We are a couple 74 years old, this is our third trip to Paris, we definitely want to visit Loire Valley and will rent a car once we arrive . We Have been to Normandy and the south of France. We Would train from CDG to our first destination, then Loire and finally Paris. 7 nights for the first two spots followed by 7 nights in Paris. Bordeaux looks possibly too big, maybe St Emilion?
Posted by
3130 posts
Bordeaux would make an excellent first stop. Take the train there from CDG:
https://www.sncf-connect.com/
https://www.thetrainline.com/en-us
After a day or so in Bordeaux, I might rent a car, continue to visit the area for a few days (Saint-Émilion for example). Next drive to Tours or some surrounding town to visit the region. Many tourists like to stay in Amboise, which has grown significantly over last number of years, almost making it a destination all by itself. These two destination will fill your first week.
Drive to and drop off the car in Paris. If you aren't familiar with driving in Paris, you can always drop off the car at ORY, it's just off A6 which is the route into Paris anyway, then take the métro into Paris.
Posted by
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
10 posts
I second the suggestion from Tocard, as this is almost exactly what my wife and I did a few years ago. We took a train from Paris to Bordeaux where we stayed for a few days as a home base for wine tourism. There are a lot of options for taking guided tours from Bordeaux into wine country, including a bus for a day trip into St. Emilion. After a few nights in Bordeaux we rented a car and took a few days driving through the vineyards for independent visits (staying at vineyard one night) and then into the Loire Valley to see the chateaus. For the Loire Valley portion of our trip we stayed in Tours which we found to be a lovely city! We ultimately dropped our car off at the airport in Paris (as suggested) and concluded our trip with a few nights in Paris. Overall it was a great trip!
Posted by
OP
Connecticut
2 posts
Thanks. Please advise….We are now thinking of 2 nights Bordeaux and 2 in Sarlat. We would continue to Amboise and stay for 4, then Paris for 6. We borrowed one night from Paris ( been there twice) to add to Sarlat. How does that sound?
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2834 posts
murphymp,
Two nights in a place means just one full day. IMO I would stay in Bordeaux for those four nights. That gives you three full days there which can be easily filled with things to do. Sarlat and the Dordogne area need way more time. Everything around there requires a car to get to. Although Sarlat is a lovely city, I wouldn't drive there from Bordeaux to just see Sarlat. The drive from Bordeaux will take 3 hours. Sarlat is the one place in the Dordogne valley area that is a pain to drive and park in. Save the Dordogne for a time when you can spend at least 5 days there.
You can spend one day in Bordeaux at the Cite Du Vin and then a walk around the old part of the city, where there are some great dining choices, or along the riverfront. Next day visit the Museum of Acquitaine and the cathedral, and the Musee Du Vin et Du Negoce. One evening you could attend the Bassins Des Lumieres. Bordeaux has an excellent tram system for getting around town, as driving in the city can be awful. Third day (or any other day) take a guided tour of wineries in St. Emilion side or Bordeaux side of the river. There are many to be found, and you don't have to worry about having a drink. (The French are very scrupulous about imbibing and driving. Their alcohol limit is stricter than what you might find in some US states.)
You can pick up your rental car when leaving Bordeaux at the train station or airport for your drive to the Loire.