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1 May & Lyon-Beaune-Paris recs

Hi! I am planning a trip with my husband for our 40th birthdays.

Questions:

  1. Suggestions on how to balance time in Lyon and Beaune, especially considering 1 May? Will trains be a bad idea that day? Should we just stay put in Lyon and travel on 2 May into Beaune instead? I had considered skipping Lyon but figured we had at least one night we could spend there and the train is direct from CDG to Lyon which was attractive. ... We're prioritizing R&R so will be trying to strike a balance between tourism and just being outside and riding bikes and don't feel the need to be highly programmed. I saw La Terre d'Or has organized tours which is something we're definitely interested in, if anyone has an opinion on that option. (I contacted a tour guide from the RS book but she wants us to rent a car for her to drive?)
  2. We are also celebrating an anniversary so I am interested in fancy Paris restaurant suggestions (less than $500 total for both)

So far my itinerary is:

  • 30 April - arrive AM, train to Lyon. 1/2 day in Lyon
  • 1 May - Lyon, late train to Beaune arriving for dinner, (I know, I know, 1 May... open to suggestions here)
  • 2-4 May - Stay in Beaune at either Les Jardins de Lois or La Terre d'Or (flexible here if someone has strong opinions about one or the other!)
  • 5 May - Train to Paris
  • 7 May - Depart Paris
Posted by
10629 posts

As long as you have a train reservation and a dinner reservation, you are good to go on May 1. If not, you should stay put and get a reservation in Lyon, a larger city with more available. A lot will be closed that day. Everything shuts down on May 1st the way it does in the US for Thanksgiving. (No black friday on May 2.)

How would insurance work if you rented a car but she drove?? Or is she saying you should pay for the car and she'll rent and take you around?? If she rents it from the local Leclerc supermarket in Beaune, it wouldn't cost much 30--50 euros). If she goes to EuropeCar and rents a BMW, that's another thing. A friend of mine, born and raised in Beaune, rents her cars at the large supermarket.