My wife and I will arrive in Paris on the morning of Thursday, April 30, 2015 and depart from Paris on Saturday morning May 9th. We've never traveled to Europe before and had a few questions:
1. Is it best to avoid Paris on Labor Day? We're interested in spending three nights in the Loire and two nights in Normandy. The remainder of our time will be in Paris. Should we immediately leave Paris upon arrival and spend Labor Day in the country, or would it be best to visit Paris first?
2. Is three different "stops" pushing it for such a short trip? I want to experience each location and not just spend all my time driving between locations.
I really appreciate any insight you might have.
Jordan
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
9 Full days = 8 nights.
Plan 1: I would suggest 4 nights in Paris (the minimum to see the big sites), and 2 nights in each of 2 other places.
Plan 2: 5 nights in Paris and 3 nights somewhere else.
As this is your first trip to Europe, you want a taster and a bit of variety which will bring you back later, and there are no places to avoid because you have done them before.
On your first day, do a guided bus tour to get an appreciation of the city
Yes, 1st May is a holiday, so all shops and museums will be closed everywhere in France. Just stroll the streets or the banks of the Seine, stopping off at a café when you get tired.
Both Normandy and the Loire need a car, and the Loire needs more than 2 nights. You need to pick up a car outside the centre of Paris. No way drive in central Paris. You could pick up a car for your 2nd 4 nights, and drop it off at the airport. In between do 2 nights Loire valley, 2 nights Normandy.
My revolutionary suggestion: a triangular trip by train: 2 nights Brugge, then direct to London, and 2 nights London, train back to Paris. Each leg of this triangle takes 2-3 hours by train.
P.S. 1st May is not a holiday in the UK, instead the first Monday in May is a holiday.
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1429 posts
Jordan - 3 stops is not too much in that time frame. Are you renting a car or traveling by train? If renting a car I would actually take a night from the Loire and try and make it to Mt. St. Michel for a night. My very first time in France was a side trip from London and spent 3 nights in France - 1 night Paris, 1 night Normandy and 1 night Mt St. Michel. Had an absolute blast! Have learned to slow down a bit though:)
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
How about this.
Upon arrival take the train directly to Amboise in the Loire valley and get your car there (maybe not until the next day). Spend 3 nights and drive to Bayeux or other base on Normandy. You can either drive or take the train to Paris. (There should be no fee or penalty for dropping the car off in a different city, that's a USA thing.)
Unless you know you are good with it, I would not drive much on the first jet-lagged day. Hence the train.
Saving Paris for last in this way just saves you the need to check in and out of a Paris hotel a second time.