My wife and I are booked on the Best of Eastern France tour in May. We were considering pre-trip options of Lyon and Strasbourg -- possibly both. My wife is Paris-ed out if such a thing seems credible. Our trip starts in Reims so anywhere we go before it requires train time to get there. I'd like any opinions on my preliminary options and travel required. I'd also like suggestions on other places to go before the tour. We're in the brainstorming phase so open up.
Posted by
Paris
10205 posts
What cities/towns/areas are included in the tour?
Posted by
the Middle Coast
292 posts
Strasbourg would be my pick. It's a simple hop on the train to Reims. At the start of your trip, assuming you are flying into CDG, you can also take a train to Strasbourg directly from the airport. Lyon seems like it would require more backtracking and connections.
Posted by
the Middle Coast
292 posts
Actually, Lyon wouldn't be that much harder, now that I think about it. Longer time spent in transit though!
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6531 posts
Ken, we took this tour earlier this year, and spent several days pre-tour in Reims! We had a wonderful time, and were able to take leisurely visits to places the tour doesn't go.
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
Nancy is a good possibility if you happen to like Art Nouveau architecture and decorative arts. It's reasonably well-connected to CDG and to Reims by rail, the trips taking about 2 hours by the fastest trains. Both trips would require a transfer, I believe.
The tour also spends a day in Colmar and a day in the surrounding villages. Strasbourg would be a possibility for your pre-tour time. It appears there may be fewer good transportation options between Strasbourg and Reims, but there are some.
The tour spends a full day in Reims, and you'll have some (non-jetlagged) extra time on the initial day of the tour. To me Reims wasn't so wonderful that I would choose extra time there rather than somewhere else.
Posted by
OP
Spring, Texas
635 posts
Here's some additional information if anyone cares to comment. A TGV train leaves directly from CDG to Reims/Strasbourg and Lyon. It is a pretty long haul from Lyon to get to Reims. I'm looking at putting Lyon as an after tour extension but I need to look into it more.
If we went from Paris, Giverney/Rouen and Saint Germain-en-Laye are credible day trips. Saint Germain-en-Laye isn't in the RS book but it's an easy RER ride from Paris. The Picasso Museum has recently reopened and we haven't seen it.
Any thoughts on off the RS book sites in or around Paris?
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
Troyes is 1-1/2 hours away by regional train (so no advantage to buying tickets in advance). It has a large historic area filled with half-timbered buildings all askew and I don't think I encountered any other English speakers when I visited the city in 2017. There were also no tour groups. The French do know about it, of course.
You can reach Nancy (Art Nouveau) in just over 1-1/2 hours by TGV.
I don't remember whether either is mentioned in Rick's French guide book, but they certainly do not get much ink if they're there.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Looks like Lyon is not included on the tour (though Colmar is). So I'd strongly suggest Lyon, if you will be spending at least 4 nights before the tour.
It is an amazing fabulous city, and there are frequent direct trains there from deGaulle (and from Gare Lyon).
If your wife softens her stance on Paris, there are many rewarding day trips from there, and it is logistically sweeter with the tour. You may also consider adding Lyon at the end rather than the start.