My wife and I are going to Paris in May and wanted to know what a good side day trip would be to go on? I think that we are looking to go somewhere in the French county side, but we are not sure yet. Would you recommend taking a train or renting a car?

Thanking you in
- Kevin

I have the same type of itinerary. Decided to take trains--plentiful--- to the town of Vernon and a taxi or bus to the gardens of Giverny. Also taking a train to Chartres for the day--small walking town with gorgeous cathedrale. You could also day trip to Chantilly and Senlis ( a long day)

You can also do a half day trip to Versailles and another half day trip to Fontainbleu (do them on different days). Giverny and Chartes are also very beautiful. Take trains or the RER. With the longer days in May it wont be a problem to go to either place and then be able to go to back to Paris to do some more sight seeing.

I've said it before, but with many trips to Paris and many day trips out, my all time favorite was the time we rented a car in Paris, left early in the morning, arrived for breakfast in a garden across from Giverny, then toured it, drove through the countryside and had lunch on the harbor in Honfleur, drove out along the coast for the spectacular views at Etretat, and then stopped in the afternoon at Pont Audemer before returning to Paris for a late dinner.
It sounds rushed, but it wasn't! A most wonderful day.

so many good ideas so little time! Neopolitan, about how much did it cost to rent a car for a day? About how long of a train ride is it to Versailles? Vernon looks beautiful! wow, I cannot wait

We rented our car from Avis at St. Sulpice for about 50 a day (got a larger car because there were four of us), but then that was about five years ago!

This is one time NOT to look at AutoEurope as they normally will charge you a three day minimum. Hertz and Avis may have a simple one day advance rate or just rent one when you get there -- check the day before you need it.

By the way, another time we took a train to Vernon and hiked about an hour and a half up and over the hill through the countryside to arrive at Giverny from above and behind. We then took a bus back to the Vernon train station. That was all fun too, but not to be compared with our car day trip.