Great info - thanks to all. We've decided to rent the car. But now, I need help with rental location.....we will take the TGV from Paris to St Pierre des Corps on 10/7 - can we rent there? Though what company? Is it worth renting in Paris and returning there? I was thinking we'd rent only for 2 or 3 of our 4 days in Loire Valley - with last day spent in Tours, since we need to be on an early train last day back to CDG.....

leen24

Your trip sounds wonderful. We have visited the Loire twice and rented cars in the center of Tours and in Amboise and it worked out much better in Tours. Family have rented at St. Pierre des Corps with no trouble; if I were to return I would rent there. That said a friend rented the car at Orly and stopped in Chartres on the way to the Loire--I liked that itinerary too.

Driving in the Loire was relatively easy and routes are well marked. We have stayed at Le Vieux Manoir in Amboise and the Chateau de Rochecotte near Langeais not far from the Chateau des Reaux recommended above. We enjoyed both. The Rochecotte was set in beautiful grounds and had a wonderful restaurant. They even brought us dinner on the terrace one night in late September--it was perfect. However we also liked staying in Amboise for the choice of restaurants, the wonderful breakfasts at Le Vieux Manoir, the garden and the historic sites in Amboise.
www.chateau-de-rochecotte.fr/
www.le-vieux-manoir.com/

I would also encourage a visit to Villandry for the wonderful gardens and the small but charming chateau. So lovely. Please post on your return and let us know about your trip.

leen24, there are multiple car rental companies at St Pierre des Corps (the TGV station for Tours). My husband hates driving, so for us, it was worth taking the TGV from Paris to Tours and then rent the car there; if only to take away a few hours' of stressful driving for my husband. Some people think it's a waste of money to take the train and we should just rent the car from Paris and drive it to the Loire. But those people aren't the ones married to my husband and I was more than happy to pay the extra 50 euros for our train tickets to keepy my husband as stress-free as possible.

We rented our car via AutoEurope.

My first solo trip ever to Europe was a car rental in Paris to go visit Loire. First time got lost "found" Fontainebleau and got a private behind scenes tour, second time was on a small road while going cross country...and ended up seeing the most delicious scenery.

So...get the Michelin Green Guide and a Michelin Map for the area. Don't use GPS and let serendipity take over (but agree you would not stay lost for long).

For a treat, in Chenonceaux there is the Bon Laboureur, an inn and restaurant. I accidentally picked it, having seen it in a book and thinking it looked nice.

The softest beds, a nice pool for summer dip, and a gastronomic restaurant. This was my first ever experience at a top end restaurant, and first stay where the guest book included a pope :)

So many great ideas from all of you - thanks!! Another question......can we return the rental car in St Pierre des Corps before the place opens or on a Sunday? We fly back to the US from CDG in the early afternoon and will need to drop the car back off around 8am.

leen24, you have to see if the car company lets you do that or not. Even if the rental company allows you to drop off the car before it opens, I'd make sure that you photograph the car at all angles to document that you didn't return the car with any damages. I've read horror stories where people returned the car before the place opens, and then they got a huge bill of damages/dents/dings etc to the car which they weren't responsible for...

If I were you, I'd just drive directly from Loire Valley to CDG and drop off the car there. That way, you save yourself a lot of schlepping and transferring; plus a lot more time-efficient.

Finalizing hotel reservations - how about an recs for a place in the western Loire Valley? Maybe in Chinon area?

Thanks!

Do it by car ,you will discover a lot of surprising places,there is road signs everywhere, buy a road map and you can buy a Gps Unit for 60 euros directly in any French supermarket

Chinon is a lovely town but I'm sorry I don't have a hotel to recommend there. Our family met up in Chinon traveling from hotels in Azay-le-Rideau (the budget Hotel Val de Loire), Saint Patrice (Chateau de Rochecotte) and Saumur. All are about a 1/2 hour drive from Chinon. We found so many good hotels in the Loire that someone must have one they recommend here.

Hi leen24; Consider this hotel in Chinon, a lovely town. www.hoteldiderot.com/ Richard

leen,
We were just in Loire and they are renovating the castle area in Chinon, so the skyline(cranes everywhere) and the dust might be an issue for you.
For West Loire stay in Azay le Rideau
best town to stay in all of Loire- Amboise(my opinion of course)
Best Chateux outside of a town- Domaine de la Tortiniere in Montbazon(FANTASTIC)

A BIG second recommendation (in support of FrankS) for one or two nights in Azay-le-Rideau! With it's magical moated chateau - which has a lazerlight show in the evenings - the little village is pretty as a picture! I stayed at the Grande Monarch which was within walking distance of the Chateau.
I highly recommend you drive to the picturesque little enclave of Candes-Saint-Martin. Has a lovely old church and a lovely bistro in an ancient old building a few yards away.

In Saumur we did not reserve a hotel room but arrived in front of the Hotel Anne de Anjou and bagged the most enormous room which has a small balcony overlooking the Loire for a greatly (last minute)reduced rate!!

I personally love Tours. The old part is fascinating. And what about St.Gatien??? Don't forget to take your DH to the Abbey gardens next door to see that 1,000 year old Cedar of Lebanon!

Oh, I am sl glad I stumbled on this thread. I stayed up and read up on Loire Valley last night. I will be in France next March. Other than day trips from Paris, this will be the only other area that we will spend time in...

Bookmarking - Great information.

Car, for sure, driving is easy, the chateaux are easier to get to , and the countryside is more lovely by road, than train track, this from one who has done it. :)

Thinking of a winery/chateau trip to the Loire from end to end in February. (1) Are many wineries/caves and tourist facilities (accommodations, restaurants, chateaux) open at this time? (2) Do you need appointments at the caves? (3) Is there a good, up to date guide of caves (or personal recommendations)?

Thanks!

leen24 r"ented cars in the center of Tours and in Amboise and it worked out much better in Tours." We are well seasoned ladies (age wise) and want to rent our car in Amboise as we will be renting an apartment for a week there Why was your experience to much better renting a car in Tours vs Amboise.]??????.

Scootoir on Sep 20, 09 at 9:45pm it was you I should have been asking my question about renting a car in amboise vs Tours Why was one better than the othera?