people (everywhere in the world) who steal things from rental cars. Out of sight, out of mind.

denisema18

Thank you so much SalB!

This is a huge help and makes me feel a lot better about getting in and out of the airport.  I just know that here in Boston, you could easily find yourself driving in circles around the airport if you're not familiar with it!

 I do plan on booking before we leave (and soon) so that we get to CDG, grab the car and head down to Loire. On the way back, we'll drive the car back up to the airport, and take a cab or the train into paris for our last 3 nights.

 thanks again for your help I sincerely appreciate it.

denise

denisema18

Thank you so much SalB! This is a huge help and makes me feel a lot better about getting in and out of the airport. I just know that here in Boston, you could easily find yourself driving in circles around the airport if you're not familiar with it! I do plan on booking before we leave (and soon) so that we get to CDG, grab the car and head down to Loire. On the way back, we'll drive the car back up to the airport, and take a cab or the train into paris for our last 3 nights. thanks again for your help I sincerely appreciate it. denise