We will be in Paris/Disney for 1 week (Louvre, DDay beaches tour, Versailles, DLP), departing from DLP on a Wed, flying out of Zurich Sunday AM. Our tentative plans are as follows, but would welcome side-trips (tips). We have been to Paris and Zurich before. Family of 6 with teens/young adults. We thought since we are locked into flying out of ZRH that we should take advtange of some of the French towns that we might not get to otherwise. But, I got such great advice for a prior trip for things I had not considered, that we are open to other suggestions for 3 days between Paris/Zurich. Not big museum fans, looking for scenic/active/exploring/foodie. I have a good rate for a minivan to either Colmar or Dijon (which both have easy connections to Zurich), but we can solely train, as well. thanks!
Wed--rental minivan to Meaux (WWI museum), Reims (Cathedral, WWI Surrender Room), (maybe Verdun), hotel in Nancy (Ibis);
Thurs-drive to Kaysersberg Castle, BW Bristol hotel Colmar (2 nights)
Fri--drive/explore villages/Colmar
Sat--train to Zurich
Posted by
Somerville, MA
653 posts
Yes, that's a good plan. An alternative would be to spend 3 nights in Colmar and use the extra time to explore Freiburg Germany. Yet another alternative would be to spent 3 nights in Colmar and use the extra time to Europa Park http://www.europapark.de/en
Thanks,
Matt
Posted by
Chicago
8552 posts
We once drove from Amsterdam to Provence and then to Paris and along the way stopped on the upper Rhine for a 3 hours boat trip in the area with the beautiful vineyard/castle views (in comparison the Melk to Krem trip on the Danube this fall was not close in terms of scenic beauty). We then spent a couple of nights in Strasbourg which we loved -- the town is charming and manageable and you could certainly do a day trip to Colmar from there -- or see Colmar on your way south. Alsace is an interesting area with fabulous food.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Family of 6 with luggage will be really really tight in a minivan. Been there done that in France and Germany.
Posted by
OP
washington, dc
395 posts
thanks, Tim. We did fine in Calif. this summer. That is also why I am thinking of breaking up the drive. We will have only have 1 small backpack and 1 carry-on each.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
California? You do realize European automobiles (and minivans) aren't the same as the models in the USA?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33834 posts
So 6 people, 6 backpacks, and 6 carry ons, in a European people carrier or SUV?
You may have enough seats for the 6 people, but double triple check if there will be covered and out of sight room for all 12 pieces of luggage behind the back seat.
It is rare when all 3 rows are set up that there is much space at all, and of course it is a major danger if you carry the luggage in the passenger compartment. Don't do that.