stenasajo

Because we are traveling using airmiles for our airfare, we were quite limited with flights and times. On June 28th, at 8:40pm we arrive to London. We will stay over night at the Hilton Heathrow Term 4 and put our son on a plane the next morning to return home. My husband and I will be in France from June 29th through July 4th. Our two grown daughters will fly out of Paris on July 1st... I used to like air miles...

All that said!

We are looking for the fastest and smoothest route from London to Paris.

We are considering two hotels. American Express booked us at La Villa Maillot on 143 Avenue Malakoff but a friend suggested maybe getting an apartment through Hotel Relais Bosquet.

One other option my husband and I are considering is driving to Chateau de Vaulx (Saint-Julien de Civry) for a couple of days to try something different after the girls fly out. I don't know how far of a drive that is yet.

Any feedback would be appreciated...

Thank you,
Mary

Grassshopper

I suspect you may have difficulty getting an apartment through Relais Bosquet at this late date. That said, I have stayed there and it's nice enough. I would prefer the location to La Villa Maillot.

Grassshopper

Sorry, I'm not very clear.. the location of Relais Bosquet, not La Villa Maillot.

KathrynJane

I do not know if you heard about the Chateau Vaulx from me or someone else, but it is wonderful. we have been there several times and never stayed long enough. Marty, one of the owners, is a most remarkable host and he will cook for you if you ask. The chateau is historic, and has been restored perfectly. The rooms and suites are gorgeous, but have modern baths etc.We stayed in the suite Choiseil this past fall .Make sure you roam around the chateau.We are usually coming from Paris when we stop there, so my directions will.from there. If you get your car at Orly and get on the A6 then you go down until past Chalon sur Saone and head west to Charolles......St Julien de Civry is just about 10 miles south....very small. The chateau is up on the hill.Total time maybe 4-5 hours. This past fall we went back to Orly an easier way that Marty told us about, but I am not sure maybe it was up to Nevers and get on the A77. We always take our GPS and it makes it a lot easier to get there and back. We put a marker down at the car place in Orly also.

KathrynJane

Google says four hours from Paris to Charolles and to take the A 77. I think the A6 is easier, it a little longer. Jane Davis

stenasajo

Thank you for your replies!
You are right. Relais Bosquet is booked... No vacancy at this time...
Jane, I may have read your trip report about it. I don't remember whose I was and am not the greatest at finding anything twice! Do you think we will have trouble driving in France if we have never driven there and don't know any French? We can definitely bring our gps with us. Is it possible to take a train? A French version of Luca from Italy would be nice also! Maybe I will place a call in to him and see if he has any connections in France.. Thank you so much for your great feedback!

Kind Regards,
Mary

Grassshopper

Mary, Fast trains in France are often a much quicker way to travel than driving, if you're going somewhere the train line runs. For example we drove from Tours and it took several hours. The train, I believe, is only 2 hours. But the advantage of driving is you can go down those tempting side roads and stop at out of the way villages.

KathrynJane

There would be no train to St. julien de civry, but might be to Charolles. We get our car at Orly and drive down the A6 which is not difficult until Lyon ,but we turn off west way before Lyon . The driving then is just back roads. Keep change for the tolls. If you want a place closer to Orly we stay at the maison creme anglaise in Montreal, France which is close to the A6 close to Avallon.This is only about 2 hours from Orly. This is a wonderful place with B and B rooms and Afrench cottage and a huge gite.The website is www.maisoncremeanglaise.