I'm currently booked to arrive in Zurich on April 1 around 8:00 and depart from Paris on April 8 around 11:30. My main goal is to visit the Alsace region. I'm planning on spending the first night in Zurich to help with jetlag then on the 2nd head to Alsace. Planning on the 7th (and possibly the 6th) in Strasbourg with then an early train the next day to CDG.

Normally when I travel I stay 3 - 4 nights in one place, usually a big city so a car isn't required. I know I want to visit the villages and have already read some excellent recommendations from the forum so I know a car is going to be necessary. So far i'm thinking of car pickup/dropoff at the Colmar train station before then heading up to Strasbourg.

The main question I have is being a solo female traveler (40 yrs) would it be better to base in a village or Colmar? My main goal of course is also to enjoy the Alsace wines (which of course conflicts with having a car). I'd rather not have a car, but I definitely want to tour some villages and the castles. I also know it's just the start of the growing season so long leisurely walks though lush vineyards isn't gonna happen!

I would be hesitant to take the train from Strasbourg to Paris to catch a train the same day unless it is quite late in the afternoon. All it would take is some sort of train delay/strike for you to miss you plane.

I would base myself in one of the cities rather than a village -- it will give you many more meal options in the evening, as well as a semblance of life on the street when you want to stroll around.
But Colmar isn't the only city in southern Alsace.

Ditto what kerouac said.

I did a solo trip to Strasbourg about ten years ago - 3-4 days with a side trip to Colmar. I did not have, nor need, a car. I ate well every night and had plenty to do. Really great people there, too. Enjoy.

Hi oc,

We stayed in the little town of Kientzheim at http://schwendi.pagesperso-orange.fr/

There is local bus service to/from Colmar.

You can walk to Kaysersberg and to Riquewihr. Both are on the Rte du Vins.

After 3 nights there, you can take the train from Colmar to Strasbourg for 2 nights.

We liked www.hotel-gutenberg.com/uk/index.php.

I would take the train to Paris the day before leaving.

Enjoy your visit.

Good morning, oc. I, too, am one that prefers to arrive in Paris the day before leaving.

While the majority of trains are on time, it only takes the one you are on...case in point: at Christmas-time we were returning from Brittany to Paris and the TGV before us hit a person on the tracks, virtually shutting down all trains to Paris from this reguin for quite some time; we were re-routed through Nantes and Angers an were several hours late. A certain portion of travelers had missed their international connections.

Here is a site that might help you plan your journey:

http://www.vialsace.eu/index.asp

Just outside of Colmar is the small town of Turckheim; it was everything we were looking for in an Alsatian village. You can do a search if you are interested; I believe I did a trip report.

You could easily stay in Colmar and just visit the village of Turckheim; I think it's 20 min. out of Colmar by train or bus (see above).

Here are some photos during their wine festival, if you are interested:

http://s918.photobucket.com/albums/a...20Wine%20Fest/

The really great way to travel down the Alsace Wine Route, the website is a google click away, is on a bike. Staying in Colmar is townish but I would try Eguisheim. Why? Well its next to Colmar, it is a medievel walled town, it is just about big enough for a short visit and bike hire to go South or North is easy, and the buses do likewise.

I spent last night building a website with loads of links to do something similar, it will be live in a day or so. Not a commercial venture but just for interest. If Katiea allows the link I'll drop it up then.

I will be watching for that website, bilboburgler, as we will be in Alsace for several days this summer. Thanks.

Hope this is some interest
www.mybikeguide.co.uk