Loire Valley Mini Bus Tours & Chartres
Feb 12th, 2012, 10:01 AM
#1
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Loire Valley Mini Bus Tours & Chartres
I'm looking at 2-3 nights in either Amboise or Tours. I will be flying from Berlin to Paris and taking the train. Renting a car there is a possibility, but I don't think it is cost efficient for a solo traveler.
Has anyone taken any of the mini bus tours from either town? Did you feel you had enough time at the chateaus? I'm thinking a full day tour and possibly a half day tour the next day.
After visiting the chateaus, is a stop in Chartres possible on the way back to Paris? I would be checking my bag (at the train station?) to have a few hours here.
I'm just starting my planning.
Has anyone taken any of the mini bus tours from either town? Did you feel you had enough time at the chateaus? I'm thinking a full day tour and possibly a half day tour the next day.
After visiting the chateaus, is a stop in Chartres possible on the way back to Paris? I would be checking my bag (at the train station?) to have a few hours here.
I'm just starting my planning.
Feb 12th, 2012, 10:12 AM
#2
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Tours makes the most sense with your limited time since it is only 1 hour by TGV from Paris. I've never done one of the mini-van tours but they seem like good value for the money. If you base in Tours be near Place Plumereau, which is the pretty old section of town. The outer parts of Tours are all built up with modern stuff and not attractive.
Getting from Tours to Chartres is going to take 3-4 hours and most of the trains involve one or two changes. If you give a specific travel date I can tell you what train schedules are like. You'd also want to book ahead to get the cheapest tickets. Similarly, you want to book ahead for the Paris to Tours train to get the best prices.
Are you familiar with using the French rail sites to buy tickets and how to avoid being redirected to the RailEurope website?
Getting from Tours to Chartres is going to take 3-4 hours and most of the trains involve one or two changes. If you give a specific travel date I can tell you what train schedules are like. You'd also want to book ahead to get the cheapest tickets. Similarly, you want to book ahead for the Paris to Tours train to get the best prices.
Are you familiar with using the French rail sites to buy tickets and how to avoid being redirected to the RailEurope website?
Feb 12th, 2012, 10:39 AM
#3
Original Poster
I do know enough not to use the RailEurope site. I've seen the advice to say I'm from Canada or England when booking tickets.
I'm thinking of traveling the very end of August into September, but my dates are not set yet.
My thought on stopping in Chartres was that it seems to be more or less on the way back to Paris and I could avoid a separate day trip.
I'm thinking of traveling the very end of August into September, but my dates are not set yet.
My thought on stopping in Chartres was that it seems to be more or less on the way back to Paris and I could avoid a separate day trip.
Feb 12th, 2012, 11:26 AM
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It's only an hour back to Paris from Tours so you don't lose much of that travel day. Still plenty of time to see Paris that day. It's only just over an hour from Paris to Chartres.
Weight those times against the time it takes to get from the Loire to Chartres and then back to Paris.
Have you looked into the cost of renting a car for 2-3 days in the Loire, btw? Check autoeurope.com for rates.
Weight those times against the time it takes to get from the Loire to Chartres and then back to Paris.
Have you looked into the cost of renting a car for 2-3 days in the Loire, btw? Check autoeurope.com for rates.
Feb 12th, 2012, 12:31 PM
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Definitely stay in Tours and specifically in the area of Tours between the train station and Place Plumereau. This part of Tours has great shopping, most all of the big named boutiques are here, there is a wide selection of good restaurants, (look down rue Colbert), and a few museums. As FMT says, the outer portions of Tours are completely void of any charm and should be avoided.
The TGV from Montparnasse to Tours only takes about one hour and the Office de Tourisme, from where the mini bus tours depart, is just across the street from the train station.
www.ligeris.com
One of the problems with car rentals from Tours or any of the towns in the area is that the only pickup locations are at either the train station(s) or airport. That means you will pay a location surcharge of approximately 35€ in addition to most rental quotes. (Autoeurope does not make rentals for a period of fewer than 3 days.)
It is possible to visit several châteaux using public transportation, i.e. Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau for example but the time required can be lengthy and is not really a good option for those with limited time. Take the mini bus tours, they are outlined on the above web link.
The TGV from Montparnasse to Tours only takes about one hour and the Office de Tourisme, from where the mini bus tours depart, is just across the street from the train station.
www.ligeris.com
One of the problems with car rentals from Tours or any of the towns in the area is that the only pickup locations are at either the train station(s) or airport. That means you will pay a location surcharge of approximately 35€ in addition to most rental quotes. (Autoeurope does not make rentals for a period of fewer than 3 days.)
It is possible to visit several châteaux using public transportation, i.e. Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois, Azay-le-Rideau for example but the time required can be lengthy and is not really a good option for those with limited time. Take the mini bus tours, they are outlined on the above web link.
