Josephvelit

Hi everyone,

I just login to this great forum. I'am travelling with my girlfriend to Europe from Dec 14th to Jan 10th. We have prioritized france, and our first visit is to burgundy from Dec 20th until Dec 22th where we booked a package of 2 nights and 3 days where we do a tour of the city, and two wine tours of 6 hours each.

We rented a car for a week and we pick on December 22 in Bordeaux, with the objective to get to PAris by car. Our idea is to visit the best tourist attractions, sites and landscapes on the wap. And this is where I want to ask you advice. A couple of years ago StCirq commented and i quote: "that a good tour would be to go to Cap Ferret and the Dune du Pyla and Arcachon (unless your daughter has already visited them), then up the coast to La Rochelle. Finally, park there and make sure to go out to the Ile de Ré. Visit the Cognac area along the way. Then, go to Loire valley for a day tour to a Château or two.

Is this idea the best one? Any recommendations will be VERY HELPFUL!!!!

Thank you very much in advance.
Best regards,

Joseph Velit

StCirq

Not at that time of year. The countryside will be brown and crunchy, the harvest will be over, in small towns and villages things will be closed, it will get dark around 4:30 in the afternoon, etc., etc. And how will you get from Burgundy to Bordeaux, and why?

What I mentioned a couple of years ago I'm sure was based on traveling at a pleasant time of year. Not so applicable now.

About the last thing I would do is travel up the Atlantic coast of France in December. From Burgundy I would go to Strasbourg and enjoy the holiday festivities and Christmas market there, maybe do a road trip down the Route du Vin to Colmar or beyond (though fog can be a big issue at that time of year), then take the train back to Paris and enjoy the holiday season there. Or you probably have time to make a dip down by train to Lyon for a day or two - a wonderful city.

Just please don't take what I said two years ago to mean that this would be any fun at all in late December/early January.

Josephvelit

Hello St Cirq, thanks a lot for your quick response and help.
I do not know why the spell check wrote Burgundy, I totally meant Bordeaux from the start, I star France at Bordeaux on the 20th of Dec and stay there 2 nights. I rent a car on that day hopefully to star the journey to Paris. I am staying in Paris till the Jan 2nd so I can stay one or two nights in towns in way to Paris.

Can you recommend please some places on my way to Paris? Is it worth it?
Best regards,

Joseph Vellit

StCirq

No, as I outlined above, it's not worth it at that time of year. Unless you are willing to put up with barren countryside, shuttered villages, picked-over vineyards, nasty weather at the seashore, short days and dark nights, closed restaurants, etc.

Seriously, just get on the TGV and make a beeline for Paris or some other big city and enjoy what's happening for the holidays. It's not the time or the place for a roadtrip.

Josephvelit

Ok, got it completely..
What big cities would you recommend? Would you go straight to Loire Valley to see a couple of Chateaus? You mentioned Lyon as a good city.

StCirq

I mentioned Lyon when I thought you were going to be in Burgundy, as you original post stated. It's way out of the way from Bordeaux. You could go to the Loire Valley - the châteaux will all be open, and a few days in Amboise or Loches or Blois or Saumur or Chinon or Angers or a couple of those would be good, but why not take advantage of the holiday season you're traveling during and. e.g., take the TGV from Bordeaux to Paris, spend Christmas there, then take the TGV to Strasbourg and enjoy the holiday season there? The point is, at that time of year, you really won't derive a lot of pleasure out of being in rural France in small towns and villages as opposed to cities, where things will be lively and festive. I adore rural France and have no problem being in quiet, cold areas in winter, but you'd have to be something of a very experienced traveler or something of a major adventurer to get much out of it.

Josephvelit

Hi,

Great I will take your advice then, and travel to big cities to enjoy better the festives as you wisely say. A couple of friends live in Marseilles so maybe I will go there and visit Monaco that is pretty close and then go up to Strasbourg. Are those cities worth it?

Then go to Parisfor a few days and visit Versailles for one day and finally Loire Valley. I just can't go from Paris and not visit the châteaux.

StCirq

I would definitely jump at the chance to visit Marseilles. For one thing it will probably be warmer there; for another, it's the European Cultural Capital of the Year in 2013 and there are many new things to visit. Monaco holds zero appeal to me. Instead, you could visit Avignon or Aix if you had a few days to spare.

Sounds like you have a plan in the making. The châteaux will be fine to visit in winter. They're fairly close to Paris and very popular, so you won't find that area as shut down as some others farther away.

Enjoy!

Josephvelit

Hello,

THANKS A LOT for that information!!! Its Sounds that I have the plan!! ...
Best regards,

StCirq

Good luck with your plans, Josephvelit. Happy to have been of help! Need anything else? Let me know.

Josephvelit

Thanks a lot St Cirq, in a couple of days am going to post some daily intinerary for Paris. I would very much like your thoughts on that. First, I am doing some research to get it together.
Best,

StCirq

Will be pleased to offer my advice about Paris, Joseph.