HI, Am beginning to plan a trip for this summer. How does this sound: Arrive Paris and stay 2-3 days. Would hope to take train to Giverny for the day to see the gardens (Have been to Paris before and would not plan on seeing major sites, just would want to wander around some) Then, would take train to the Dordogne area. Am looking at "gites" around Cahors for a week. An alternative is staying near Cognac in the Poitou region. For last two to three days would drive back thru Loire Valley, see a few chateux and call it a great two weeks.

My questions are
1, Does it sound doable--don't like to overload too much. Like to wander PLT's (pretty little towns) see churches, take walks, etc.
2. I'd like to hear peoples preference on the two different areas (Dordogne vs Poitou)
3. any suggestions for reasonable places to stay in the Loire Valley-not fussy, clean, plain B&B types does it for me-would be welcome
4. Any suggestions on a cheap car rental--possibly picking up in Tours or Toulouse-also appreciated

Thanks in advance

Cahors is not in the Dordogne. I would stay somewhere between Sarlat, Les Eyzies and Montignac if I wanted to see the Dordogne. You can train to Bordeaux, Limoges or Brive and pick up a car there.

Sounds like a good plan overall, but as Michael says, Cahors isn't the Dordogne.

And it's very late to be booking a gîte. Most of the good ones are gone in January-February.

You can also take a train to Périgueux and be in the heart of the Dordogne.

Hi, Thanks for the help--I guess Cahors is in Lot??--was just going by my rough Guide. Anyway, the website I'm using for gites is called French connections--has anyone heard of them? Thanks again.

Yes, French Connections is a very old and reputable company. But Cahors still is two hours away from the Dordogne.

topping

Consdier staying in Amboise as a base for the Loire Valley and then taking a train back to Paris.

Sounds like a lovely trip.
People like www.autoeurope.com for car rental, and that's where we're getting ours.
We found our gite through
www.gites-de-france.fr