Our family of 6 will be in Paris for a week, beginning on Christmas day (and London the week after!) and my teenage daughters would like to visit Mont-Saint-Michel, if possible. If anyone has had any experience driving in France, do you, or do you not recommend renting a minivan and driving from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel. I know that Hertz rents minivans. If you've had any experience renting a car or minivan in France, who did you rent from. Did you get an International License before going? Did you need additional insurance beyond what was available from the car rental agency? Thanks for any help.
Driving In France
- Thread starter Stinson
- Start date
Cyrano
DIS Legend
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- Oct 23, 2004
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- 32,227
Hi Stinson and welcome to DLP DIS board 
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We have driven many times and hired cars in France and have found the experience fine. You will have to get used to the difference in kms/hr.
UK driving licences are valid for driving in Europe so I can't help regarding international
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each
If you have not had a look yet, posting guidelines can be found here and details regarding help on signatures here
We have driven many times and hired cars in France and have found the experience fine. You will have to get used to the difference in kms/hr.
UK driving licences are valid for driving in Europe so I can't help regarding international
Longsx3
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 5, 2003
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- 1,367
We lived in Germany for 3 years and drove to France many times. An international License is highly recommended, you may never need it however it can make life much simplier if you were to encounter French Police and I have occaisionally heard of car companies requiring them.
What you may have the most difficulty finding is a mini-van, if you find a car rental company offerring a vehicle for 6 it will more than likely not be the American version of a mini van and will typically be very expensive. You may want to try Europcar or auto europe...also I highly recommend renting a GPS unit also.
Have you considered the train?
What you may have the most difficulty finding is a mini-van, if you find a car rental company offerring a vehicle for 6 it will more than likely not be the American version of a mini van and will typically be very expensive. You may want to try Europcar or auto europe...also I highly recommend renting a GPS unit also.
Have you considered the train?
I suggest renting the Renaut Espace or Peugeot 807 size vehicule. I typically rent from Europcar and am happy with them. However, I have rented from Avis and Hertz as well and they were all nice. Hertz tends to have the oldest cars. I would suggest avoiding National, have had poor experiences with them.
Try to find a discount code for your rental. I always rent from Europcar because I have a good code that gives unlimited milage and a discount. Many airline and hotel programs offer discount codes.
When you price a rental and state that you are a US resident, the rental price typically includes no insurance. You will need to add that into the cost or select the option when booking. Avis offers insurance up to full damage wavier where you would owe zero in the event of an accident or theft. Europcar and Hertz allow you to reduce the deductable but not to zero. Your credit card may also include insurance for damage to the rental but not liability. Just read the terms carefully on your credit card insurance as there are some exclusions.
A tip on MSM, arrive as early as possible as it gets crowded as the day goes on.
Interstates are very well maintained in France and allow speeds up to 130 km/h . They are toll so have change ready if possible. For some toll interstates you pull a ticket and pay when you exit but I think most of the ones towards Normandy have the change basket.
Traffic forcasts are as follows:
Dec 22, 23 and 24 leaving Paris: Red or Orange = very very dense traffic and traffic jams.
Dec 30 leaving Paris : Orange = very very dense traffic and traffic jams.
Jan 1st Returning to Paris : Orange = very very dense traffic and traffic jams.
Traffic forcast for all other dates is green so no heavy traffic expected.
If you are uncomfortable driving in Paris, I suggest a rental pick up at Porte Maillot. That is right on the edge of Paris proper (not the burbs) and is a straight shot to the interstate towards Normandy.
As the prior poster suggested, an international drivers license would be helpful if you encounter the police ( something that has never happened to me). I personally have never had a rental agency ask for one.
France now had stationary radar detectors on the side of the road. I suggest obeying the speed limits very strictly to avoid a fine.
Try to find a discount code for your rental. I always rent from Europcar because I have a good code that gives unlimited milage and a discount. Many airline and hotel programs offer discount codes.
When you price a rental and state that you are a US resident, the rental price typically includes no insurance. You will need to add that into the cost or select the option when booking. Avis offers insurance up to full damage wavier where you would owe zero in the event of an accident or theft. Europcar and Hertz allow you to reduce the deductable but not to zero. Your credit card may also include insurance for damage to the rental but not liability. Just read the terms carefully on your credit card insurance as there are some exclusions.
