We will be in Benelux and France 3 weeks beginning 3rd week of April, 2009. We have received a lot of positive feedback on the Benelux countries and are wondering that after we spend 3 days touring the D-Day sites while in a B&B in Bayeau (any recommendations) we want to spend a week in the Loire Valley area. Any recommendations relative to itineraries for a 4 day trip through this Valley? We have read RS and others suggestions, but would like to receive personal experiences. We like to use public transportation, but have no problem renting a car. We plan on taking a train to Paris for a 3 day visit. Any recommendations of a 3-day itinerary? Thanks, Dorsey
Posted by
Denver
799 posts
Unless you've been to Paris before, well actually even if you have, I'd spend 4 nights in the Loire Valley and more nights in Paris.
I've visited the Loire Valley several times. Twice, we stayed just outside the lovely town of Amboise. It's small enough to walk around, but big enough to have good restaurants and cafes. And centrally located for many of the Loire Valley chateaux, so you can do day trips from Amboise. The other time, we stayed in Blere, which was also lovely, but smaller and a little less centrally located.
I would definitely rent a car, so you can easily get to whatever chateaux you want to visit. On our last trip to the area, we dropped our rental car in Tours and took the train into Paris. That worked ok, but it would have made more sense to just drive from Amboise into Paris, to the train station on the south side of the city (and then a taxi to our hotel).
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I second the recommendation for a rental car in the Loire. It is possible to explore the area by public transportation, but it isn't very efficient. My recommendation would be to find a book in the library or bookstore about the chateaux, and see which ones particularly interest you. Plan on fitting in 2-3 per day (2 is more realistic). Some of most popular to visit include Chambord (magnificent on the outside- its the one with the hundreds of chimneys- but a little bare on the inside), Chenonceau (the one that spans a river, also has great gardens), Blois (impressive spiral staircase), Cheverny (supposedly the most lavishly decorated), and Chaumont (looks like a Disney castle and has probably the most impressive garden).
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9220 posts
There is tons of stuff on here about B&B's in Bayeux and doing the Battlebus tours. Most of it is from personal experiences. I am not at home and therefore don't have access to my favorites and can't send you the websites, but you should be able to pull them up from the Helpline.