You suggest we rent in Reims, or take taxis, rather than rent from Paris and return in Paris?
We’re likely staying at L’Assiette Champignon, which is about 10km from most of the tastings we are having, so if it is possible not to rent, we’ll probably rely on taxi and the like, and train to Reims.
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The train is super easy. Forty-five minutes for the high speed, 1.5 hours for the slow train. Leaves from Gare d’Est, which is a very cool station. You can easily take the train from the airport there. That’s what I would do. And then use taxis in Reims.
When I was last in Champagne, I rented in Reims. I was staying about 14 km NW of there. By all means, have your own car in Champagne. My suggestion was simply if you want to avoid driving in and around Paris (depending on how comfortable you are driving in a city of that size).
A further note on rental car damage. Last time we rented from Avis in Marseille and when we turned the car in there was a VERY small scratch on the bumper for which we were charged almost 300 euros for without discussion. It is a huge scam and money maker for the rental car companies. Take a full video walk around before leaving the lot.
Yes Todd, best is train to reims, and then rent a car to drive around in Champagne. This will give you more liberty than just going from one tasting to the other!
Enjoy your trip!
Florian
Make sure you pigeonhole me on Friday night or Saturday of FallTacular, Todd, and can discuss some of my thoughts on Paris “A couple of days” isn’t much, but still chance to see quite a bit.
Drat, looks like you’ll just miss the French Open, that would have been something for you to experience—dad and I loved our Day on the Clay 3 years ago.
My wife and I went Biarritz>San Sebastian and back by train two summers ago. One simple change to/from the Spanish local line and the stations were adjacent to each other. We only had one day in San Sebastian, would have loved a few more…
Our plans have been solidified, to the point that we have hotels for most already set, and travel to/from place to place.
5/15 - arrive in Madrid, late dinner (everybody eats late in Madrid!)
5/16 - Bullfighting Festival
5/17 - Train to San Sebastian, 3 nights
5/20 - Transport to Riems via Biarritz/Paris/shuttle, rent a car, stay 4 nights
5/24 - flight to Madrid, evening, for return flight next day
5/25 - homeward bound
Iberia new biz class?
Sure as hell hope so.
Hard to know for sure, as the Iberia staff are all in Spain, and they’ve given me quite different info over the times I’ve called…
We have rented a car in Nice and returned the car in Monte Carlo…no problem. On a different trip we rented and returned the car in Madrid. We can talk a bit at Falltacular.
Cheers! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Marshall
Paul is right. There’s a substantial surcharge with renting in one country and returning in another.
Usually no charge for renting and returning within the same country.
They have a decent wine-tasting program in Iberia trans-Atlantic biz class. I don’t know the wines, but they kept my 8-hour flight time interesting.
Looking forward to it. Need to get some sleep, too, though…however, if the wines and food are good, I always have a tough time sleeping because I’m afraid I’ll ‘miss something’
Why bullfighting?
Not going to the actual bullfight, just taking in the festival activities surrounding it, to get a turbo look into Spanish culture
Eat at Ramon freixa in Madrid. My favorite dining experience of my life. Loved being in the Salamanaca. Lots to see and do. Madrid is amazing.
Todd I pm’d you. Besides train, have a look at EasyJet for internal flights. Great network and dirt cheap flights if you book in advance.
I’ll second Easyjet. Used it from Barcelona to Paris. Was great and think it was 120 for 2.
Glad to see you are not driving from Madrid, San Sebastian, Biarritz, Bordeaux and then on to Champagne. The only thing you’d see is the AutoRoute and rest areas. Renting a car at CDG airport and getting on the AutoRoute to Reims is a very easy hour and a half ride just use the GPS.