train tickets.

Hello,

We will be vacationing in Paris and Normandy this July for a total of 12 days. We are renting an apartment in the Marais area. We will then travel by train to Caen. I plan to rent a car in Caen and visit Normandy and Mont St. Michel. I would like to return the car rental to Caen and then take the train back to CDG for our flight home. (I would like to try to save some money by picking up/dropping off the car rental in the same spot.)

My question is, Is Gare Saint Lazare the closest train station to the Marais area that actually goes to CDG airport? Gare de Lyon is closer to Marais but I%26#39;m unsure as to whether or not Gare de Lyon has trains to CDG?

Also, regarding train travel back between Caen and CDG, are there more than one choices to get to the airport? I will be flying out on British Airways. Any train travel tips would be appreciated.

Thank you

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Most major car rental agencies in France offer free one-way rental within the country with no drop off charge.

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I%26#39;m not clear as to why you want a train station that goes to CDG if you are returning to CDG directly from Caen...

But to answer the question, the ONLY train station in Paris with direct connection to CDG is Gare du Nord, and it is the RER-B line that connects them. The RER stops at Chatelet/les Halles, just south of the Marais. Gare du Nord is north-west of the Marais.

OK, I went and looked at train schedules a minute - from Caen to CDG, most trains return to Gare St Lazare, then you have to connect via metro or taxi to Gare du Nord to go to CDG.

It is possible to go more directly to CDG from Caen if you change trains at Le Mans. Overall train time is 3.5 hours.

Are you sure you don%26#39;t want to return to Paris for the last night rather than all that train travel and getting to the airport on time?

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The ONLY train station in Paris with service to CAEN is Gare Saint Lazare. The ONLY train station in Paris with train (RER %26#39;B%26#39; ligne) servic to CDG is Gare du Nord. You don%26#39;t have ANY choice in the matter. You will have to come to Paris first and then return back to CDG.

If you are trying to get between Paris and CDG there are several choices--taxi, ROISSYBUS from rue Scribe %26amp; rue Auber-near Place de la Opéra; ROISSYRAIL (RER %26#39;B%26#39; ligne) from Gare du Nord; AIR FRANCE COACH #2-from Étoile/Palce Chas. deGaulle %26amp; Port Maillot and #4-from Gare Montparnasse and Gare de Lyon.

One possibility that may save time and aggravation on the return from CAEN to CDG leg of your itinerary, might be to alter your plan a bit and take the RER %26#39;B-3%26#39; train from CHATELET-Les HALLES or GARE du NORD out to CDG after your stay in the Marais. Rent your car there and drive to Normandy from CDG, driving back again from Normandy and returning the car at CDG...then making your way to your departure terminal (CDG #2-B ?) for your outbound British Airways flight.

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Thank you all for your quick responces. I had read that driving from Paris to Normandy could be costly with high toll prices. I also was concerned with high gas prices as I plan to drive alot once we get to Normandy.

My rough plan once in Normandy:

Day 1- Arrive in Caen. Caen Peace Memorial, Bayeux Tapestry. Novotel Hotel for 3 nights.

Day 2- Normandy Beaches, Museums, Pegasus Bridge, Arromanches, etc.

Day 3- Same as Day 2.

Day 4- Drive to Mont St. Michel. Hotel Auberge Saint Pierre on Mont. St. Michel.

Day 5- Open. Head back to get ready to fly out tomorrow afternoon. Last day %26amp; night in France. Need ideas/hotel.

Day 6- Fly home.

So, it seems I should probably head back to the airport area on day 5 and get a hotel there. Sounds like it would be a lot easier to drive to CDG rather than leave car in Caen. Should I also pick-up rental at CDG or would it be easier to pick up car in Caen? It is the same price.

I had originally planned to drive around Brittany on day 5. Any suggestions on how to spend this last day.

Thanks again,

Carol