Paris, France - Switzerland Drive
Dec 31st, 2012, 04:42 AM
#1
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Paris, France - Switzerland Drive
Hello,
I am planning a trip this summer and am thinking of flying into Paris where I am planning on spending 4 full days, then renting a car and driving down to the south of france and spend some time touring the wineries in the following regions:
Champagne (if possible)
Alsace (if possible)
Burgundy
Beuajolais
Rhone
I would probably spend the night in Burgundy, then do Beuajolais and Rhone in one day. Then Spend the night in Rhone and drive early in the AM to Geneva (or drop the car off in Rhone and take a train/bus to Geneva).
Spend a couple of days in Geneva and then utilizing my remaining time touring the must sees in Switzerland before flying home...
I am aiming at 2 weeks to accomplish all of this - what do you think?
I am planning a trip this summer and am thinking of flying into Paris where I am planning on spending 4 full days, then renting a car and driving down to the south of france and spend some time touring the wineries in the following regions:
Champagne (if possible)
Alsace (if possible)
Burgundy
Beuajolais
Rhone
I would probably spend the night in Burgundy, then do Beuajolais and Rhone in one day. Then Spend the night in Rhone and drive early in the AM to Geneva (or drop the car off in Rhone and take a train/bus to Geneva).
Spend a couple of days in Geneva and then utilizing my remaining time touring the must sees in Switzerland before flying home...
I am aiming at 2 weeks to accomplish all of this - what do you think?
Dec 31st, 2012, 07:32 AM
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Champagne and Alsace are east of Paris, out of the way if intending to drive south. Forget them for this trip.
You could drive in Switzerland as long as you return the car on the French side of the Geneva airport to avoid the stiff cross-border drop-off fee.
You could drive in Switzerland as long as you return the car on the French side of the Geneva airport to avoid the stiff cross-border drop-off fee.
Jan 1st, 2013, 12:37 PM
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Two weeks would be enough if you spend only four nights in Paris. But to reach all of these you'll spend a lot of hours on the road, which would limit the time available to visit wineries.
Agree with Michael that you may want to skip Champagne and Alsace and spend a couple of days in each other region. You could take a TGV train to Dijon and pick up a car there (watch the rental car office hours). Depending on your preference in wines you could stay there or head to the Beaune area for the best of Burgundy.
From there a drive south would pass through the Beaujolais region to the Rhone wine area. After a few days there you could drive to Switzerland - dropping the car on the French side of the Geneva airport and picking up one on the Swiss side.
We've made these drives and they're manageable.
I've found that www.viamichelin.com has the best online mapping.
Agree with Michael that you may want to skip Champagne and Alsace and spend a couple of days in each other region. You could take a TGV train to Dijon and pick up a car there (watch the rental car office hours). Depending on your preference in wines you could stay there or head to the Beaune area for the best of Burgundy.
From there a drive south would pass through the Beaujolais region to the Rhone wine area. After a few days there you could drive to Switzerland - dropping the car on the French side of the Geneva airport and picking up one on the Swiss side.
We've made these drives and they're manageable.
I've found that www.viamichelin.com has the best online mapping.
Jan 1st, 2013, 05:40 PM
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<i>After a few days there you could drive to Switzerland - dropping the car on the French side of the Geneva airport and picking up one on the Swiss side.</i>
No need to if the OP plans on flying out of Geneva. But a vignette, which might automatically come with a Swiss rental, must be obtained for the limited access highways.
No need to if the OP plans on flying out of Geneva. But a vignette, which might automatically come with a Swiss rental, must be obtained for the limited access highways.
