Sue,

As we won't have a car we're staying in Tours less than 5 minutes from the train station.

We're going to Chenonceau the first day. Then if we can we'll take a taxi to Clos Luce in Amboise. Otherwise we'll take the train and be subject to its schedule.

There's a big difference in November and July. True we'll have to deal with much larger crowds. However, not only are the chateaux open later it doesn't get dark until much later.

I figure on our 2nd day we'll go to Blois. The first chateau there will be Chambord. Then depending upon how long we stay and the Navette schedule we'll either go on to Cheverny or back near the train station to Chateau Blois.

On out third day we'll go to whichever of Blois or Cheverny that we didn't see and then probably Chaumont.

Hi Myer. Using Tours as a base sounds great, I mention my own experience just in case it would help.

I think being a shutterbug going late is good - we arrived at 10:20 but after orienting ourselves (e.g., which side of the platform to be on for the returning train - there is no train station building in Chenonceau, just a bus shelter looking thing) visiting the WC, clearing the security check, and strolling done the pleasant drive to the chateau (a 15 min walk) we didin't actually make the chateau until about 10:45. Ninety minutes flew by in the chateau although it is true we took our time and visited the kitchens (complete with hand operated water pumps) and the exhibits in the 'bridge' section of the chateau - someone on a tight schedule might spend only an hour.

Being November we only spent about 20-30 mins in the gardens and as it was chilly didn't spend a lot of time snapping photos, and in any case by that time (2.5 hours since arrival) we had to think about strolling back to the train. So three hours absolutely flies by without even stopping for lunch. Probably just as well if the prices for the two vending machine coffees were any indication (two small cups, 6 euro!)

I think your ideas about going later are great, you have more options of return train and could stay longer given the longer daylight hours.

For my own benefit as much as yours, I will record the following observations: having read the 2017 navette schedule (in French although I think there are English versions) - the one provided by the Chambord site makes it clear that outside of school holidays it runs wednesdays, weekends, and on holidays, and not at all after 5 November until the start of the next season. For most of April (nod to bakerstreet) and after 7 july (nod to you) vacances scolaires are in effect so you get your pick of the day of the week. I mention just for the benefit of anyone else reading that outside of school vacations be careful on mondays, tuesdays, thursdays and fridays if one plans to visit Chambord or Cheverny using the navette.The other copy of the navette schedule, listed on a different site, makes it clearer how to get to Cheverny as well as Chambord and gives the operating days as days of the month instead of days of the week.

Attachment 89

There are all of two departure times that allow for chateau viewing - one has to leave Blois on the 09:30 bus if one is to have maximum flex and/or see two chateau. The first bus onward to Cheverny-Blois allows only two hours in Chambord, the second 4 hours with lunch I would think would be a better bet (opinions welcome). The 14:05 takes one back to Blois by 15:15, or one can have an almost 2 hour visit to Cheverny and return at 16:09 for 16:55. THis is fine is one is staying the night in the area, not so good if like bakerstreet one was trying to make the train back to Paris (esp if one had to stop by the hotel to pick up bags first.)

Eureka, I figured out finally that this new format has an edit function, yea!

Amazing how your mind goes in first direction you thought of. Then you let yourself think and ideas pop in.

All along I figured that I could take the train early evening for some late sun shots on the island in front of Chateau Amboise.

Train from Tours to Amboise and walk to the island. Right?

Then I figured if all goes as I hope on our first day, we'll taxi from Chenonceau to Clos Luce. By the time we're ready to leave Clos Luce and return to Tours we may be right in that time window only walking in the other direction; From Clos Luce to the train station.

If we had wanted to see Cheverny-Chambord by navette,>

Don't think they run in November?

Palenq,
We're going in mid-July.

Yes I was referring to post about talking about doing those navettes in November.

Not after 5 November and they don't run again until 1 April apparently (see the link in my 13 Jan post). I mentioned this not for Myer since he's going in July but to warn anyone else reading that it's not a guarantee, to check the schedule.

the Loire is especially bleak IMO in late fall and winter anyway. And there may be local buses that sporadically run to those places but a mini-bus tour is great at anytime of year - from Tours, Blois or Amboise.

I think it was Bakerstreet.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ambo...w=1920&bih=949

Amboise has a street full of troglydyte houses - some are restaurants but for photo opps could be sweet. Right near chateau. Folks staying in Amboise can actually stay in some that are B&Bs.

