We will be leaving Arles mid May and traveling via car to Paris for three days. Considering driving through Beaujoeais and Burgundy.
We have friends, who have traveled a lot in France say we are crazy to rent a car and should us the train.
We want to stop at small towns and play it by ear. We do not have places to stay.
Other thoughts? Is is crazy to drive vs train? Anyone recommend the best route for exploring?
Victoria
I agree with your friends.
Use the car, if you wish but it is a long and expensive way, but don't take it to Paris. Driving in Paris is hard and requires intimate knowledge of French driving laws, expensive, and parking is very very difficult and very expensive if you find any.
We have driven in France many times - great way to see the smaller towns not served by rail and a great way to visit the smaller wineries. If you see a sign that says dégustation - pull in! We have driven inside the inner ring in Paris - not for the faint of heart! Plan to return the rental car at a rail station out side of Paris and take a train the rest of the way in.
Your journey is 750 km - 7 hours driving - easy peasy in 3 days. Enjoy exploring!
You would be insane to keep a car in Paris, but you would miss a lot if you didn't rent a car and take the drive.
Here's what i did, stop in Beaune, I stayed in Domaine des Anges, (Puligny Montrachet) just outside of town. http://www.domainedesangespuligny.com , a very good RS recommendation, do a little bike ride from town on paths thru vineyards, to the village of Meursault, visit Chateau Rochepot, then one night in Chateau St Sabine http://www.saintesabine.com/fr/ and visit ChateauNeuf. From there its 2.5 hrs , to Paris...
Thats what I would do, over and over, you'll love it, it's better than Paris.
If the question was a drive straight through to Paris or the train, I'd definitely say the train. But for a 3 day trip, a car gives you the freedom to see a lot of small villages and to make serendipitous discoveries.
It's 750 km and easy peasy if you're on the toll road. If you're going to do that and stop in major cities, the train would be more comfortable. If you are going on back roads, you will add significantly to the mileage and enormously to the driving time and that's without getting lost.
If you only have 3 days, I'd look at a combination of driving a portion and taking the TGV for the rest.
I think it’s fun to do, but drop-off outside Paris near a railwaystation like in Mélun or Fontainebleau or take the TGV from Dijon. As May is still shoulder season finding a place to sleep will not be a problem.
With only 3 days and with direct trains Arles>>Lyon>>Dijon>>Paris, where is the need for a car? Minimise your travel time, instead finding plenty to grab your attention in these historic city centres.
If you have places you know you want to see, then drive. If not, take the train.
If you don't know what places you want to target on the drive, it will just be a long boring drive.
I believe the point is the journey not the destination. Explore - have a ball.
If small town, countryside independent schedule is what you want, Go with the car. Driving always more fun, BUT only if you like to drive. So folks view driving a chore.
Reading lots of posts over the years, seems to me to be a pretty clear divide between the car folks and the train folks opinions. Both have good points . I am obviously in the car camp.
