Hi this is my first post - this topic of Alsace/Burgundy has been really helpfull (thanking you in advance Stu Dudley and phenry!) i already got some great tips and info on this topic but just needed a little extra help please! We are off to France aug 31 for 17 days. I have planned part of the trip after second guessing re-doing and second guessing some more! My husband and i booked an apartment for four nights in Paris, then renting a car we are driving to Loraine(tart flambe here i come) to stay near my family who live in the tiny town of Fontoy, pop: 3000. We are staying at a farmhouse b&b for three nights day-tripping to Luxembourg etc nothing too structured other than to visit leisurely with family. Then we have 6 nights to plan a road trip before returning to Paris for our last three nights. I've decided pretty much to drive from Loraine thru Alsace then Burgundy - would u recommend that i pre book our hotels or can we safely leave room for serendipity and travel and visit and stay where ever we feel at the time? Its last momment planning at best so i don't even know what the availability for hotels would even be at this point - any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Places to stay that i am considering -Colmar, Kaysersberg (my mother was born there) and Dijon maybe Beaune?. we also like the idea for a bike tour just for one day - am i cramming too much in?? I'm starting to feel like the more i plan the more confused i am getting! Looking forward to your additional ideas. Thanks!

Hi yv,

Most of the hotels in Alsace and Burgundy are fairly small. Reservations are helpful if you prefer not to sleep in stables.

We liked
http://schwendi.pagesperso-orange.fr/ in Kientzheim, about 1/2 km from Kaysersberg. You can also take the bus to Colmar.

In Beaune, we liked http://www.hotel-grillon.fr/

If you prefer Dijon, I don't think that you can do better than http://myhomeindijon.com/

Enjoy your visit.

PS,

Please break your posts into paragraphs. Its very hard for us old people to read one big block of letters.

The first time we visited Alsace (in the early 80s) we arrived in Sept with no reservations. We slept in a "stable", because everything else was filled up. We couldn't even take our bags up to the room because the stairs were too narrow. Had to unpack in the car & carry our items up the stairs into our stable. I read later that Alsace has a shortage of accommodations. Don't know if that is the case today. We did, however, find a place to sleep - but we had to visit around 10 places first (no cell-phones then). If this is OK with you, then give it a try - just make sure that you have someplace secured by 3PM.

Beaune & Dijon shouldn't be a big problem - unless there is something "going on" like the grape harvest or a festival in Dijon (patrimonie weekend, etc). If Cocoo from Dijon is listening, maybe she can tell you if her place is already fully booked or not in mid-September.

Stu Dudley

Stu Dudley

If you stay in Kaysersberg or Kientzheim, you can walk to either village in about 15 minutes. We loved staying in Kaysersberg, lots of restaurants, shops, cafes, etc.

We also walked from Kaysersberg to Riquewihr, through the vineyards. Lovely. A bike ride throughout the area would be wonderful.

It's an easy bus ride into Colmar from Kaysersberg or Kientzheim. The bus is easier than driving in, navigating the town, finding a lot, etc.

I wouldn't spend more than a day in Colmar, but don't miss the Unterlinden Museum if you're into medieval art.

Coco has her availability posted on her web site. She is fully booked in Sept & first 2 weeks in Oct, but has/had avaiabilities in July & Aug.

http://www.myhomeindijon.com/

Patrimonie weekend is probably Sept 11 or 18th - and Dijon's patrimonie is a big one. There was also a hurgy-gurdy festival going on when we were there in Sept. Perhaps grape pickers & the hundreds of "hurdy gurdy" people need accommodations in Sept.

Stu Dudley

Thanks to all for such quick replies! all your suggestions will be considered.

Yvette

We really enjoyed our stay in www.i-love-riquewihr.com last Oct.

I did a bike trip in Burgundy two summers ago. My favorite place I stayed was in Puligny-Montrachet--Hotel Le Montrachet. It is a charming (relatively) small hotel with a wonderful restaurant. http://www.le-montrachet.com/

My experience on hotels in sept in this area is just turn up but recognise that you may not get what you want. Access to hotels on the GPS or blackberry is a good back up

Timetable looks ok,

If you don't mind falling back on the chain hotels in the suburbs if the central hotels are full, you don't need to make reservations in September, especially with the school year starting that week. All of the families have finished their vacation, so they certainly won't be in the hotels.

Hello all and thanks again for your help - there are virtually NO hotels left to book in Strasbourg - i know cause i've been online til two in the morning for the past two nights!
one exception - The priciest of the lot: La Regent Petite France - mixed reviews some great some not so great - have any of you stayed here? should i just bite the bullet and book it for two nights?

after two nights here i am looking at two nights in Keysersberg at Le Chambard hotel - mentioned on another post for the restaurant but not the hotel -

exhausted

I would grab it so you are in the city itself.. I walked by it and it looked nice.

This is the place where I suggest stopping in Metz when you are in Lorraine.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...enter-metz.cfm

I might have been the one who mentioned the restaurant Le Chambard in Kaysersberg; don't know anything about the hotel rooms, but from eating in the Winstub, I would not hesitate to stay in the hotel.

We really liked Kaysersberg and thought it would be a great village to stay in.

grandmere, yes i believe it was your post i read about.

so here it is: 2 nights in strasbourg at what i believe to be the most expensive yet only available hotel (not anymore now tho)- but it looks fantastic should be great!! at the Cour du Corbeau and then two nights at Le Chambard in Kaysersberg. I will have to report my experiences.

Two more nights left to plan ... what are your thoughts everyone? Burgundy two nights in one location?? and if just one location to choose, which one??

I've read back on many previous posts and appologize for my redundant and repetative questions but appreciate your help and patience for the newbie!

RE: Strasbourg -- did you try the Hotel Gutenberg? www.hotel-gutenberg.com.

Maybe add 2 nights in Dijon? We loved it there.

Or, if you're going to ride bikes, stay in Kaysersberg for another 2 nights and pedal away!

i have tried EVERY hotel i could find including the hotel gutenberg, no vacancies and the only way i even got the hotel that i did was from trying every hotel search engine until one came up with an availability.

Even after calling the hotel directly and being told no vacancy i finally found one thru venere.com

We would have been staying in stables for sure! lol

I will take a closer look at Dijon - thank you NanBug

Just like to share the Dijon TO video http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc1...ust-art_travel

Hi; If you are returning to Paris, you may want to consider staying closer, perhaps in Auxerre. We stayed at this chateau, just south of Auxerre. Perhaps a bit over two hours from Paris. Much to see in this area. www.chateauderibourdin.com For gereral information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/auxerre A little Burgundy information. Richard www.burgundyeye.com