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Airport Basics.....
The Paris CDG Airport it the 2nd larges airport in Europe, in terms of the passenger count. With over 58 million passengers in 2010, and calendar year 2011 looking even stronger, this is one behemoth of a facility.
Of course, the largest market for the CDG consists of Europeans, many African and American travelers (and every other country and continent on the Earth) frequent the facility as well. The airport boasts over 2 billion euros in revenue annually, with about 300 million in net euros as well. It currently (2010) ranks as the 7th busiest airport in the world.
Car Rental in the Paris CDG Airport.....
There are currently seven car rental companies with desks established within the Facility. Each of these companies, however, may occupy up to 7 desks each throughout the facility. Avis, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt, TT, and Peugeot Open Europe each offer their car rental services to CDG passengers wanting control as they travel France and beyond. Most of these companies are open from the first to the last flight, seven days a week.
Each car rental company will offer better deals than the others, depending on when you book, and which car you book. That's the primary benefit of car rental comparison. Modern-day, internet-ready booking engines have created instant price quotes for travelers throughout the world.
We have compiled some tips as you rent a car at the CDG Paris Airport. First, book early. This is true, not just for the CDG, but for all airports. The earlier you book, the better chance you have of landing the car that you want, at the price you can afford.
Secondly, and this relates to driving in France, don't break the speed limit. The local police are extremely strict. In addition to physical police, there are cameras that monitor your speed all over the city. Some cameras you will be able to spot, and others are completely hidden. Adjust your speed accordingly - in fact, don't always rely on your speedometer. In many parts of the world police build in a tolerance of say, 10 mph. If you go beyond that tolerance, you may get a ticket. In France, there is no tolerance. So, adjust. If the speed limit is 40, go 35. This will keep you out of trouble, and will may you money from ticket savings!
All tickets that you pick up from the local police will be forwarded to the rental car company for your immediate payment. In addition to the fee, there may be a handling charge. Don't forget that rental car company back at the airport still has your credit/debit card information.
Thirdly, don't drink and drive. The current French blood Alcohol Limit is .05%, much less than the American limit. And, the Police in France don't need a cause (like they do in America) to pull you over. They can, and will, do it whenever they prefer.
Next, when returning the car hire vehicle, be careful. Many experienced folks tend to think that returning a car back to the CDG couldn't be any easier. However, it's the difference is driving culture that seems to distract inexperienced car rental drivers from getting back to the airport in a manner they had hoped. Make sure to follow the signs (THEY'RE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD). The airport is actually a ramp-type road that circles until you arrive at one of the three terminals. Make sure to look for the 'location de voitures' signs (with Voitures meaning Car or Coach), and location meaning, well, location. Another sign posted may read 'retour voitures de location', which means return car location. When you get close to the drop-off locations, you will see the car rental companies' signs. Remember which company you actually rented from, and you're done!
Eating at the Roissy.....
Well, let's talk about restaurants, and get it out of the way. Many, many folks have often commented on the lack of good-quality French food in the nation's larges airport. For many smaller areas in America, they boast of their local food-type and present the local food choices to passengers going thru the area. The Roissy brass don't seem to be too concerned with serving French food to travelers who would love to buy, um French food!
Now that's not to say that there aren't choices. There are. In the Terminal 1, there is the Hippopotamus - serving grilled steak and pretty good side dishes. The Hippo can also be found in terminal 2D. There will also be a La Terrasse de Paris, with grass on the floor and umbrellas over your table in Terminal 1.
Terminal 2A offers a Bistrot "Fontaine des Halles" serving Paris bistro. Also in Terminal 2A there is a Les Marches de Paris, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Salmon House, serving seafood specialties can be found in 2B and the L'Escale Parisienne (kind of a supermaket / buffet type restaurant in 2C.
In 2E, you will find a Meli-Melo, serving food representative of many different cultures. Also, in the same terminal, there is a Paul. Folks say they have pretty good sandwiches (and a good-looking duck - see picture below).
We haven't mentioned the fast food joints that are peppered all over the Roissy. McDonald's, Grand Comptior, Pizza Huts and the like will be found in every terminal. In all, there are near 100 restaurants and cafe's. Food is never far away.
Shopping at the CDG.....
From the experience of most folks, the Duty-Free shopping has been reduced somewhat since 2007 or 2008. There are still a few, and liquor and perfume can still be found.
A lot of experienced travelers say, however, you will be better off to buy your wares in the city. There will be good buys here, but you may have to research a little.
Other Airport Amenities.....
Although you can pick up Wi-Fi in every terminal, public areas and waiting areas, it's not free. Why airports don't go to a free Wi-Fi is beyond me. It seems like to give away free Wi-Fi, then requiring users to view local advertisements would be a more appropriate setup for both the airport and the passenger.
There is a post office in the Terminal 1 and 2A, for folks looking for stamps, etc., and HSBC bank terminals in both 2D and 2F. A Travelex foreign currency exchanges are located in every terminal, with 23 locations overall. And regardless of your faith, there are prayer locations for almost all beliefs.
Car Rental Distances.....
When leaving the airport in your newly rented vehicle, you will have a lot of areas that you will want to visit. So, to help travelers in Paris, we have compiled a list of local attractions and towns (and their car rental driving distance) to help you folks. All distances are from the Charles De Gaulle.
To Downtown Paris, 33 km.
To Cook'n With Class, 25 km.
To Sainte-Chapelle, 34 km.
To Notre Dame Cathedral, 34 km.
To Luxembourg Gardens, 36 km
To Eiffel Tower, 33 km.
To Le Marais, 33 km
To Musee Rodin, 34 km.
To River Seine, 104 km.
To Sacred Heart Basilica of Montmartre, 26 km.
To Les Invalides, 33 km.
To Reims, France 150 km.
To LeMans, France 233 km
To Luxembourg, 376 km.
To Amiens, France 133 km.
We always recommend using a GPS for exact driving distances. Our above distances are only estimates and shouldn't be relied on too heavily. Come to think of it, I suppose we shouldn't rely on GPS's completely either. See this picture in a parking lot at the Roissy....
Rental Cars Available from the Airport.....
There will be virtually every type of car for hire at the Paris CDG. From Mini's to Compacts to Standards to Exotic to Vans and Minivans to Luxury Mercedes we've got you covered. Besides the size of the vehicle, there are a couple of more factors that will influence the total cost of your rental car experience. One is the fuel that it burns - if it is a diesel engine, you will get better fuel mileage, yielding a cheaper cost per mile. And secondly, if it is a standard shift, you will get better results as well. Smaller cars often give you these options, while the larger, more expensive cars generally don't.