I have not been to Paris for 38 years. I will spend a week there next week with my husband. I speak some French, he does not. I'd like to rent a car and make a couple of day trips outside of Paris while we are there. I remember Chartres being wonderful because of the cathedral. Can anyone suggest some great places to drive to that would be either a 60 or 90 minute drive from Paris for a day trip (we have already paid in advance for our hotel in the 17e - the hotel Prince Albert Wagram). I seem to remember visiting some champagne caves 38 years ago, but cannot find it on the map now since I've forgotten the name of the town. Help! Any ideas are welcome!

Chartres is a good start, we like taking the RER out to St. Germain-en-laye as well. If you have not been in 38 years, however, I feel quite certain you'll find plenty to do, in Paris proper. Of course Versailles also comes to mind.

Are you really so keen on renting a car? Getting it in and out of Paris is time consuming.

I highly recommend that if you are in Paris for a week and you have not seen St Denis that you include it in your plans. Historically and architecturally, it is a spectacular sight, every bit as spectacular and moving as Chartres, including the stained glass. You can get there via the metro.

I also recommend that in addition to thinking about train day-trips, you consider a boat day trip on the Seine. You can Google up possibilities.

There are literally dozens of day trips you can easily make without renting a car: Chartres, Versailles, Auvers-sur-Oise, Chantilly, Senlis, Fontainebleau, Reims (that's the champagne town), Ile des Impressionistes, and on and on. If you do a search here on Fodors for day trips Paris you'll have a day's worth of reading.

Merci mille fois! These suggestions are just perfect!

Take the train to Versailles and to Chartres. Getting in/out of Paris can be nightmarish. No reason to drive when train travel is so easy, convenient, and cost effective. Drop this car idea pronto.

Agree with the above suggestions. I think having a car in Paris would be a nightmare. Train travel in France is wonderful.