Travel options Loire Valley

Unless you book some kind of bus tour, navigating the region without a car can be difficult. With a car, it's easy. Roads run parallel to the river on either bank and almost all of the notable chateaux lie within easy reach of these roads. Signs point you exactly where to drive for each. Traffic isn't heavy at all.

Acco Dispo does local small van tours of Loire Valley,, I haven't taken them, but learned about them from some good reports I read on tripadvisor.com. I would google them and look it up.

We had a car and did all the chateaus that you mentioned and more. We stayed three nights near Amboise. The driving was easy, we had a GPS that we brought from home. I highly recommend the Garmin brand of GPS. Ours was about $300.00 and it is small so easy to pack. Look for one that has all of Europe maps included. You can also use it for walking and it has a language translator that came in handy. I liked seeing the chateaus on our own and planning our own time for the day. We did not have any traffic. Many of the roads are toll roads so be prepared with some euro coins. Our trip was in the spring so not too many tourist that time of year.

We rented a car used gps system. Had no roblem getting around and you can take your time.

Don't know where you're coming from beforehand, but we saved some of the grind by takIng a high speed train from Paris to Tours, then rented a car there. As others said, traffic was very reasonable and a GPS was a huge help. I preferred seeing the chateaux on our own schedule too. Of course I appreciate you have to deal with driving in the opposite side of the road, but the roads are good and the flexibility is a benefit.

Hi - when I was in Amboise a couple of summers ago, there was a bus that left from near the TI to go to Chenonceau around 9:30 AM and returned a few hours later. You could check the RS France book to see if the situation has changed. You can also take the train to Chenonceau but you have to backtrack to Tours (I think) and go to Chenonceau from there which takes longer. I haven't visited Villandry, but I did take a short train ride from Amboise to Blois, visited the castle there and then took a bus tour from the Blois train station to Chambord and Cheverny - that was very easy once I figured out where to find the bus (at one end of the train station) and very inexpensive. Also, don't forget to visit Clos Lucé while you're in Amboise - the final home of Leonardo da Vinci - I really enjoyed that.

Thank you all For others interested, I've also found out that there is a bus from Tours to Villandry that leaves, at 9, 2, and 6. Think a taxi from Tours is also doable. Have decided that we don't want to drive. We will take the bus to Chenonceaux and explore Amboise in the afternoon on one day. For the other day, I have to decide on the bus to Villandry, then maybe visit Azay Le Rideau via taxi. This would give me hours at Villandry. Option 2 is a tour with Loire Valley Day tour. They pick up at Amboise at 9, and visit Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon with lunch at a winery. Only an hour at Villandry, but get to see other places as well without the hassle.
Decisions, decisions.

"One tip people shared w/ us before (and they were spot-on) is to limit the of Chateaus you visit; otherwise "Chateau Fatigue" can set in!" So true. More importantly, limit yourself to two or less audio tours per day. There's only so much information a human being can digest about 16th century fireplace engravings or the lace styles favored by Catherine de Medicis.

"There's only so much information a human being can digest about 16th century fireplace engravings or the lace styles favored by Catherine de Medicis." So true. When on Loire Chateau tours, I like to focus on the important stuff, to simplify the information overload problem: Such as the information, always emphasized by the French guides: " This was the bedroom of the King's favorite mistress." (always next to the King's Bedroom). And then try to figure out where the King's wife's bedroom was (uhm, you know, the Queen). Usually at the end of the hall, at least a football field away from the King's Boudoire.

Marina Your Option 2 sounds very doable. I didnt find Villandry too exciting compared with some of the others, so 1 hour would do me. have spent quite a few days ti the loireThe chateau i am really in love with are Chenaceau and Azay le Rideau. Chambord is also interesting. The wine lunch sounds an interesting addition. We saw Chinon chateau at night at an induction ceremony- quite an experience

Marina, If you choose option 1, here is a really interesting restaurant 3k outside Villandry: Les Caves du Gosier Sec. It's in a cave/cavern in the hillside, priced low (typical 19-29 fix price meals) family-run and makes a homemade terrine that my French husband still talks about. We found it on a hot July day and then found out our newly-wed son and his bride had eaten there two years earlier. Also, being deprived of gardens in the mid-west US half of the year, we spent several hours going through the famous Villandry gardens. Didn't spend time seeing the Villandry chateau, as so many others are more highly recommended.

We rented a car for the Loire Valley and were very glad we did; made getting around super-easy. One tip people shared w/ us before (and they were spot-on) is to limit the of Chateaus you visit; otherwise "Chateau Fatigue" can set in! We visited Chambord, Chenonceau (my favorite!) and Blois. The town of Blois itself is also pleasent for strolling around. You're off to a terrific part of France; enjoy!