A friend and I found cheap tickets to Paris in the fall. We have been to Paris before . We were thinking of taking the train to Amsterdam and Germany for 14 days. Now we are rethinking Germany. Would our time be better spent in Amsterdam and the Loire Valley or other areas of France. We have also been to the French Rivera.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7027 posts
With two weeks I'd consider Amsterdam, Belgium (Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels), and/or the Alsace region of France (Strasbourg, Colmar, the wine villages, etc). Any combination of those plus a couple of days in Paris - you can never have too many visits to Paris.
Posted by
New York, NY
1582 posts
ebrichetto2 - You can tour the Alsace region of France and then do the Netherlands. Towns like Colmar, Strasbourg, and Ribeauvillé are in Alsace and are charming. The Loire Valley is also a great option. If you do decide Loire Valley will be one of your destinations on the trip, then combine it with the Dordogne region of France then head to Netherlands afterward. Are you flying into CDG in France and out of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport to head home?
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4318 posts
Amsterdam, Loire, Colmar.
Posted by
San Diego, California
4692 posts
Keep in mind the French labor strike situation; we were in France in December when the big one started, and had to scramble to get out of the country. At that time , it affected planes, trains, buses, trams, and other sympathetic unions. I'm not saying don't go to France, but for peace of mind perhaps don't have Paris as your flight entry/exit point. There's a lot of info here under the France Forum, and on OP who's in France who frequently updates the situation.
Enjoy your trip and safe travels!
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thank you , I appreciate the advice.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
When in the fall? If it's September, I would suggest spending all 14 days in Germany, especially in North Germany and the eastern part. If not that, all 14 days in France, ie revisit Paris plus visiting other areas, including Alsace-Lorraine. Skip Amsterdam and Belgium.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I think these are all great ideas and that it is a matter of personal taste rather than logistics.
It sounds as though you do not know what your personal taste is. Know thyself or flip a coin; I'll bet you'll be happy either way.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1549 posts
Going by your other post, you seem to be a little confused. France is more than Paris and the Riviera.
Posted by
7661 posts
Option one- Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge, then on to Luxembourg, then Germany (Trier, Mosel valley, Cologne, Rhine River, Rudesheim, Mainz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, France, Triberg and Titisee (Black Forest).
Option two- Normany (D-Day beaches, US Cemetery, Bayeux (cathedral and 900 year old Bayeux Tapestry), Mt. St. Michel and more. then on to the Loire Valley to see wonderful Chateux. Blois is a great place to stay. If you have time head down to Bordeaux, closer to Spain.
Option three- Do Normandy, then Loire Valley then on to Provence (Rhone River Valley) and end at the South of France, Nice, Monaco and Cannes.
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1370 posts
How about spending some time in northern France and Belgium on your way to Amsterdam? On the way back to Paris you could visit the Rhine Valley in Germany for a few days. The Loire is in the opposite direction and you'll be spending time doubling back if you go that route. If you want chateaus there are a couple in suburban Paris.
Posted by
Irving
2948 posts
If you've already been to FR go elsewhere.