Thank you, everyone! - especially Myer for posting originally and letting me interject myself into his thread....I really appreciate all of the expert and experienced thoughts and help.

For what it's worth, and in case anyone else is looking for ideas, here's what I have decided: I have found a Loire-based private touring company that we'll use. I asked about them picking us up at the airport in Paris but they advise that due to rush hour it will be quicker for us to catch the TGV train from CDG airport to Saint Pierre des Corps (we arrive at CDG at 7:15 a.m. and the train departs about 2 hours later, so hopefully our plane won't be late and we'll be able to catch the train). The company will pick us up at the train station at Saint Pierre des Corps (they say it will arrive around 11 a.m.). They'll drive us to a restaurant in a nearby town, probably Amboise, where we'll have lunch (they'll prebook our reservations), then we'll see a chateau or two (they also serve as guides) and then they'll drive us to our hotel -- we'll probably stay in Amboise -- and we'll check in. We'll be on our own that evening, which probably will be an EARLY evening since we'll be drooping and dropping with sleep. (Although I'm also thinking we'll nap some on the train from Paris).

The next morning the company will pick us up at our hotel with bags packed, and we'll tour the area -- more chateaux, a winery, a nice lunch (they're suggesting the Orangerie near Chenonceau - anyone been there?), whatever we want, then a little before 6 p.m. they'll take us to catch our train back to Paris, where we will then check into our hotel for our four (too short, but that's all we have!) remaining nights in France.

It's not an inexpensive plan but my precious limited resource is TIME and this plan will maximize that. One day when/if we retire I would be more able to travel more leisurely and make our own way from place to place, but since we do not have that luxury of time AND since this Loire Valley visit will be on the front end of the trip while we are somewhat jet-lagged, paying someone knowledgeable about the area to chauffeur us around and help us choose the exact places we want to go AND make advance plans/get advance tickets is, for us, the best way to see this area this time.

bakerstreet- sounds just a word about trains if you missed it above -book your own train tickets ASAP at www.voyages-sncf.com for deep discounts but non-changeable non-refundable tickets. www.seat61.com has load of great advice on doing just that.

Hmmm -- I tried booking TVG train tickets earlier, but wasn't able to, and was told (on this forum) that it's too early. I'm leaving near the end of April. Is there a site that will sell me the train tickets now for end of April? Also, I think I'll book changeable tickets on the off-chance our flight is late and I can't make the 9:15 a.m. train. Thanks!

What exact date do you need train tickets for?They are available 92 days out from your day of travel, so unless you're leaving at the very end of April you should be able to buy tickets. You can use www.trainline.eu or www.voyages-sncf.com(don't switch to English or you'll be redirected to the onerous Rail europe site).

FWIW, I always allow at least 3 hours between arrival at CGD and hoppingon a TGV. Hope you make it.

Yes, I CAN now! Thanks! I sure hope I can make the train with the 2-hour "cushion" - I've never been stuck that long in CDG after arrival on previous trips, so I guess I'll book the tickets and hope for the best! Certainly hope it works out!

Are changeable tickets changeable after the train has left?

No.

Quelles sont les conditions d'échanges ou de remboursements d?un billet TGV ? - Résolue

Looks like day of train and after just 3 euros to change -subject to availability of course.

Vos billets sont échangeables et remboursables sans retenue jusqu'à la veille du départ. Le jour du départ, une retenue est appliquée

Your tickets are changeable and reimbursible without penalty until the evening before your departure. The day of your departure, a penalty is applied:

• 3 euros par trajet et par voyageur pour les tarifs avec carte (12-25, Senior, Escapades et Enfant+, Enfant Famille, ...) et Congé annuel,

3 euros penalty per trainride per passenger for riders with a Senior Card, Escapade and hild ard, Child and Family Card, and during annual holidays (maybe school holidays - I'm not sure)

• 10 euros par trajet et par voyageur pour les tarifs Loisir (50% de retenue si la valeur du billet est inférieure à 20 euros).

10 euros penalty per trainride for Loisir tickets (50% penalty if the value of the ticket is less than 20 euros)



Après départ, vos billets sont non échangeables et non remboursables.

After the train leaves, your tickets are non-exchangeable and non-reimbursable