Advice on Reims-Luxembourg-Strasbourg itinerary

It really depends on what you want to do. You can take the train from Reims to Luxembourg, and then to Strasbourg. But you're not going to see a lot of "wine country" if you do that. The Champagne region runs east-west, and pretty much ends at Reims. The area from there into Luxembourg is more rolling hills and forest, with cattle. From Luxembourg to Strasbourg you cut across the Mosel Valley wine region and then into the Vosage Forest and come out into the Southern Rhine vineyards. And none of this will get you to "smaller" towns, as these are all larger cities.

The time of your trip is good. You'll be at the tail end of the harvest and into the crush. But do get a rental. Then, from Reims, drive west on the Champagne Road toward Chateau Thierry. You pass through a number of those smaller towns, most of them with smaller, less well know, champagne houses. That's where you find the really good deals. You may not get the polished tours you'll find in the famous cellars, but the wine can be fantastic. And it's a beautiful drive.

I can't see spending three days in Luxembourg, frankly it's one of those places I hate to drive in, and expensive. I prefer to spend my time in the Meuse-Argonne, walking over the old battlefields, sitting in small town cafes, and just sitting on a hillside watching to world go by. There are dozens of major monuments to past wars, the history runs very deep, and I really like driving the back roads. Take Varennes for example; it's an attractive smaller town, where King Louis XIV was captured as he tried to escape the revolution, where major battles were fought in 1870 and WWI, and where you can find a good regional meal for less than 20 euro. This is an area difficult to explore by train.

If you do go to Luxembourg, take the time to go north to Vianden and see the castle.

As for Strasbourg, it's okay, but again, it's expensive (figure 50 euro/day to park) and the smaller towns in the area surrounding the city are more geared towards wine than the city, which is the administrative hub of the EU. Lot's of folks on this board tend towards Colmar (to the south) but I like the area north towards Hagenau and the pottery villages. And, of course, the Maginot line and German Westwall fortifications from WWII.

You can rent at CDG if you drive to Reims follwing the N2 to Laon. The latter is a lovely hill top town north-west of Reims and still has it’s medieval walls. The N2 is nowadays for the most part a freeway, but some sections are still single carriageways. Using the N2 you can avoid Paris.

Worth a detour is Pierrefonds, famous for it’s imposing medieval castle. Even it’s a 19th century rebuild it’s a lovely place to visit. Inside it’s a bit empty, so it's not really necessary to go inside. On the way to Pierrefonds are the church of Morienval and Saint-Jean-au-Bois worth a stop.

Certainly worth a stop is Longpont. You can visit the ruins of the abbey there, but only by appointment. Just south of Soissons the area around the donjon of Septmonts is charming too.

If Alexander Dumas is of interest you can visit the museum in Villers-Coterêts. Interesting family history about the writer of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. I am not sure if there is info in English too.

all the public transportation in the whole country of Luxembourg is completely free.

I know you want to drive, but there are a couple of considerations -

All drivers will need an IDP with your state DL.

Parking isn't easy. Trains connect all the places you list, frequently and comfortably, and can be quite inexpensive.

Please don't go to tasting rooms and then drive. The alcohol driving limits are very low.

Joy,
I second Nigel's comment about tasting and driving. And since your first night in Reims is arrival day, I feel three nights there is not too many. The town and tasting tours plus some driving in the area will fill 2 1/2 days. If you decide not to go to Luxembourg, or to shorten your time there, I recommend Verdun, one of the most moving WWI sights I have ever visited. It is about 1 1/2 hours from Reims. We drove from Colmar to Reims via Verdun. You could reverse this if you wish. Verdun to Colmar is about 4 hours...Strasbourg a bit less. The comment about parking in Strasbourg is right on. I would pick another nearby town to stay in, but a visit to the city itself is worthwhile if you can get a local train or bus into the old quarter. And lodging in Colmar with parking included may be easier. Lots of options in this area. And yes to getting your car outside of Paris and returning it before Paris. You could drop it in Strasbourg on your last day in Alsace, see some of that city, then take a TGV to Paris.
I would play around with the options forum members have suggested.
Amusez-vous bien!

Ofcourse not to drive on the day off arrival if you have to deal with jetlag.

Hi,
Thank you all for the great suggestions, we are going to add Verdun and Colmar and maybe lessen our time in Lux City.
And try to rent a car in Reims for drop off in Strasbourg.
It will be an adventure!
Joy

It is very expensive to park in the old part of Strasbourg (and expensive). We parked (for free) in a lot adjacent to an outlying train station and the took the tram into Strasbourg, which is well worth a visit.