I'm traveling with my husband and 19 year old son. We're staying in Paris (no flexibility here) & would like to visit Chartres for sure, but everyone says we should also see Versailles. My son wants to rent a car, because he likes the idea of being able to stop for photo opportunities, etc. He's afraid that train travel may be too restricting. My husband and I are a little more inclined to take the train, because we don't like the idea of being responsible for the rental car & finding our way around. We live in Los Angeles, so we're used to city driving. Any advice on whether to take the train or keep our car rental reservation (Avis @ Gare de l'est). Thanks.

Well, I'd do the train. Very easy to do from Paris to either location. Both locations are only 1-2 hours by train if I remember correctly. Much less hassle than getting a car and "finding" your way out of and back into Paris.

Versailles is now a suburb of Paris and is easily reached via the RER line. The drive from downtown Paris to Versailles is not fun. Chartres is another story, you could combine Maintenon , Rambouillet and the Eure river valley ( interesting small towns, nice drive) and possibly Giverny. Chartres is right on an Autoroute also.

I found the RER to Versailles and the one-hour train to Chartres to be good modes of travel for me. If, by chance, your place to stay in Paris is in the suburbs, then maybe a car rental would facilitate seeing the countryside. Personally I'm thinking 'non, mercy' when it comes to driving in the city. J.

Train, for sure, to both. It will be faster, easier and probably cheaper in the long run. And the photo ops are few and far between, anyway - you'll be on motorways, not scenic backroads.

Is this for a single day? Out of how many (in Paris)? Are you sure you can't find a way to escape the city for a night or two?<BR><BR>So, so much to enjoy about France outside Paris, and a car is the way to enjoy it.<BR><BR>But if it really is a single day, I concur that this is all very do-able by train. <BR><BR>Be sure and search "Malcolm" here to learn more about the legendary tours of (Notre Dame de) Chartres, given twice daily (each one different) by Mr. Miller. And be prepared to enjoy the first one so much that you decide to stay to the afternoon to take part in the second one!<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thanks so much for the information. We only have three days in Paris. My parents gave us this trip (London, Paris & Rome) and were going to accompany us until my mom had to cancel due to illness. Now that we have only 3 going, we are rethinking our plans, and trying to make concessions to the 19 year old who isn't as much into cities as we are. I know most would say that with such a short time available, it's best to sightsee only in Paris, but my husband wants to see Chartres more than anything else. I'm now thinking we'll take the train to Versailles and then investigate taking another one from there to Chartres, or we might rent a car in Versailles and drive to Chartres. Again, thanks everyone for taking the time to answer my questions. I wish the search engine was as helpful as you all are.

Take a train!!! Driving in and around paris is hell!!!! I'v driven in Los Angeles and there is no comparision. Pick Versailles over Chartres if you must choose.

Sadly - - true enough - - the search function is essentially functionless for anything posted in the past 17 days.<BR><BR>Older items are still retrieved fine.<BR><BR>but here's at least one thread regarding Mr. Malcolm Miller.<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1389516<BR><BR>Chartres: Malcolm Miller website or schedule?<BR> <BR>Author: Annette ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/10/2002, 06:38 pm<BR><BR>Message: Any Fodorites around who can direct me to a website for Malcolm Miller? Alternatively, is anyone aware of his upcoming schdeule for late October?<BR><BR>----------------------------------------<BR> <BR>Author: Pat ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/10/2002, 06:50 pm<BR><BR>Message: Don't believe Malcolm Miller has a web site but he does have a telephone number found in any travel book on France. He used to do a lot of travel lectures in the off season but he is getting a bit older now and don't know that he does that much any more. Telephone.<BR><BR>----------------------------------------<BR> <BR>Author: Betty ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/10/2002, 07:00 pm<BR><BR>Message: Here is a website about guided visits at Chartres cathedral which includes phone nos. and e-mail for Mr. Miller.<BR><BR>http://www.diocesechartres.com/cathedrale/<BR> <BR>

jb,<BR><BR>This site will provide you with all the train information you need for your day trips in the Paris area:<BR><BR>http://idf.sncf.fr/GB/default.htm<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Andre

It will take you as long to drive through Paris from the Gare de l'Est as it will to drive to Chartres. Driving in LA is not like driving in Paris, and while the road sign system is pretty much internationalized, there are subtle differences that can drive you crazy. If you are in Paris in the next two weeks, drop your son off on Paris Plage and then go see the sites.

Michael, what is "Paris Plage"? <BR>What about picking up the car in Versailles?

up<BR>

Renting a car to go to Versailles would be nonsentical. It's in the subburbs of Paris, and it will be very inconvenient, will take much more time, and there are few things of any interest on the way.<BR><BR><BR>I wouldn't rent a car to go to Chartres, either. It's very convenient and quick to go there by train, and though you could find some interesting place to visit in roughly the same direction, it's not like this area has a stunning landscape or is filled with historical quaint villages, and you're going to say on the way : oh! I wish we could have stopped there..and there! and there! A car is convenient in many french regions, but not really there. Also, you don't have much time, so I'm not sure you'll be willing to spend half a day searching for sites of secondary or tertiary interest.<BR><BR><BR>As for choosing between Chartres and Versailles, it's impossible to advise you, IMO. Versailles is an impressive monument, certainly and has been the model for many other palaces all over Europe, hence is a reference from an architectural point of view, but personnally, I've an extremely limited interest in this period's architecture. On the other hand, I'm fascinated by stainted glasses. So, I would personnally choose Chartres over Versailles any day.<BR><BR>And other posters will have exactly the opposite opinion. It's IMO a totally arbitrary and subjective choice, so I don't think we could help you making your mind...

Thank again for the replies. There wasn't a question about Chartres, only whether to drive there and include Versailles. At this point, we are for sure taking the train to Versailles, but may drive from there to Chartres, especially since it looks like the train from Versailles to Chartres is across town from the Chalet (please correct me if I'm wrong). Thanks others for the great websites.

Are you planning to 'do' Versailles and Chartes in the same daytrip from Paris?<BR><BR>This post is a little confusing with cut and pastes from two years ago inserted.<BR><BR>Most people would consider them each a full day.

If you've decided to spend the $100 for a one-day car rental, it might be worth your while to rent the night before, and get the whole day with the freedom to start as early as you want and move from one to the other whenever you want with maximally efficient use of your time.<BR><BR>This suggestion does have some drawbacks: you have to pay parkig overnight in Paris, and you have to be back within 24 hrs 59 mins from the time you took the rental car out.<BR><BR>But it eliminates the time to actually get the rental car out in Versailles. I have seen that take 15 minutes, and I have seen it take two hours, especially in the middle of the day. I try to avoid EVER picking up a car between the hours of 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. In fact, a number of car rental offices close completely from 12 to 2, whether they say it officially or not.<BR>

topping, along with your other one.

Paris Plage is s stretch of the Right Bank highway east of the Samaritaine which has been converted to a lawn and a sand beach with palm trees until August 23rd.

Thank you!