smrt2

It appears very easy to take the train from Paris to the Loire Valley, Brussels, or even Geneva. We're thinking of an overnight or two day kinda thing, hotel around US$200.

Suggestions for places to go, rental car necessity in the Loire, hotels, restaurants, must sees would all be appreciated.

You guys were so awesome with my Paris hotel plea, I figured I'd try again.

Thanks!!

nytraveler

Brussels I find bland and boring - if you want to go in that direction I wold do Bruges instead.

Geneva is pretty and there's plenty to do for a couple of days.

But - depending on the time of year I would do the Loire - not in winter and definitely not in July/August. Nearby, charming, tons to see and do, fairly inexpensive and the opportunity to stay in a real castle - tons of them - for little more than a modest hotel. You really do need a car to take advantage of everything though - but it's a very easy drive.

If you are interested in this - there are about 25 threads on where to stay, what to see etc. The latter depends on your interest - since there are chateaux for every purpose (large, small, extra historical, gardens, cinderella, with evening son et lumiere programs etc) - as well as charming towns, churches, wine tasting etc.

Travelnut

In case it will be of some use or interest to you, I'm copying my post from another thread about 'Loire Valley':
Last October, we took the TGV to St Pierre des Corps, then a local train (15 minute ride) to Amboise. We took a taxi to the hotel, but we could have walked (about 20minutes) but it was drizzling.
We stayed at le Manoir les Minimes, which is enclosed in a walled courtyard with free parking for guests, and is about 2 blocks from the beginning of town 'center' and the Chateau d'Amboise. We walked to Clos Luce, da Vinci's last home (an interesting museum of his inventions), and ate dinner at La Florentine, an Italian/ French casual restaurant.
We spent the first afternoon/night in Amboise, doing the above, then the next morning we took the local train -back- to St Pierre des Corps and picked up our rental car (booked online thru AVIS.fr, which was cheaper than AVIS.com, and included the CDW etc). We left out of St Pierre des Corps for the day, and drove to Chateaux Chambord and Cheverny, then to le Manoir les Minimes.
The next day (3rd day) we drove to Chinon and checked into Hotel Diderot, also situated in a walled enclosure with guest parking. Between Amboise and Chinon, we visited Loches'dungeon and castle, and Montresor, a tiny beautiful village with an interesting chateau.
The next day(4th) we drove to Azay-le-Rideau and Fontevraud l'Abbaye, then back to Chinon.
The final day in the Loire, we took the car back to St P-d-Corps and then took the TGV back to Paris.
TGV - 2 r/t tickets 124 Euro
Amboise train 12 Euro
(reserved online at www.sncf.com and picked up all tickets at SNCF boutique in Paris near my hotel)
Car rental was close to 318 Euro (replacement fuel not included; Avis.fr)
le Manoir les Minimes was 120 Euro/double, 11 euro pp/brkf
http://www.manoirlesminimes.com
Hotel Diderot was 64 Euro/double, 6.5 Euro pp/ brkf
http://www.hoteldiderot.com/index.html
http://www.chateau-amboise.com/
http://www.vinci-closluce.com/
http://www.chambord.org/anglais.htm
http://www.chateau-cheverny.fr/
http://www.tourisme-valdindrois-mont...en/index1.html
http://www.loches-tourainecotesud.com/accueilgb.htm
http://www.monum.fr/m_azay/fs_index.dml?lang=en
http://www.abbaye-fontevraud.com/indexflash.htm
La Florentine
50 place Michel Debré 37400 Amboise - 02 47 57 49 49

klondike

We took a 3 hour TGV to La Rochelle on the Atlantic. It was a wonderful change from Paris...beautiful harbor, sandy beach, great markets and gourmet restaurants, smart shopping in the arcaded streets, musuems...I coul go on and on. We stayed at the Best Western Hotel France-Angleterre Champlain for under your price and LOVED it--gorgeous marble stairways, crystal chandaliers, private floral garden where you can take breakfast or just relax. Staff speaks excellent English and is most accomodating. Car is not necessary if you stay in this or in a hotel on the waterfront. Taxi service is excellent and since you don't go far, affordable. I would be glad to send photos if you wish...request at [email protected]. should that interest you.

smrt2

Thanks everybody. After I had posted this, I did what I should have done first which is search other threads. In addition to your great info and particularly travelnut's day by day itinerary, I found tons of other stuff too.

Thanks again!!