After reading about tour experiences to Giverney on this board, I had decided to leave Paris early a.m., rent car, drive to gardens for viewing ahead of tour crowds, lunch, then drive to Vezelay for the night. Now, the posts describing LeJardin intrigue me. I'm wondering about having a last leisurely morning in Paris, renting the car about 11-ish, seeing the garden (apologizing all the while to my husband about the crowds), then staying overnight in the little town and drive to Beaune the next day. My trip would be almost exactly a year from now. Any ideas on how crowded my second option would be? Or what might be blooming?

In late September we rented a car from Paris and arrived in Giverny about 9:30-10:00. It was a Sunday and I understood weekends would be more crowded. I recall it was definitely more crowded when we left about 11:30 (stopped for lunch at the nearby restaurant - very nice, but expensive). My recommendation is to leave Paris early, just to beat the crowds on the road. It took us about 1.5-2 hrs for the rental car and drive straight to Giverny. You want to leave enough time to enjoy the beautiful gardens and interesting home/shops/town. Even in Sept. there was a great variety of flowers.

I would opt to be at the gardens right away in the morning - or at the end of the day. I think the hours are 9:30 - 6. The tour groups seem to arrive at around 10 and are gone by 4 or 5. I've been there several times, and the last time I stayed at hotel about a block from the gardens. We got up in the morning, walked to the gardens and were first in line to get in. I've not done this in the reverse,i.e., arrive at 4 and spend the night but I bet it would be better than getting there at noon. One hint, if you get there early - when you get inside the garden, walk all the way to the opposite corner and go to the water lily pond first. The crowds will start in the garden and house and you might get the pond to yourself! This has worked for me twice and it was so peaceful to be the only person near the Japanese bridge.

That's a good tip to start at the far end of the garden. I also didn't realize the site would be open for a couple hours after the tours leave. How long should one allot to tour the garden and house?

It can easily be done in 2 hours. It is really not big and part of the allotted time would be for how long you want to sit on a bench and soak up the beauty of the place. Also, there is usually a line to tour the house. But, they keep it moving pretty quickly.

if you really want to drive Giverny/Beaune, that will be a good 4+ hour drive I believe. figure at least 250 miles.

I'd allow as much time as possible for Giverny; your idea of staying the night in the vicinity is a good one--driving all the way to Vezelay that same day would be a bit much, IMO. If you stay in the Vernon area you could go further into Normandy and see les Andelys as well, which would be very nice.

Beaune sounded like a good halfway point on the way to St. Remy. Flygirl, in the summer we drive 4 hours nearly every Friday night to our recreational lot, then 4 hours back on Sunday. We were surprised to meet people in England who had never been to towns 35 miles from home.

pretty much what I did once! although I went Paris-Beaune-Giverny. I seem to recall leaving Paris mid-late morning, stopped at Fontainebleau for a while, then toodled on to Beaune. I seem to remember getting there around perhaps 3 or so? even with a stop off. with Giverny you are starting farther away, but hopefully can avoid the Peripherique among other Paris roads.

oops, I meant Paris-Beaune-ST REMY.

Thanks. That sounds workable.