Loire valley, France OR Rothenburg, Germany

The Loire Valley is a large geographic area, consisting of many attractive towns and chateaux. Rothenburg is a single walled town, similar to many other towns in Germany except for the higher concentration of souvenir stores. I would go out of my way to visit the Loire and spend a few nights. I would only bother to go to Rothenburg if it lay along my route of travel.

I have been to both twice and I agree...Rothenburg is wonderful, but an afternoon/overnight is all you need. The Loire is a large area w/various beautiful chateau and lovely villages. You could spend a few days and not see it all.

The Loire valley rather resembles the likes of the Rhine river gorge, the Mosel river valley, The Elb river valley or even the Black Forrest on the German side - or maybe even Southern Bavaria (in size, distances between the sights etc.). How much time do you have and will you be visiting something else on this trip anyway (like a larger city or another area somewhere else)?

Which one works best with the rest of your itinerary?

Will you have a car or be using the train? How long do you have? I have visited each 3 times - Loire varying from 1 night to 9 nights, Rothenburg 1 night to 3 nights. Obviously there is more to do in the Loire, but if you visit areas near Rothenburg, they are equal.

Thanks for the replies so far! To provide more info: Yes - I am planning to have a car (looking at the schedules I am seeing the trains are taking quite a bit of time between places like Bacharach & Paris or Rothenburg & Paris - even between Bacharach & Rothenburg). Planned schedule in continental Europe: Day 1: Arrive from London in Brussels via Eurostar (morning 11 am) - pick up the car - go to Brugge Day 2: Drive to Amsterdam Day 3: Amsterdam Day 4: Amsterdam Day 5: Leave Amsterdam, arrive in Bacharach Day 6: Rhine valley Alternative 1: Day 7: Leave Bacharach early morning & drive to Rothenburg (2 and half hours per google - may be 3 practically). Enjoy Rothenburg during the day, night in Rothenburg Day 8: Leave Rothenburg to drive to Paris (7 hours per Google) & drop the car Day 9 onwards: in Paris next 4 days then back to US Alternative 2: Day 7: Leave Bacharach early morning & drive to Amboise (7 and 45 min per google - may be 9 hours practically). Night in Amboise Day 8: Loire valley
Day 9 onwards: drive back to Paris in the morning, in Paris next 4 days then back to US So either Rothenburg or Loire valley should be the same as far as on the way. I will be with my wife - taking the once in a lifetime opportunity of leaving kids home with my wife's parents & brother. So this trip we don't mind a little hectic as no kids. Lot of the above is not booked but will do today (as going in June - trip got planned last week) - so suggestions on variations are welcome.

Okay some logistical points. Unless you've got some unusual deal, if you don't return the car to Belgium you will pay a pretty substantial drop-off fee. Based only on the sketch of your itinerary, you don't really need a car for this trip except to visit Loire chateaux (though you might want one to explore the Rhine beyond Rothenberg).

I have to agree that a car seems unnecessary for most of this trip. Picking a car up in one country and returning in another is quite expensive. I would use the train, but get a car in the Loire if you choose to go there. Check Auto Europe for car rental information. They are based in Maine and have a toll free number if you want to speak to someone. You should definitely make car arrangements before you go.

After more research on bahn.de - I am coming to a similar conclusion that car may not be needed except in Loire valley. So still the biggest question that remains is Loire valley or Rothenburg. One more question I have is - can you get onboard a TGV in France with the select Eurail pass?

"can you get onboard a TGV in France with the select Eurail pass?" If your select pass includes France as one of the countries, and if there are seats available for pass holders, and if you pay the add'l reservation fee - then yes.

One more question I have is - can you get onboard a TGV in France with the select Eurail pass? Yes you can, if you have previously made and paid for a pass-holder seat reservation, and your pass includes France and you are using one of your pass days. No, if not. BTW - the pass-holder seat reservations are rationed, so it is best to get your reservations early so as to avoid disappointment. If you don't use a pass and just buy the ticket, full priced or a Smoove or other discount, the reservation is included in the price you pay and no other fee is required.

Abhi, another vote for the Loire Valley and the chateaux! As you noted, the area is not covered in the RS "Best of Europe" tour but it is included in "Paris and the Heart of France" and "Paris and the South of France" itineraries. The Loire Valley is a beautiful area, full of history. Just depends on how the locations fit into your bigger plan.

Thanks for the replies! Donna - yes that is the direction I have decided to take. In fact I decided to skip Rhineland/Rhine valley - instead just concentrate on northern France (around 8 days), Amsterdam (2 days), Brugge (1 day) & London (3 days). I will take a rental car from Gare du Nord on arriving from Amsterdam via Thalys - which I will use to go around including Loire valley (will keep things reasonably flexible as far as hotels concerned - booking all cancellable).

Rothenburg is cute, the Loire Valley is awesome.

Sounds like a great revised itinerary! For your trip, a railpass probably isn't the best deal. You're best off buying point-to-point tickets in advance, as long as you're willing to be locked into a specific train (more than worth it for the discounts, IMO). If you haven't already, check out seat61.com for information about buying point to point tickets online directly from the various national rail lines.

I enjoy both, but in this instance- Loire valley. More to see there, "convenient" to Paris. Howver it really deserves about three days.