Heeeelp. This will be our first time in France and we are a bit stuck for a plan...... and this is all a bit last minute. Travelling with 4 month old baby. We love wine, good food, cute villages, the coast etc. So much to see, so little time. The only thing that is a must is a day or 2 of champagne tasting. Arrive Paris in the afternoon of 11/9, stay 2 nights, the TGV to Strassbourg. I have a conference for 3 days. Am free again on the 17th, so was thinking of driving to Reims for a couple of days of champagne tasting, then on to Honfleur for a couple of days, then Loire valley for another 2, then back to Paris on 23rd to fly out on midnight of the 24th.
It seems a bit rushed and not particularly practical. Might we be better to concentrate on the east... Dijon, Burgundy???
Any advice would be much appreciated!!

Yes, please just concentrate on one side of the country for a trip that short. There are lots of nice things to see in Alsace, Lorraine (Metz, Nancy), the Vosges mountains or even the Belgian Ardennes. You can get a car through AutoEurope for pickup in Strasbourg and drop-off at CDG if you really want to explore some.

Its possible to do as you say. you might look at the following options.

Strasbourg is right on the Edge of the Alsace wine region and the food is great so you could reduce your traveling by dropping the Loire and doing Alsace/Champagne/Honfleur (cider (alchohlic) and Cheese plus mussels are big there). Replace this with an Alsace visit

If you must see castles (ex-the loire) then you could drop a bit further South and pick up some nice buildings like Bescancon and Mulhouse, which while not quiet the same thing might be a better use of the time and child travel issues.

Champagne tasting worth asking tourist info for the list of the independant vingerons which gives you a lot of help in getting away from boring old Lanson et al.

You are lucky - Alsace is one of the most beautiful regions in France - with quaint towns (Strasbourg, Colmar, Obernai..), picturesque villages (in the foothills, along the route de vin), great wines (including the sparkling crémant), excellent food, mountains (Vosges), lakes, museums - whatever you want.

I would recommend renting a car in Strasbourg and exploring Alsace. If you are full-time employed at your conference, you should add at least one day to explore Alsace.

Driving time from Alsace to the Champagne is about three hours, with Metz (spectacular cathedral) on the way.

The Champagne does not belong to the more beautiful regions of France, so don't be disappointed. But I recommend at least two tastings, one in one of the world-known superlarge wineries (like Moet&Chandon, Taittinger etc.) and one in a smaller, family-owned winery. My favourite is Launois with its cute museum inside the caves. http://www.champagne-launois.fr/

One or two days will be enough for the Champagne.

If the coast is very important for you, you may drive up to Le Tréport, which is 2:30 from Reims. Chalk cliffs, picturesque harbour, fresh seafood. However, it is a detour and I would think twice if it's worth the time and effort. Honfleur is even farther.

Castles: I would not drive to the Loire which would require more time. Instead, you should visit at least one of those spectacular castles which are close to Paris: Versailles, Chantilly, Fontainebleau. Chantilly would especially make sense, because you are close to CDG airport and you may spend your last night there.

I agree with the others about staying in Alsace. Beautiful area. There are a few castles there too. Reduce the driving - and spend more time "being there". No need to traverse France just to see the Loire (not a beautiful area, except for the Chateaux, IMO). And certainly no reason to add driving time & head to Honfleur. If I understand your plans - you only have 6 nights available after Strasboourg and before you depart from CDG. That is not much time at all - it will fly by fast.

I've never had any desire to spent time in the Champagne region, and if I only had 6 nights to "see" France I think I would not spend any time in Champagne. I might buy a bottle in Alsace & have it there instead. Or buy some Alsace sparkling wine.

This past June, we spent the last night before departure from CDG near Chantilly - which would allow you to see another castle - like Traveller mentioned.


Stu Dudley

Thanks for the advice. The Loire is gone!I'm still a bit stuck though because I feel like we have not really given Paris the time it deserves. In an ideal world we would have spent a couple more days in Paris prior to leaving for Strassbourg, thus meaning that we could hire a car in Strassbourg, explore Alsace at our leisure, head to Champagne for a day or two(unfortunately a must for my wife.......)and then maybe do as you say....stay in Chantilly before flying out. As it stands, we only have from midafternoon on the 11th, until mid-day on the 13th in Paris before heading to Strassbourg. I imagine Paris will feel a little underdone.
If we did head across to Normandy to see the D-day beaches (ie. 17-18th in Alsace, 18-20th in Champagne, 20-22nd in Normandy somewhere???, then back to Paris for 2 days before flying out midnight on the 24th), where is one best to go in Normandy, and presuming I wanted to avoid the drama of driving back into Paris, where would be the best place to drop the car and train back?
I suspect the advice might be... don't go to Normandy, Stay east, go to Champagne (if you have to), train back from Reims to Paris and spend the last few days in Paris, perhaps taking in Chantilly as a day trip??

You don't want to be moving around that much with a 4 month old baby. I suspect that once you hit Alsace, you'll wish that you hadn't made reservations for Champagne, Normandy, etc and all the driving associated with those destinationsa.

Stu Dudley

If you want to see WW2 beaches then you need to book a tour and you can search out those threads on fodors.com at the end of the day they are beaches. If you want to see the local museums they are very moving but basically made up of diaries, bits of uniform and weapons. I love Normandy but in my mind there is only three things in the World Class element. Bayeux tapastry, Honfleur (as a very pretty village) and the foods of Camembert and Mussels. If none of these call then....

>>>I suspect the advice might be... don't go to Normandy, Stay east, go to Champagne (if you have to), train back from Reims to Paris and spend the last few days in Paris, perhaps taking in Chantilly as a day trip??<<<

Yes, exactly. Unfortunately, the WW2 beaches are far away from the Champagne - driving time will be 4:30. Of course, it is doable, but it will be strenuous.

I always recommend fewer destinations and a little more time at each place - especially with a baby.

Thanks everyone for your excellent advice. I am persuaded!

You might make a note that France is about the same size as Texas. Slow down. Travel less. Absorb more. You will be glad you did.

Hi bfk,

>It seems a bit rushed and not particularly practical.<
How right you are.

Since you have to go to Strasbourg, I suggest flying into CDG or Stittgart and immediately taking the train to S.

Spend a total of 5- 6 nights in the Alsace region.

Take the TGV to Paris. You can drink all of the Champagne you want, along with wine and beer from the rest of the world.

Fly home.

Your wife will thank you, your baby will thank you, you will be happier.

See www.bahn.de and www.voyages-sncf.com for trains
See www.kayak.com, www.1800flyeurope.com, www.mobissimo.com for air fare.
See www.kemwel.com for cars.

Enjoy your visit.