Will be in Paris from September 12-18 WITH reservations already made. Plan on Rail and Drive Pass to Normandy, Provence, and perhaps Alsace or Loire. Should I make reservations ahead? As you know, there are disadvantages to doing so, but I don't want to be left sleeping in a train station. What's your advice?

I think it's a good idea to phone ahead of the destination. So if you're leaving Paris, and heading for Normandy, I'd call the night before to try and secure a reservation. September is still tourist season, so it's a good idea, but you could probably score a last minute cancellation at hotels along the way.

The first couple of weeks of September are still very busy tourist season. At the very least call ahead the day before, unless you want to waste valuable vacation time searching for lodging.

About 15 years ago we arrived in Alsace in Sept without reservations, and all the "recommended" hotels were booked. We had to stay in a real dump. I later read in a Karen Brown book that there is a shortage of rooms in Alsace. I don't know if this is still true.

Stu Dudley

And September is also "la rentrée" for French workers and there could be lots of seminaries and congress...

Thanks for the advice. Will definitely call ahead at least one day.

I'm curious,cocofromdijon. What is "la rentree"???

La rentrée is the period in which schoolchildren and their families return from summer vacation and take up the threads of their normal lives again.

I wouldn't take a chance on finding lodgings just one day ahead--things will still be fairly busy.

You're right Underhill we say that also for workers not only for schoolchildren. Otherwise I would have said "la rentrée des classes".

Are there specific dates for this "return to routine"? Will be traveling outside Paris AFTER Sept. 18.

Why would "la rentree" cause hotels to be booked if the vacation season is over and school has started again.

I will take your advice and book ahead!

People who can go on vacation in September like to do so, and that includes many tourists from the US and European countries.