Hello,
Our family of three (with an adult daughter) are planning our two weeks trip to France in August to explore the Loire Valley, Dordogne, Bordeaux, Basque counties (France, Spain). We will be flight in/out of CDG and since it is our third trip to Paris, we have already done all the sights seeing in Paris. For this coming trip we plan to use public transportation (where available and/or to cut down on our travel time) and will rent a car to explore smaller cities. As of now we plan to take either an OUIgo/TGV train to Bordeaux the day after our arrival. We will stay in Bordeaux for 1 night and rent a car to explore nearby areas for three nights. Then we will return the rental car and take trains to Basque countries, stay 2 nights on the French side (St-Jean-de-Luz and/or Bayonne). We plan to stay for 5 nights on the Spain side to visit Bilbao/San Sebastián before heading back toward France border. In France We will take a train up north toward the Loire Valley and stay there for 2 nights. I have read RS France book and I am so overwhelmed with so many interesting places to visit and would love to hear suggestions/feedbacks from this forum readers/ experienced travelers for itineraries or places that should not be missed. Many thanks in advance.
Lan
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6493 posts
I've been to the Loire twice and have really enjoyed Amboise and have found it really convenient to chateau and wineries. I've also spent a night in Saumur which I didn't enjoy as much as Amboise but it was convenient to some chateaus and wineries I wanted to visit. I research extensively for my trips. I have visited Chenonceau, Villandry, Clos du Luce, Chaumont, Chambord, Azay le rideau, and Saumur. Roughly in order of favorites, though I really enjoyed all of them. Amboise has a quaint downtown area with restaurants on a street directly below Chateau Amboise. Very picturesque.
Posted by
SF
72 posts
Definitely go to Chenonceau. It is charming. The Da Vinci house in home in Blois was interesting but less than we expected. We are returning to the Loire this summer and will visit Chinon and some of the chateaus in the area, but what I am looking forward to is the chance to kayak/canoe one of the rivers near Chinon/Saumur. Also, check to see if there is anything scheduled at Chambord. It can be overwhelming but it is grand.
Posted by
OP
San Jose, Ca, Usa
38 posts
@Andrew, we would love to visit Dourdogne and its caves but thinking that we are already packed with too many places to visit. Do you think a night in Dourdogne would be enough? I know that RS does not like Bordeaux, how's about St. Emilion? We would love to visit Salat as well
@julesmenssen, Amboise and Chenonceau are on our bucket list.
@Linda, Kajak/Canoe on the river sounds so much fun, we will definitely ck out Chambord.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2409 posts
hey lan
my BFF and her family come from the French basque region, near st jean pied de port. she's told me a lot along with pictures. couple ideas for you if you have a car. Lots of small villages in the countryside, orchards and farmlands.
esplette - home of the red peppers
itxassou - home of the famous black cherries, cherry brandy and cherry confit
rhunetrain.com/uk - runs up the mountain for great views
biarritzbylocals.com has some tours and other things to do.
walk thru saint jean de luz, drive to saint jean pied de port - walk thru small village have lunch or a glass of wine.
hoteleskualduna/chezkatina - family owned hotel/restaurant that my BFF stays at.
guide-du-paysbasque.com more info
area of Biarritz known for ocean/beaches and surfing, bayonne for ham and chocolate, then across border to san Sebastian and other northern spain towns. turn car in france and rent in spain so not a large drop off fee.
hope this gets you started and have a restful, relaxed, no maddening crowds. check booking.com for places to stay.
enjoy and please let me know how trip goes. thanks
aloha
Posted by
OP
San Jose, Ca, Usa
38 posts
@princess pupule, Mahalo and Thank so much for your suggestions. I am so excited and can't wait to visit places that you have suggested. I am currently looking into rental car picked up/drop off locations and if you know of a nearly rental car agency please let me know.
@Andrews, Dordogne visit is very possible should we decide to skip Bordeaux as we are from California and we have previously visited Burgundy. We will then have at least 2 nights to explore Dordogne. We have just emailed Font de Gaume for more information on advance ticket booking. Thanks for your input.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1864 posts
Font de Gaume no longer has any option for purchasing tickets in advance. If you want to visit that cave, you have to go there very early and sit in one of the 56 numbered chairs. When the ticket office opens, you will be allowed to purchase a ticket for a later time that day. There are other caves near Les Eyzies, but Font de Gaume is considered the most interesting one. Lascaux IV, which is a replica, is supposed to be very worth the visit. Everything possible has been done to make it an exact copy of the long-closed original Lascaux. The RS France book has excellent cave information although it was published before Lascaux IV opened.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2409 posts
hey bruddah
are you either from hawaii or have visited? i'm a big island girl (madame pele's volcano/lava eruption) home. family not near destruction. sad situation, madame pele's9Old hawaiian legend and goddess of fire) upset and she blew her top. by the way, i lived in campbell in early sixties going to elementary and high school. lol
I'm glad you appreciated my post of the basque area, i wish i could help you with rental car info but i never rented a car. since you have rental why not drive to saint jean de luz, spend there, do have hotels booked? drive thru the areas i sent you and return car back at bayonne or biarritz station. make sure you have you IDL you get from AAA.
I would post something here about car rentals in france and all options out there. i know it's in some posts here so you'll have to research back, someone will help you. Mahalos
aloha