For the experienced francophiles out there...we are staying in Paris 5 days, the Loire 3 days, Burgundy 3 days...for our last two totally free days before we return to the city for one last night, would you go for Alsace tour, or Champagne tour...we have a car...any advice??

Although we love Alsace, if you only have 2 days before you return to Paris, I would go for Reims and visit some of the WWI sites in the area.

I think you are probably right...got anywhere in particular that you like to stay???

Alsace is pretty in a kitschy Germanic sort of way (can you tell it's not my favorite region of France?), but with two days I'd stick closer to home anyway and visit the Reims area. Stay in Reims itself - a gem of a city - and take wine tours from there to whatever appeals to you.

Wine and touring Reims is probably what we will do...any thoughts on hotels...not the Boyer...way out of my $$$ range...

L'Assiette Champenoise is a manor house just outside Reims, set in a 4-acre park, that is a haven for gourmands traveling in the Champagne region. It should be a lot cheaper than Le Boyer. There's also the Aux Armes de Champagnes in l'Epine and there are a bunch of nice B&Bs, if you're interested.

I'd also vote for Champagne, and if you're leaving from Charles deGaulle you can even spend your last night there if you'd prefer not to return to Paris for just one night. Here's a link to a great B&B in Epernay, which is close to Reims and very reasonable --sorry it's in French:

I'd also vote for Champagne, and if you're leaving from Charles deGaulle you can even spend your last night there if you'd prefer not to return to Paris for just one night. Here's a link to a great B&B in Epernay, which is close to Reims and very reasonable --sorry it's in French: http://www.cc-grande-vallee-marne.fr...marotiere.html

Thanks so much..I will check into those names. OOOO They both look great on the web. I do think we may want to go into Paris for one last night!!! Are there any sites for b & bs in this area?

wren,<BR><BR>We stayed at L'Assiette Champenoise last June and it was very nice. Also had a great dining experience in their restaurant. I loved the look on my wife's face when the waiter came by with a 3-layered between courses palet cleaner and explained that the middle layer was cream of snail. Needless to say, I ate both of them.<BR><BR>They have a nice in-door swimming pool and it is only about a 2-km straight shot into the center of town.<BR><BR>We did only one champagne tour -- Piper Heidseck -- It was great! Wish we had the time to do some others. Next time.<BR><BR>Enjoy!!