Best weekend transportation around Amboise/Chenonceau/Château de Pray

If you want to get from Chateau de Pray to anywhere at the weekend you will need a taxi, a driver, or a car. Getting to the hotel will be a PITA in itself - it's a fair old walk (probably about an hour from Ambosie station with luggage).

If the main reason for visiting the Loire Valley is to see Chenonceau my suggestion would be stay a le Bon Laboreur in Chenonceaux - it's 50 yards from Chenonceaux Chisseau station, excellent hotel, the same goes for the restaurant.

Thanks, Simon! I’ll note that hotel as a backup option.

I guess I’m asking which would be less of a pain- car rental on a weekend or dealing with taxis and buses...?

The hotel ( we really enjoyed our stay there) is only a few minutes drive from Amboise, but too far to walk. A taxi would be expensive. Buses would be doubtful. A car rental from St Pierre Des Corps is likely the best option, but the rental office will be closed on Sunday, so you'll need to use the drop box when you return it. Finding an open gas station on Sunday morning to fill up before the return might be problematic too.

Any way to alter your plans so you could avoid Sunday?

Both options have their problems. Ambosie is a small town, and the only person I know than can regularly get a car at any time of day or night is Mick Jagger. For mere mortals it's a lottery - and you usually hold the losing ticket. We have had clients book a taxi from the station, and had their hotel confirm it, but the taxi never comes because it also serves as transport to take people to hospital/medical appointments. Buses are used mainly to take kids to school and adults to work, but they never go the way you want to go when you want to go because they are meant to take communter traffic off the road

Out of hours car hire is something I have never attempted in Tours (or Saint Pierre des Corps) and although I have never had issues in other towns, some people hate doing it.

Amboise is a tricky town - much publicised in Travel Guides, but much smaller than you are led to believe. As a tourist (and in summer 60% of the people in town will be tourists) you're fine as long as you have a car or arrive on a coach tour, but for the individual tourist It can be difficult to get too, and difficult to visit other chateaux.

Most of our clients (if they are staying in the area) choose to stay in Tours - the people we pick up in Amboise tend to have driven there, but want a private tour

We stayed at Chateau de Pray and liked it very much. We had a car, and I would consider it pretty much a necessity in the Loire unless you base in Tours. We rented in Chartres and then drove to the Loire and returned the car in Tours, St. pierre des corps.

Thanks, everyone, for your input! Simon- helping me understand what to expect in Amboise is very helpful.
We’re looking at how to adjust our trip so we avoid the Sunday issue. ;)
Thanks again!

I agree that a car is the best to get around there. I don't know about getting a car on saturday, but I've never had trouble dropping on a sunday. You just drop the key in a box. good luck. I'll be staying at Chateau de Pray for 4 night s in June - looking forward to it. sue

Car rental is probably best for the area.