Help please La Ferte Alais

[Wbirdnut]

Would be most grateful for any tips or advise on attending this show coming up in June this year. We are talking about a country Kiwi here who has very limited French and drives on the left hand side of the road!

Hoping someone here would be kind enough to share a few tips on the best way to get to the show and back from my hotel in Paris.

Looked at trains which are okay going but not so good getting back in the evening after the show. Next option hire a car for the day, was thinking of taxing to Orly airport getting the hire car and driving to and from the show drop car back at Orly and taxi back to our hotel?

Thank you very much...

[Pablo Zibi]

Would be most grateful for any tips or advise on attending this show coming up in June this year. We are talking about a country Kiwi here who has very limited French and drives on the left hand side of the road!

Hoping someone here would be kind enough to share a few tips on the best way to get to the show and back from my hotel in Paris.

Looked at trains which are okay going but not so good getting back in the evening after the show. Next option hire a car for the day, was thinking of taxing to Orly airport getting the hire car and driving to and from the show drop car back at Orly and taxi back to our hotel?

Thank you very much...

I visited La Ferte-Alais two times in the past, in 2019 and 2023. Speaking from my experience, it's easily doable by local train (RER D) from Paris.
On both ways, it may require making one connection, but from the same platform (Google Maps are well-connected with the transport system in the Paris area).
From station, you have to take a refreshing 2.2km walk to the airfield (depending on pace, it's 20-30 minutes).
Only drawback of this scenario is fact, that even using earliest train, You may not be there for gate opening, and securing place in 1st row may be problematic (but with a bit of effort, sacrificing the static part for one day, and going directly to the spot in front, You should be able to squize in front row if it's neccesary). If You're taking it a little bit more relaxed, it won't be a problem at all, as securing a good place (not in front row) is not a problem for the rest of a day.
There are trains after the show; don't worry. In the worst-case scenario you ended up waiting an hour on the station with a bunch of people, but trains (at least one departing after 19:00) are not so packed, and you easily find a seating place. As it is France, there is always a small chance that railway workers go on strike, but You have to be very misfortuned to experience it exactly on a show day.

Regarding hotel, my recommendations (if using train obviously) will be searched for stay in the surroundings of Gare de Lyon, or alternatively somewhere on RER D route.

If You're not confident with your train traveling ability, just rent a car if it will make it less stressful for You. Not cheaper but much less planning, and easier to build an itinerary for the whole day.

[Wbirdnut]

Would be most grateful for any tips or advise on attending this show coming up in June this year. We are talking about a country Kiwi here who has very limited French and drives on the left hand side of the road!

Hoping someone here would be kind enough to share a few tips on the best way to get to the show and back from my hotel in Paris.

Looked at trains which are okay going but not so good getting back in the evening after the show. Next option hire a car for the day, was thinking of taxing to Orly airport getting the hire car and driving to and from the show drop car back at Orly and taxi back to our hotel?

Thank you very much...

I visited La Ferte-Alais two times in the past, in 2019 and 2023. Speaking from my experience, it's easily doable by local train (RER D) from Paris.
On both ways, it may require making one connection, but from the same platform (Google Maps are well-connected with the transport system in the Paris area).
From station, you have to take a refreshing 2.2km walk to the airfield (depending on pace, it's 20-30 minutes).
Only drawback of this scenario is fact, that even using earliest train, You may not be there for gate opening, and securing place in 1st row may be problematic (but with a bit of effort, sacrificing the static part for one day, and going directly to the spot in front, You should be able to squize in front row if it's neccesary). If You're taking it a little bit more relaxed, it won't be a problem at all, as securing a good place (not in front row) is not a problem for the rest of a day.
There are trains after the show; don't worry. In the worst-case scenario you ended up waiting an hour on the station with a bunch of people, but trains (at least one departing after 19:00) are not so packed, and you easily find a seating place. As it is France, there is always a small chance that railway workers go on strike, but You have to be very misfortuned to experience it exactly on a show day.

Regarding hotel, my recommendations (if using train obviously) will be searched for stay in the surroundings of Gare de Lyon, or alternatively somewhere on RER D route.

If You're not confident with your train traveling ability, just rent a car if it will make it less stressful for You. Not cheaper but much less planning, and easier to build an itinerary for the whole day.

Hey Pablo, I am so grateful for your extensive reply, very helpful for me thanks so much!