Business trip - Germany

The fastest train from Frankfurt to Paris (ICE) takes just under 4 hours. Not that long. Leave in the morning, have lunch in Paris.

If you want to see Paris, go to Paris.

Four hours - that's all. I'll stay 2 days in Germany and 2 in Paris. Getting info from those that have been there is very helpful. Thanks.

Here's the best website to use to buy tickets. If you buy them in advance, you will save money:

German Rail

To get a glimpse of Germany before Paris:

Day 1: Train to Mainz for a look around the old town there; train to Koblenz through the scenic Rhine Gorge, drop bags at hotel, catch a train to Braubach for a tour of Marksburg Castle (open 11-4) www.marksburg.de . Back to Koblenz for evening.

Day 2: Train to Cochem and stow bags in lockers for a walk through the attractive old town and a tour of Reichsburg Castle if you want (before March 10, tours at 11, 12, and 1 on W Sa and Su); train to Trier for the night; it's Germany's oldest city, lots of Roman history and buildings/ruins.

Before you get all involved in what to do after your business trip, I urge you to google "German business etiquette." I do extensive negotiation, ect in Germany, and you had better be ready to follow the ques in meetings because the process is not the same as in the US.

If this is your only chance to get anywhere near Versailles and Versailles is what you want to see more than anything else in the world.....

Train, planes, donkey carts -- three days of travel for a one-day visit --- do it! .....or you could just kill time looking for something to see that you don't really care about.

If you want to see Paris, go for it. The train ride is fun, you get to see a bit of the land, though it isn't spectacular, it is still interesting to see how the architecture changes from one country to the next, plus going through towns is always interesting to me. You might see if you can get one of the special train fares, but I am thinking they are probably already sold it, since they go really quickly.

Fly home from Paris since you will already be there.

While in Frankfurt, look up some of my old posts to see what kind of things you can see and do while you are here on business.

Thanks so much for the help.
I love getting the suggested itinerary from Russ and the encouragement from Jo, Ed and Frank. I'm going for it!! I may ask for more help closer to the date!
THANKS again....oh and if anyone sees Rick, tell him "THANKS"