FINALLY! After weeks of scouring the forums, the web and guidebooks (trip was a little last minute, I usually plan much farther in advance), I have decided on the following itinerary for a two week trip to France, June 29 – July 12. We are two friends in our mid-30’s travelling together, and top of the list is food & drink. We are interested in chateaux’s, palaces, etc. but not a ton, maybe just one really good one per region. Also looking for some different or interesting things to do (such as the scooter tour to Versailles), in addition to the usual ‘first time to France’ sites.

So I know my itinerary is a little random, but I what I tried to do was decide what I wanted to eat and drink and then fill in remainder of the time with activities. I’m looking for advice from my fellow Fodorites on a couple things:

1) Thoughts/other recommendations on hotels I’ve chosen – was looking to stay under $140/night average. Any opinions on what I’ve picked? All but the Cancale hotel were either Rick Steve’s picks or from the Fodor’s forums
2) Thoughts/other recommendations on tour operators/tours I’ve picked – has anyone used these? Recommendations on others, or just doing a self led?
3) Suggestions for activities in the areas I’ve listed with nothing planned
4) Any other tips are appreciated!

Saturday - Hotel de France
Arrive CDG 9:10 AM
Train to Beaune
Evening in Beune –

Sunday
Beune
Wine tour – Chemins de Bourgogne (first choice was Wine and Voyages but they were booked)
Looking at either both the Cote de Baune (1 visit & tasting) & the Cote de Nuits (2 visits & tastings) in one day
OR
the Backcountry and Vineyards tour (full day)

Monday - Hotel de C'elestins
Train to Lyon
Lyon - ??

Tuesday
Lyon - ??

Wednesday - Hotel La Voilerie Cancale (seemed to be the best of the cheaper places)
Train to Rennes
Rent car, drive to Cancale

Thursday
Cancale
Drive to Mont. St. Michel
Back to Cancale

Friday - Hotel du Dauphin
Drive to Bayeux, see the Bayeux tapestry
See if we can pick up The Cider Route a bit, stay in Honfleur

Saturday - Hotel Bonaparte (remainder of the week)
Drive to Versailles
Tour Versailles
Drop off car Paris, stay in Paris
OR
Drive to Paris drop off car, start Paris do scooter tour of Versailles as day trip

Day trips from Paris I have questions on:

Scooter trip to Versailles – see countryside? See 800 acres of the park you don’t normally get to see
Paris by Scooter is the operator

Champagne tour with Tasty Side Life Tours – PRICEY, but looks really cool, visit a couple producers and do tastings, tour foie gras farm/escargot farm or should we just do a train to Epernay/Reims for the day and do in town tastings and save the extra $$?

That will leave us four full days in Paris, itinerary not done yet!

So to try and get this straight in my mind
CDG June 29
Beaune Sat night
Beaune Sun night
Lyon Monday night
Lyon Tuesday night
Cancale Wed night
Visit to M St M
Cancale Thurs night
Bayeux or Honfleur Fri night
Day trip to Versailles
Versailles or Paris Sat night
Champagne Sunday day trip
Paris Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Nights

Never used tour companies so no idea about the quality, I would think Beaune and Champagne requires very little from a tour company.

Have I got your timings about right? Looks like a lot to fit in. You understand that Cidre is alcholic (I think cider in US can be non) and calvo should also be available.

You have the timings correct, yes! I know it seems like a lot, but I thought if we did at least two nights in a one town it wouldn't be too bad (except Honfleur).
We do want to see some vineyards, so that's why I was thinking of doing a tour company since we won't have a car until Cancale, but I was hoping to see more than one and it seems like most companies only do one or two. The other issue is we'll be in Beaune on a Sunday, so worried about things being closed up.

I think Champers is the easy one to do on your own, you get a train to Rheims or Epernay (I prefer Epernay) and just taxi to tourist info and pop out to the two or three you want).

Epernay, is very cool because the big houses are virtually all on the same street and you just wander along. To be fair once you have had the whole process explained to you it all gets a bit boring.

http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Champagne_Cellars.php

Perfect! The article you provided is exactly what I was looking for. I think we will probably stick with going on our own then for Champagne. Any advice or links for the cider route? Having a little trouble finding much info on that.

The cider route (as with the route du fromage which is close by) is an old marketing thing so the few websites you can find are all there is, you drive along and see "Degustation" signs (often outside farms), pop in and say hello, generally the basics in French will help and you kinda of should offer to buy something even just glasses after the tasting. (not such an issue in Champers as the big houses will charge a bit for access)