paris - day trip questions

For the Champagne tour, I arranged for a tour with a guide with a small mini-van - carries 5 people at most. We were able to drive to several caves, vineyards, and some WWI sites as well. The price was right. and there was no need for other transportation - he picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel. RS France 2011 has some suggestions for those without a car for a Champagne tour in Reims. I did not do the Loire Valley chateaux from Paris but did visit Fountainebleu on a day trip from Paris - it was beautiful - this was a big bus tour however, not as nice as the Champagne tour.

I did the Reims trip without a car. I only saw one Champagne House, Taittinger, and walked there from the tourist information office. It's maybe a mile. It's also near the pilgrimage church (can't remember the name). Didn't go to any vineyards, as they are obviously out of town. Just took the train to/from Paris.

I have done a daytrip to Loire Valley and seen both Chambord and Chenonceau. I had been to them before on a longer visits,, so didn't mind just popping in,, this time with my 14 yr old son in tow. I didn't want to drive, so used Cityrama,, I have also used ParisVisions and the two companies are reputable and well known. Viatour is not an actual tour company, just a middle man agency that sells other peoples tours.. but they are legit, so what I would do is check out the websites of Cityrama and ParisVisions, see what price their tours to Loire Valley are, then see if Viatour is offering a better price( sometimes they buy blocks of tickets so get a good rate,, sometimes though they cost more then booking directly with tour company).

We have used both Cityrama and paris Visions. Both long established reputable companies (may even be related). Both seem to do one and two day tours to the Loire Chateaux. Champagne- the bigger houses seem to do a more organized tour. We have done most large and small on general and specialized wine tours. Names to try Moet & Chandon, Mumms, Bollinger, Taittinger. One of them does the deal where they open the bottle with a swipe of the saber- cant remember which one. Reims cathedral is definitely worth more than a quick visit

I researched the Rheims idea - but didn't do it . . . yet. You can see 2-3 champagne houses in one day, you will need taxis, you can ask the winery to order one for you. Most of the houses require you to reserve a tour in advance. I rejected the idea of a day trip to the Loire Valley - too far, too little time. I have done day trips to Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chantilly and Chartres (no chateau but a wonderful cathedral).

Hi Jen,
You might want to check out a book called An Hour from Paris by Anabel Simms. She gives detailed information about twenty different possibilities, including how to get to them all by train from central Paris. Several of the choices are chateaux.

I have done a day trip to Reims without a car. Easy train trip. It is very helpful to get a city map in the train station information center before you walk out to go toward the cathedral. Map out the walk before you head that way. It is a pleasant walk to the cathedral. The TI station near the cathedral is very helpful. You can book some of the champagne tours in advance, or the TI station can tell you what tours are available in English that day. We rode the city bus directly to our tour and back to the train station but taxis are available. There is also a nice street with lots of restaurants and people watching a few blocks from the cathedral. Can't remember the name though. Reims was a great day after the hustle and bustle of Paris.