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Staying in paris and loire-amboise next week-advice?

Posted by (USA) on

Hi folks. Starting our first vaca of the year. Hoping you can help us out. The yellow vest protests have been on going for quite sometime but i was hoping for time specific advice.

Leaving next thursday and coming back the 5th.
Will be in paris from friday thru monday at a hotel in 1st arrondismont and then rent a car from tours to loire valley for another 3 days. My last two nights including saturday will be in paris.

Any advice on what to do on saturdays? What roads or areas to avoid?

Should i be able to go by walking on saturday in paris if im at 1st arrrond or will be in trouble w protests?

Any good restaurants in that area, bakeries, things to do besides obvious-opera museums etc?

Any recommendations for driving in paris in loire -safety etc.

Are there must see chateaus? Our home base is amboise we are staying in town. Anythings to do in amboise restaurants etc?

Posted by
60 posts

From what I have read, the most violent demonstrations today appear to have been at the Place do la Republic which is further east of where you are staying. There should be plenty that it will be fine enjoying away from demonstrations. And, I am sure your hotel will be able to give you good advice. You can always go out to Versailles on the Saturday if you are concerned.

It is probably good planning if you are concerned that you do not intend to be in Paris on May Day, May 1, as that is traditionally a day of protest and last year was a bit violent in Paris.

I am sure other readers will have more suggestions for you.

Sure you will still have a wonderful trip.

Posted by
15133 posts

I was in Paris the last week of March and there over that last Saturday of the month. The Gilets Jaunes had about 5 minutes impact on my day as I spent that amount of time at breakfast checking the RATP app (Metro app) to see which stations were closed. None impacted where I was going that day which was Cluny Museum to Church of Saint-Sulpice to Church of Saint Germain-des-Pres to Delacroix Museum to Rodin Museum and then "home".

There is plenty to do in other areas of Paris that you will have no problem. Just see what Metro stops are closed and make plans in other areas. I think today's disturbances were near Place d'Italie but not 100% sure. You probably wouldn't be going there anyway and it's not in the 1st.

Do download the Metro app to your phone so you can easily check it from your hotel's wifi. If you have worries when you are there, talk to the folks at your hotel reception.

In Amboise, do visit Clos Lucé which was Leonardo da Vinci's home when he lived there. Fascinating home and the gardens have models of some of his ideas.

Posted by
926 posts

Amboise is delightful. We used it as our base as we drove each day to tour the gardens and castles. There is a great bakery right in the town of Amboise where we would buy a pastry each morning before we left to tour. The Seine had flooded that summer so we missed seeing Chambord....but loved Chenonceau. Villandry Gardens are not to be missed.....they are incredible. Cheverny and watching the dogs being fed was fun too. There are a group of people that put fresh flowers in every room in Chenonceau everyday and they are a treat to see. Make sure you tour the small chapel on the grounds of Amboise Castle and see where Leonardo Da Vinci is buried. We stayed at Hotel Le Manior les Minimes in Amboise.......what a place. It made our stay such fun. We had breakfast at Angelina’s on Rue Rivoli in Paris and had the famous hot chocolate and a Mont Blanc.....don’t miss that. Hotel Restaurant La Breche was a great meal in Amboise.

Posted by
5697 posts

Stayed at the other end of the Loire valley this trip and finally saw Azay-le-Rideau -- beautiful setting !
Check your weather forecasts right before you leave -- we are in Paris now, and it's HOT. Two weeks ago, I was wearing a sweater.

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