May 26 Itinerary Paris/Loire/Bordeaux/Avignon

Can you get a car in Chartres? What if you went straight to Chartres via train after you flew and saved Paris for the end? I have no idea about car rentals in France but thought I'd suggest. Have a wonderful time!

pbscd has a good idea. Fly to Orly Airport and pick up your car there in order to drive directly to Chartres. It's on the way to Chartres, much more convenient than CDG.

Second, save Avignon for your next trip. You don't have enough time in either Avignon or Sarlat to justify the drives. Even lumping all your days into Sarlat, you barely have enough time for the area. Finally, drive back to Bordeaux to return the car and take the TGV to Paris for a few days.

Steve,
I feel you are shortchanging the Sarlat/Dordogne area. Based on the layout and locations of the many sights and things to do there, I would give it four full days minimum. I agree that adding Avignon is a bit too much in the amount of time you have. You have allocated 1 1/2 days for Sarlat, a very short time as sights are spread out. Spend those Avignon-allocated nights in Sarlat (or any of the many towns in the Dordogne/Lot valleys). You are using up just about a whole day going from Sarlat to Avignon, anyway.

Regarding drive times, what you have is optimistic. We use Viamichelin.com to estimate our drive times in France and have always found them to be too short. Likewise Google drive times. They are a good source for routes, etc., but seem to assume no time for gas/food/comfort stops and any possible traffic problems. They also tend to use the autoroutes as opposed to regular (D) roads. I would add an hour to each one of your travel time calculations, and maybe two hours from Amboise to Bordeaux.

If you skip Avignon, you could drive back to Bordeaux from Sarlat (about 2 1/2-3 hours) and drop your car there at the train station or airport. There is a TGV from Bordeaux to Paris (Gare Montparnasse), as well as to CDG. However, pbscd's suggestion of saving Paris for the end is a good idea also. I wouldn't want to return to Paris on the day of my flight home, but I see you have allowed for that on May 29. The TGV from Bordeaux takes just over 2 hours.

Fyi, when you have made you final decision, be sure to reserve your TGV spots as soon as they become available for the times you want. Prices go up as time passes. The seats will be the same, but lower fares go fast. The difference for a later reservation can be substantial.

You have some wonderful p;places on your itinerary. Enjoy! Amusez-vous bien!

I agree with the above posters. Slow travel has some merits as it gives you time to savor where you are and have time to enjoy serendipity of discovering some place that was a pleasant surprise. Avignon and Provence has a different vibe, Early Autumn is a good time to enjoy Harvest Markets. Also driving straight from Salat to Avignon is by-passing some great stuff. Putting Paris at the end is a good idea. Bon Voyage!

I agree with the poster who said if you can train to Chartres and pick your car up there, it would be much better than picking it up in Paris and driving from there.

I also think you need more time in Sarlat. There is so much to see and do, one full day is not nearly enough. I'm with those who say skip Avignon and add those days to Sarlat/Dordogne. We stayed 3 days in the Dordogne a few years ago, and I wish we had had more time.

Cut out Avignon and add those nights to sarlat. Since you will be well rested consider skipping Chartres in favor of an extra Loire night. Then swap the order of Bordeaux and sarlat.

I agree with the previous posters, forget Avignon.

If you do keep Avignon, be aware that your estimated travel time of 5.5 hours from Sarlat to Avignon is extremely optimistic.
With one or two short breaks, allow at least 7 hours, and that's assuming you don't encounter traffic problems and don't take the wrong route.

Also note that May 25th is a public holiday (making it a 3-day weekend for the French), so you won't be alone on the roads from Friday 22 to Monday 25.

Add me to the list to consider more time in the Dordogne. We based in Beynac in October last year for a week and loved it. We could have used a few extra days. We also could have used an extra couple of days in Bordeaux.