Le Havre, Loire Valley

[Sharon J]

We have just reserved a 5 night stay with Karen and Craig in their lovely cottage, (Le Havre) in The Loire Valley next September. I know this is way early, but just have a few questions to ease my mind. We will be staying in Beynac before Le Havre. We plan on driving back to CDG for our trip home. Any idea on where to stay for one night before our return flight? We will be returning our car, and want something clean, not too expensive and, easy transportation to the hotel, as well as the airport, the following day. Hopefully, the hotel would have a shuttle?

Since we will be renting the car in Toulouse, we will not be familiar with the car rental agency at CDG. Hopefully we won't find the return too difficult?? I hope someone here has returned a car and can help ease my mind. Thank you

 

[Chris]

Lucky you! Karen and Craig's cottage is one of my favorite places in the world, and Karen and Craig are wonderful.

I have never returned a car at CDG. Have you considered dropping your car in Tours ( St-Pierre-des-Corps), and taking the train from there? It's only about 2 hours. I'm not entirely sure whether you're planning the last night at CDG or in Paris, but if it's the airport, I have always just searched for the most reasonable price -- all airport hotels are pretty much alike, and they should all have shuttles to the terminals. And shuttles from the train station at CDG to the hotel as well.

 

[Sharon J]

Lucky you! Karen and Craig's cottage is one of my favorite places in the world, and Karen and Craig are wonderful.

I have never returned a car at CDG. Have you considered dropping your car in Tours ( St-Pierre-des-Corps), and taking the train from there? It's only about 2 hours. I'm not entirely sure whether you're planning the last night at CDG or in Paris, but if it's the airport, I have always just searched for the most reasonable price -- all airport hotels are pretty much alike, and they should all have shuttles to the terminals. And shuttles from the train station at CDG to the hotel as well.

 

[Chris]

Is there an echo in here?

 

[Sharon J]

Thanks Chris, We don't plan on visiting Paris. Been there many times, and this trip will be spent in Beynac for a week and then La Havre. Not big on train travel just not easy for us for some reason. So, we will drive to CDG, return our car, and then check into a clean hotel for the night. Our trip is not until next September, but it looks like our flight will be around 8:30 a.m.

Has anyone returned a car to CDG? We rent in and out of Rome all the time. Hope CDG isn't a nightmare!!!

Chris, since you have stayed at the cottage, can you tell me if the furniture is comfy? I notice, there are some chairs and a couch type piece, with wooden back. Is it comfortable enough? Little worried about the furniture situation.

 

[Pauline]

We've returned a car at CDG and I don't remember any problems. Since you are returning the night before you won't have to worry if you can't find it quickly. The airports all seem to be well signed these days, making it easier.

I would use google maps to plot the route so you can review it. Recently returning a car at Geneva airport my Garmin GPS listed the different car rental return locations!

 

[Sharon J]

Thanks Pauline. I wrote to Karen, and she wrote back with some excellent information. She suggested we return the car in a town about 45 minutes from the cottage, and take the train to CDG, where we can either spend the night, at one of the local hotels near the airport or, if we have a late afternoon flight, the train takes you smack dab to the airport. I was not aware of that, so feel much better.

 

[Pauline]

That is probably the best idea. Traffic is "intense" around Paris.