A tip on MSM, arrive as early as possible as it gets crowded as the day goes on.
Interstates are very well maintained in France and allow speeds up to 130 km/h . They are toll so have change ready if possible. For some toll interstates you pull a ticket and pay when you exit but I think most of the ones towards Normandy have the change basket.
Traffic forcasts are as follows:
Dec 22, 23 and 24 leaving Paris: Red or Orange = very very dense traffic and traffic jams.
Dec 30 leaving Paris : Orange = very very dense traffic and traffic jams.
Jan 1st Returning to Paris : Orange = very very dense traffic and traffic jams.
Traffic forcast for all other dates is green so no heavy traffic expected.
If you are uncomfortable driving in Paris, I suggest a rental pick up at Porte Maillot. That is right on the edge of Paris proper (not the burbs) and is a straight shot to the interstate towards Normandy.
As the prior poster suggested, an international drivers license would be helpful if you encounter the police ( something that has never happened to me). I personally have never had a rental agency ask for one.
France now had stationary radar detectors on the side of the road. I suggest obeying the speed limits very strictly to avoid a fine.
In France, we rent from Hertz. It helps to get a good road map before you leave. (I usually get Michelin maps from Borders or Barnes & Noble.) Plan your route in advance. The highway signs often will identify towns as the direction. Also, for a novice it can be confusing whether to go through a town or around it.
Learn the international road signs. I got an International Driving Permit from AAA (fortunately, haven't had to show it except when renting a car in Spain).
Use the correct fuel. (Don't put gas in a diesel car.)
When you park, never leave valuables visible.
Woody
Learn the international road signs. I got an International Driving Permit from AAA (fortunately, haven't had to show it except when renting a car in Spain).
Use the correct fuel. (Don't put gas in a diesel car.)
When you park, never leave valuables visible.
Woody
Thank you for all the help and the time you took to respond to my request. We are now thinking that MSM may be too far to travel on this trip, so we are looking for suggestions that are closer to Paris, but will still give us the opportunity to view the countryside. We have decided not to go to Disneyland Paris, because we've been members of the Disney Vacation Club for more than 10 years and frequently visit Disney World (26 trips to Disney World since 1989). If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate hearing them.
Theres Fountainebleau chateaux, the royal palace prior to Versailles. Its about 45 minutes from Paris.
http://www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr/
In the same area is Vaux le Vicomte which was a chateau built by Nicolas Fouquet the finance minister to Louis the 14th. Louis the XIV thought the chateau was a bit too somptuous and sentenced Fouquet to life in prison.
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
Both can be easily done in the same day.
Paris is very close to the champagne region of France if you are interested in visiting champagne houses to visit their caves and learn about the process of making champagne.
If you are willing to drive 2 to 3 hours each way you could go to the Loire Valley for more chateaux.
Another suggestion is to drive to Honfleur followed by Deauville. Honfleur is a beautiful fishing village about 2 hours north of Paris and Deaville is a lovely turn of the century beach resort with an interesting town center and nice boardwalks on the beach.
The key to going in and out of Paris is to avoid the rush hours as that can easily add 1 hour to your driving time.
http://www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr/
In the same area is Vaux le Vicomte which was a chateau built by Nicolas Fouquet the finance minister to Louis the 14th. Louis the XIV thought the chateau was a bit too somptuous and sentenced Fouquet to life in prison.
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
Both can be easily done in the same day.
Paris is very close to the champagne region of France if you are interested in visiting champagne houses to visit their caves and learn about the process of making champagne.
If you are willing to drive 2 to 3 hours each way you could go to the Loire Valley for more chateaux.
Another suggestion is to drive to Honfleur followed by Deauville. Honfleur is a beautiful fishing village about 2 hours north of Paris and Deaville is a lovely turn of the century beach resort with an interesting town center and nice boardwalks on the beach.
The key to going in and out of Paris is to avoid the rush hours as that can easily add 1 hour to your driving time.
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