Thanks to the advice I received previously and re-evaluating the things we'd like to do, my bf and I have come up with an itinerary that's a bit saner than the first. <BR><BR>Day 1 - Fly to CDG and take TGV to Lyon. Bf will be here for a conference.<BR>Day 2 - Lyon<BR>Day 3 - Day trip to Avignon &amp; Pont du Gard (or maybe spend the night here; not sure).<BR>Day 4 - TGV to Paris.<BR>Day 5 - Visit Chenoncaux &amp; Chambord (van tours)<BR>Day 6 - Paris / Giverny<BR>Day 7 - Paris / Versailles<BR>Day 8 - Paris<BR>Day 9 - Paris<BR>Day 10 - Fly home<BR><BR>We decided to spend more time in Paris and take a couple of day trips from there. There are three things that I really want to see: Pont du Gard, Giverny and Chenonceaux. We plan to take 1/2 day trips to Giverny and Versailles and then use the rest of the time exploring Paris and it's different neighborhoods. We've both been here before but not together so this will be a bit different. Any suggestions to make this better? Am I still trying to do too much?

Hi Sjk. Perhaps you could indicate how you define a day trip. For me, it's a 3 hour commute maximum, round trip. So by my definition, Avignon would be too far for a day trip (2.5 hours, on average, one way, by train, from Lyon, or 5 hours round trip.) So I'd recommend at least an overnight in Avignon. I would train from Lyon to Avignon in the morning, leave bags at hotel there, and pick up a 1 day rental car with which to see the Pont du Gard. (There are buses, but my guidebook indicates that schedule isn't great.) Spend the following morning in Avignon, drop off the car by noon, then depart for Paris on the TGV.<BR><BR>Other than that, your itinerary sounds a bit whirlwind, but as you have been there before, it sounds like you know what you want. I would suggest that you leave your first day in Paris open, instead of scheduling the van tour for the chateaux that day. Bon voyage.

Thanks Sue. I think Avignon does need to be an overnight. And I do plan to leave the first day in Paris open. Most of it will probably be taken up by getting there and just settling into the hotel, getting our bearings, etc.

I think this is pretty good, and since you can get to Paris by noon on day 4, I think it's okay to do the chateaux the next day if you wish.<BR><BR>I have a self-imposed limit of about 2 hrs one-way for day trips, but that's more when I'm in a place for a fairly long time. Four hrs on the train isn't really that bad to me for a place I really want to see if there are frequent connections, as you still have the major part of a day there if you get going early and come back early evening. I've even violated that for a place I really wanted to see.<BR><BR>I don't think there's anything wrong with a day trip to Avignon from Lyon--I think if you check schedules, you'll find it's only a little over an hour train ride from Lyon by TGV (not 2-1/2 hrs). YOu won't save any time by moving hotels, checking in and out, etc for that day trip, I doubt. The Pont du Gard trip is another story for that day, however. I haven't been there so am not sure how convenient that will be or the best way to do that. If you want to do both Avignon and that in the same day, and see any of Avignon, I don't think it's very possible.

Has anyone done a van tour of a few of the chateau in the Loire valley? I have this borchure for Touraine Evasion Excursions and one of their itineraries starts at 9.30 am in Tours. This tour lists Azay-Le-Rideau, Villandry, Lunch in Tours, Chenonceau and Chambord, returning to Tours at 6.45 pm. This seems like a lot to me for one day so I'd like to hear from someone that's actually done something like this. Thanks!