Train or Car rental in Loire valley

Car rental in the Loire Chateaux Country gives you flexibility you won't have if you're limited to train and bus. The various Chateaux are in the country, not in towns near rail connections. A car will also get you most easily to Mont St Michel, from the Loire (not from Paris)--it is more difficult to reach by public transportation. However, Versailles is most easily and typically done as a day trip from Paris, it's only a 30-minute trip from Paris by RER (Paris regional) train.

I agree with Kent that the Loire is most easily explored by car, for the reasons he mentioned. Also, navigation through this area is extremely easy, for those who may worry about getting lost. Another option, however, would be to take an organized multi-day bus tour of the region. I don't know of any specific companies that offer this service, but I know they exist.

You mentioned a "day trip" to Versailles and Mont St. Michel? From Paris or from the Loire? Versailles is an easy day trip from Paris, a bit harder but doable from the Loire. I don't recommend Mont St. Michel as a daytrip from anywhere except other areas of Normandy or Brittany, because the narrow confines of the Mont become absolutely choked with other daytrippers by late morning. Mont St. Michel is best experienced early in the morning, or at night (or both!).

We did this trip and I highly recomend the car for this. The most difficult thing for us was picking the car up in Paris and making our way out of Paris. In the train station, we could not find the rental car office. With a lot of asking and a lot of wandering, we finally found it. Then leaving, we missed whatever turn we were suppose to take to get to Versailles - luckily my husband has a great sense of direction and eventually all signs point to Versailles. After that it was just a matter of following mapquest directions. The Tollway in France is very slick. When getting on the freeway - you get a ticket. You pay only when you get off the freeway at exits. So from Versailles down to almost Amboise, we rode the freeway will relative ease. There are plenty of gas stations to stop at so you don't have to leave the freeway to gas up or take breaks. The car makes it so you don't have to be on any timetable or have to catch a train. We toured Versailles until we were ready to leave and then we jumped in our car an left. One of my husbands favorite things was driving around the Loire and just exploring. If we got lost - it wasn't a big deal because we were in the country and you can't throw a stone without hitting a chateaux. So you are never far from something cool. Highly recommend the chateaux, Chinon-Seux...I am not spelling that right but it is pronounced SHE-KNOWN-SO. After that we drove to Avignon and then finally dropped the car in Nice. But a car in the Loire was in my opinion, not only handy - but almost necessary because the public transit there isn't like Paris. There is more work and planning involved if you need to catch a bus or train in that area. Have a blast.

Good posts by Tom and Amy. Amy was referring to Chenonceaux.

We stayed in Amboise for 3 days without a car in late september. For 3 days we were fine but if we would have been there longer it would have been best to have a car. We enjoy biking and so rented bikes one day which we rode to Chenonceau and it gave us a chance to see many vineyards and the lovely countryside. We were in walking distance to Clos Luce and of course Chateau Amboise. If you want to see more than this, than you would have to have a car. We really enjoyed the Loire and would love to go back.

We stayed in this area in May 2008 for 4 days, and yes, a rental car is the way to go. We took the TGV from Paris to Tours and got off at the St. Pierre des Corps stop where the Avis office is located a few feet outside the (small and therefore convenient)station. We were quickly and easily in our car and on our way without having to negotiate city traffic. Distances bewteen chateaux are not great and you can easily drive around this lovely area and see a lot. In 4 days we used about 3/4 of a tank of gas, which in May set us back around $75.00. Insurance can double the rental cost but our insurance wasn't valid outside the US; check yours before leaving. I don't think public transport will be of much help if you want to visit the area chateaux as only a very few are conveniently served. We stayed at the Auberge de Launay across the river from Amboise and LOVED it. Nice people, great room, with breakfast and multi-course dinner for 2 for 110 Euro per night (our crumby Paris hotel with no breakfast was 120). Check this place out on Tripadvisor...that's where we found it. Also, their webite is aubergedelaunay.com This was the highlight of our trip to France.