XP: Travel options Beaune to Paris

[kirk wallace]

fb is of course right (and if you don't have Edith Whartonesque levels of steamer trunks and other bags, you probably only need 1 helper), but if you don't like that idea, even the most cursory internet search shows many chauffeur services. E.g., http://www.passeport-bourgogne.com/en/services.php .

Your hotel in Burgundy or Paris might even have a preferred provider; or an unemployed brother-in law with access to a car.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by kirk wallace: Your hotel in Burgundy or Paris might even have a preferred provider; or an unemployed brother-in law with access to a car.

Kirk, that kind of input is the reason for this thread being originated.

If only someone like you describe is findable.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Bill Lundstrom]

pete- i've driven in paris twice. never again. never. take teh train.

 

[kirk wallace]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by kirk wallace: Your hotel in Burgundy or Paris might even have a preferred provider; or an unemployed brother-in law with access to a car.

Kirk, that kind of input is the reason for this thread being originated.

If only someone like you describe is findable.

. . . . . Pete

Sounds like you need a better hotel. And maybe start calling the many businesses that claim to provide this service, including the one whose website i put in my post above, and see who sounds competant and can provide references.

Or do what everybody else does: take the train or rent a car.

 

[Peter Creasey]

originally posted by kirk wallace: website i put in my post above

Kirk, I have already reached out to contact your suggested service.

Thanks!

. . . . . Pete

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by Cliff:

originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
I've done the route both by car and train - I think they take about the same amount of time, all things considered. Train might be cheaper but I don't think it's by much.
I do prefer to travel to Beaune by way of Geneva, though, because it's about the same amount of car time but a vastly more scenic route! You can also spend a day in Annecy.

Working out the rental return in Geneva - where you have to find the French part of the airport - can be a challenge, but likely not as big a challenge as Paris traffic.

Returning to the airport is not so hard--things are well-signed.

The rental car places near the train station keep shortish hours, though. Also, my Hertz gps totally had the one-way streets wrong (this happened pretty often throughout France as well).

 

[Jeff Grossman]

We did rental car. The drive back from the Loire to Paris is delightful. (Of course, I made sure that the dealership was on the outer perimeter road.)

originally posted by kirk wallace:
fb is of course right (and if you don't have Edith Whartonesque levels of steamer trunks and other bags, you probably only need 1 helper)...

It warms my heart to see you recommending a luggage lifter, Kirk.

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

One doesn't need French to negotiate train stations. TGV stations at least make announcements in French and English and they are both equally incomprehensible. But trains and arrival tracks are very clearly posted.

 

[SFJoe]

The only non-obvious bit might be figuring out which car you are in, and where that car will stop against the platform. But even that isn't hard.

 

[Peter Creasey]

A bid I have received for a driver (with car) is 520 Euros.

The train is sounding better and better.

. . . . . Pete

 

[kirk wallace]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

A bid I have received for a driver (with car) is 520 Euros.

The train is sounding better and better.

. . . . . Pete

Train is indeed smooth and a good value in comparison.

One last idea, riffing on Jeff's comment, if you really do want the schedule flexibility that a rental car would provide: have rental car delivered to your hotel in Burgundy --usually availabble for a 20-30 euro surcharge; drive to Orly airport. Drop off rental car there and take taxi. Prob 30-35 euros to the center of Paris. There might even be other closer-in spots where car drop off and taxi pick up would also be relatively easy. Still have to weigh all that shifting of luggage from hotel to rental car to taxi against the two trains and then the taxi to your hotel in Paris.

 

[Jonathan Loesberg]

originally posted by SFJoe:
The only non-obvious bit might be figuring out which car you are in, and where that car will stop against the platform. But even that isn't hard.

That one can be hard, particularly when the information they give you turns out to be incorrect. But you still wind up getting to where you're going.

 

[Yixin]

I think you shouldn't go.

 

[Peter Creasey]

Normally I would agree. In this case, the incentive is sufficient.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Odd Rydland]

originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
I think everyone should drive around L'Etoile one time at least. It's character-building.

I have done it. As for character.......

 

[Oswaldo Costa]

originally posted by Yixin:
I think you shouldn't go.

This. Too much ado.

 

[Ross Massey]

What about driving a rental car or taking a taxi to the Beaune TGV station? A hell of a lot cheaper than a car to Paris, and you don't have to worry about changing trains with all of your bags.

 

[Peter Creasey]

Ross, As I understand it, the train from Beaune to Dijon is not TGV. Then if you stay on the same train, it is quite slow from Dijon to Paris.

Apparently it's better to switch to a TGV train in Dijon.

. . . . . Pete

 

[Ross Massey]

originally posted by Peter Creasey:

Ross, As I understand it, the train from Beaune to Dijon is not TGV. Then if you stay on the same train, it is quite slow from Dijon to Paris.

Apparently it's better to switch to a TGV train in Dijon.

. . . . . Pete

Argh, sorry, meant to say Dijon TGV. Probably 90-ish euros for a taxi up there.

 

[Peter Creasey]

Ross, Thanks! I hadn't thought of doing that.

I believe I like that idea.

. . . . . Pete