I was wondering if anyone familiar with Avis at CDG could answer a few questions for me.
I have never been to Paris, and am not familiar with the airport.
I have reserved a car, and noticed that my pick up location is terminal 2.
However I will be arriving from Germany on Lufthansa and believe we arrive in terminal 1.
Does Avis not have a facility in terminal 1??
If not, how difficult would it be for 5 people, including two seniors and a child to get themselves and luggage to terminal 2 to get the car?
I made a preferred rental, but have noticed some older posts saying CDG does not have preferred service. Just wondering if someone could confirm if they do or not.
Any information about CDG and the logistics of renting from Avis would be appreciated.
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I don%26#39;t know about the terminal 1/2 question, although I think they have only one location (based on returning a car there about a year ago). I think I can safely say they do not have %26quot;preferred%26quot; service, because we got absolutely lousy service and in fact have tried to avoid Avis in France since then. We got a horribly dirty vehicle, not the one/type we had ordered, from someone who couldn%26#39;t have cared less and claimed they had no other cars (although it was pretty clear that during our 20-minutes (or more) wait in line, they had changed the car they gave someone in line ahead of us).
The Avis location in terminal 2 is on the lower level and there aren%26#39;t many sign. Knowing where to go (down the elevator or escalator once you%26#39;re in 2 -- I think it was 2B but not sure) it%26#39;s not difficult. You might want to check on line with Avis because it will probably say which part of 2 it%26#39;s in.
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Wow, doesn%26#39;t sound like you had a very favourable experience at Avis at all....
The Preferred Service I was referring to was a program where I can skip the lines all together and proceed directly to the parking lot.
This would avoid a lot of the hassle you encountered.
Also I am worried about arriving at Terminal 1.
If anyone has any Avis information I would love to know if they have cars in terminal 1, and if the Preferred service works the same as in the U.S.
Thanks again...
Tagor.
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Actually, I understood Avis preferred service -- I%26#39;m saying, I don%26#39;t think they have it (or, as I%26#39;ve indicated, any %26quot;service%26quot; at all) at CDG. I use Avis regularly in the US and never had a problem -- this was disconcerting at best! I don%26#39;t know whether Avis is in terminal 1 -- I would go to the Avis web site, act as though you are reserving, and see what it shows for locations at CDG (it should say which terminal, if there is more than one location there).
Also, getting out of CDG and onto your selected highway may be more than just a bit of a challenge. I don%26#39;t know any way to make it easy, except to say if there are two people (one to drive and one to navigate) it should help some -- where are you going from CDG?
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Yes, it is VERY disconcerting at best.
We are travelling to our Paris hotel at Place des Vosges, and didn%26#39;t really want to take the bus or train with two seniors and a child, plus a lot of luggage.
I hear the lines for taxi%26#39;s can be very long, and we might need two at 70 euro each, each way.. This would be at least 280 euro return.
The hotel offers limo service for 165 euro each way, for 330 euro.
I can rent a station wagon from Avis for less than 200 euro TOTAL, and with my preferred service I assumed this would be our easiest option.
However there seems to be a LOT of confusion with Avis, and I can%26#39;t seem to get any straight answers.
I have looked on the Avis web site, it is useless, and provides no information about the CDG location at all.
I tried to call the France contact number, but only got a recording in French.
I called the U.S. customer service and they can%26#39;t tell me anything at all either, except he doesn%26#39;t think it is a preferred location either.
My reservation states CDG terminal 2, preferred status confirmed for this rental.
However the official CDG airport website stated all major car rental companies have desks in both terminal one and two.
As you can see, I keep finding conflicting information, and confusion.
To make matters worse, I just read a post about the nightmare of trying to get from one terminal to another at CDG, taking up to two hours.
I am beginning to believe I should not rent from Avis, but was hoping someone who regularly uses Avis at CDG could confirm the service offered, and the location of pick/up drop off for terminal 1 passengers.
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This sounds like a total mess. I would not recommend getting the car just to drive to the hotel from CDG (driving in Paris is very difficult for the uninitiated!). Also, keep in mind that if the hotel has parking at all (which you should not assume is the case, unless they have told you) they will charge for that. I doubt that there are many public garages that would be convenient to Place des Voges, so you might end up having issues about where to put the car while at the hotel.
I have sent you a message with more information, but I would suggest searching the forum for car service information (spefically asking about whether they have a van) because what you have been quoted sounds high to me.
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One other thing I forgot -- when comparing costs, you probably should factor in the cost of the additional insurance. I know that there are credit cards that cover some/all of the CDW insurance cost, but keep in mind that what may happen (I%26#39;ve been told) is that the car rental agency will put the entire charge onto your credit card if there is a problem, and leave you to work out how that gets resolved and whetherl/when you will be reimbursed. This would, in many cases, mean your card would be instantly maxed out and frozen. While taking the additioon insurance makes the rental very expensive, you probably need to at least consider it.
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Tagor,
We took a taxi to CDG from Place des Vosage for 42 euro.
That was for two of us with 5 various sizes of luggage. There was a thread not to long ago on the taxi/ shuttle topic. It probably would help you figure out the different options. Check with your hotel again for other opions too, they should be able to help. I would not recommend driving in the area as it is small one way streets that one could get lost in very quickly.
Good luck, it%26#39;ll work out for you.
Deb
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There is an Avis location at Terminal 1. Just change your reservation and book it from terminal 1 rather than terminal 2. Here%26#39;s the info on the terminal 1 location:
AVIS Paris
Charles de Gaulle, Terminal 1
95711 Paris
Tel.: 0820 61 16 20
Heures d%26#39;ouverture:
Lundi: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
Mardi: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
Mercredi: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
Jeudi: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
Vendredi: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
Samedi: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
Dimanche: 06:00 - 23:59 h.
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Hi Guys, I rented a Renault from AVIS, Charles de Gaulle @ the Terminal 1; my wife was very reluctant to hire a car during our week in Paris but I was thinking we could get a better understanding of the city drving than trying to find Taxis 10 times a day.
Conclusion, do it! It is a great idea to drive, a bit scary sometimes but very, very romantic especially at night... we come every year but this is by far our best stay, and the car rental helped a lot.
People at AVIS were quick so it took us 1h to reach Paris...(only).
Good luck with your next car rental in Paris!
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tagor --
You didn%26#39;t make it clear - are you arriving from Germany because you flew LH from Toronto? If so, how much of a layover do you have in Frankfurt, and will it be enough for a decent nap? And - do you intend to pick up your rental car and head to a hotel in Paris and attempt to find affordable parking for said car?
My reason for asking these specific questions is if you are indeed flying 7 hours from Toronto and then however many hours from Germany to Paris without a good nap, you%26#39;ll be in no condition to be driving anywhere, let alone in and around Paris, unless you and Paris have a long and personal history. Additionally, in my experience, there is no such thing as affordable parking anywhere in Paris that a tourist would be interested in using.
Personally, I%26#39;d pass on the rental car and reserve a van service for the group, and let someone else mess with the luggage from the point where you clear all the officialdom in the airport. If you%26#39;re going to head out of the city at a later date, that%26#39;s when I%26#39;d deal with the rental car.
If you insist on the rental car, do some detailed research on CDG so you know where a private car can pick up passengers from Terminal one, and then leave your group with all the luggage there. Pick up the rental car alone, and go back for the group. It will be much easier on your passengers, and you%26#39;ll find it easier to deal with the rental company on your own.
Bon voyage.
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