Paris-Loire Valley-Dordogne

I would suggest at least two days in the Loire (you lose travel time there and back), there are so many different styles of chateaux, and most take a couple of hours to truly experience them. I dont think you will regret it. And if you get tired of chateaux, you could spend some time at Chartres Cathedral on the way (One of my favorite spots in all France)

You're going back and forth to Paris, renting a car for a couple of days, turning it in riding a train, getting another car. From Paris to Amboise is a two-hour drive. From Amboise to Brive is three and a half, plus another thirty minutes to Sarlat. From Paris to Sarlat is five hours. Two short-term car rentals cost more than a longer one for the same amount of time. Add up the to and fro train time and the time spent turning in and picking up cars. Add in the train time to Brive. I'll bet you wind up picking up a car as you leave Paris and turning it in either back in Paris or somewhere down south.

I'm with Brian. Give yourself two full days in the Loire. As a daytrip from Paris, you can't expect to see very much.

No. This itinerary is impossible unless you are looking for a meltdown or worse.

I agree with Brian and Ed - drive from Paris to Amboise then to Sarlat, staying two days in Amboise. Chenonceau is my favorite chateau and Leonardo de Vinci's house (Clos de Luce) in Amboise is very worthwhile.

Thank you so much for all of your input and insight. Really helps with our planning.

I agree with the idea to drive from Paris to Amboise, then on to Sarlat. On the number of days in the Loire, it depends on how many days you have for your trip in total, and how much time in the Dordogne. We took our son (10yo at the time) to Paris and the Loire, then to the Dordogne two years later. He preferred (as do we parents) the castles in the Dordogne; the older, more ruinuous, defensive castles, as opposed to the more ornamental castles of the Loire. They're all wonderful and interesting; it's more a matter of personal preference. So think about what kinds of things you and your kids want to see and do.

We are planning on 14 nights in France. Fly into Paris and stay in the city for 5 nights, the Loire Valley for 2 nights, Dordogne base in Domme for 5 nights, then back to Paris for 2 nights. If we were to rent the car in Paris to get to Amboise, how is driving in the city?

We rented a car in Paris and drove down to Amboise this past June. It is a little crazy getting out of town. We rented a GPS system, the rental agented entered our address in Amboise and we were on our way. We had never used GPS before, so it was a learning experience. I recommend having a good map as back-up.

Geetting in and out is a piece of cake, especially out. Leaving: Follow your nose on a main artery until you hit the peripherique and go for it - - I'd be surprised if you had to make more than three turns until you were on the ring road. Coming back: You probably won't spend the last night in town, so dump it at the airport and spend the night there. If you do spend the night in town, it's easy enough to find a convenient place to get rid of it. What you don't want to do is use it to move around the city. The metro is faster and finding a place to park is miserable - - no matter what the price.