Need help finding a daytour of the Loire Vally
Nov 23rd, 2002, 09:05 PM
#2
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I made this excursion with Paris Vision a few years ago, but the prices have drastically gone up. There are two choices, either going in a motor coach that seats 55 people for 137 Euro, or a 12 person minivan that includes lunch for 170 Euro. Both trips include the entrance fees to three chateaux.
I went on the minivan tour and thought that it was worth the extra money (at that time it cost $100), because there were fewer people in the group, and we could move along at a faster pace.
If you're going to expend eiher 137 or 170 Euro, my recommendation would be to spend the extra money to go with a smaller group. I recall being served a 4 course lunch that was excellent. Also the minivan tour picks you up and drops you off at your hotel.
The tours are about 12 hours long.
Paris Vision's website is www.parisvision.com.
I also checked Cityrama, but that website is being remodeled and there's a note that the site will be down for 2 weeks, but you can request a brochure online.
I also have a friend that went to see the chateaux with her daughter. They took the train to the Loire Valley, and caught buses that brought them very close to different chateaux.
I went on the minivan tour and thought that it was worth the extra money (at that time it cost $100), because there were fewer people in the group, and we could move along at a faster pace.
If you're going to expend eiher 137 or 170 Euro, my recommendation would be to spend the extra money to go with a smaller group. I recall being served a 4 course lunch that was excellent. Also the minivan tour picks you up and drops you off at your hotel.
The tours are about 12 hours long.
Paris Vision's website is www.parisvision.com.
I also checked Cityrama, but that website is being remodeled and there's a note that the site will be down for 2 weeks, but you can request a brochure online.
I also have a friend that went to see the chateaux with her daughter. They took the train to the Loire Valley, and caught buses that brought them very close to different chateaux.
Nov 24th, 2002, 06:19 AM
#3
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Try these. Brochures should be at your hotel or if not, just stop in any of the larger hotels and look on the counter.Then just walk over.
Paris Visions
214, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Tel: 01-42-60-30-01
Fax: 01-42-86-95-36
http://www.parisvision.com/fr/index.cfm?rubrik=produits&ki=gb72771097
Cityrama
4, place des Pyramides
75001 Paris
Tel: 01-44-55-60-00
Fax: 01-42-60-33-71
http://www.cityrama.com/
For more Paris information go to www.anamericaninparis.com
Paris Visions
214, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Tel: 01-42-60-30-01
Fax: 01-42-86-95-36
http://www.parisvision.com/fr/index.cfm?rubrik=produits&ki=gb72771097
Cityrama
4, place des Pyramides
75001 Paris
Tel: 01-44-55-60-00
Fax: 01-42-60-33-71
http://www.cityrama.com/
For more Paris information go to www.anamericaninparis.com
Nov 24th, 2002, 03:37 PM
#5
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Posts: n/a
Took the ParisVision bus tour last March. It went to the 3 "C chateaux." It wasn't cheap at about $125. It stopped at a country club, of all places, for lunch which was surprisingly good. It left at about 7:15 am and returned about 7:00 pm. The office is accross the street from a Metro stop. Overall, we thought it was worthwhile although you're a bit rushed at the 3 sites they visit.
Nov 24th, 2002, 04:52 PM
#7
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I did a Loire daytour in May with a company called "Paris Bus Service" - found the brochure in my hotel. It's a little more expensive than Paris Visions or Cityrama, because they put you on the TGV to Tours (which only takes an hour - great!) Someone picks you up at your hotel, gets you on train, then you are met in Tours. The group is limited to 6.There were only two other people when I did it. We went to three chateaux, plus a wine tasting late in the afternoon at the Chateau de Nitray.A nice lunch was included between the chateau visits. I also used this company for a daytrip to Mont Saint-Michel the year before, which was the same type of train-van type of thing- more driving, though. These are almost like private tours. I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm going to stay in the Loire Valley longer next time!
Nov 25th, 2002, 04:08 PM
#9
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When I was in the Loire in the Spring of 2001, I found that two chateaux was the most I could take in a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I definitely preferred seeing only one a day and doing other things in addition. Chateau burn-out set in pretty easily for me.
You might consider doing a day-trip to the Loire on your own. In a couple of hours you can train from Paris to Amboise. While in Amboise there's the castle, the Clos-Luce and the Enchanted House. It's a pretty little town to walk around and there would be plenty to do for a day, without having to rush around with a tour group.
The castle is very formidable looking and dominates the town. It has a beautiful chapel. It also has some furnishings inside. Not all of the Loire castles have any furnishings left.
The Clos-Luce is where Leonardo da Vinci lived out the last few years of his life. It's on the southern edge of town less than a mile from the castle. I didn't have any problems walking out there. In the basement they have reproductions of some of the things he designed. It was really interesting, especially if you like mechanical things.
The Enchanted House is a quirky, privately owned museum. It's a little tricky to find. You go in through a courtyard that looks like an abandoned parking lot. It has several rooms that are overflowing with toys, mechanical toys, dolls, puppets and anything else you might think of in that vein. They've tried to put a bit of a theme to each room, some worked, some didn't. It was a fascinating collection.
You might consider doing a day-trip to the Loire on your own. In a couple of hours you can train from Paris to Amboise. While in Amboise there's the castle, the Clos-Luce and the Enchanted House. It's a pretty little town to walk around and there would be plenty to do for a day, without having to rush around with a tour group.
The castle is very formidable looking and dominates the town. It has a beautiful chapel. It also has some furnishings inside. Not all of the Loire castles have any furnishings left.
The Clos-Luce is where Leonardo da Vinci lived out the last few years of his life. It's on the southern edge of town less than a mile from the castle. I didn't have any problems walking out there. In the basement they have reproductions of some of the things he designed. It was really interesting, especially if you like mechanical things.
The Enchanted House is a quirky, privately owned museum. It's a little tricky to find. You go in through a courtyard that looks like an abandoned parking lot. It has several rooms that are overflowing with toys, mechanical toys, dolls, puppets and anything else you might think of in that vein. They've tried to put a bit of a theme to each room, some worked, some didn't. It was a fascinating collection.
Dec 4th, 2002, 04:46 PM
#11
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Steve, sorry couldn't reply sooner to your question as to having enough time on our own at the chateaux. Yes, but there was no time to wander around in the towns. We had enough time at Mont St. Michel, but it was a long day. I would never take bus tours to these places from Paris - the train is much better. Actually, I think the Loire Valley merits at least several days, to get to wander around in the pretty towns. But the day trip is worth it if you don't have time for more.
Dec 5th, 2002, 09:14 AM
#12
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Sue:
Thanks for your reply. I think I found the tours you went on at:
http://212.155.112.36/cgi-bin/tourin...ous-rubrique=3 We would also prefer to spend more time at either of these places (Loire Valley or Mont. St. Michel) but time doesn't allow for it. Is there one tour you felt was more enjoyable or not as rushed (or that you just thought was more worth not missing)? Thanks.
Thanks for your reply. I think I found the tours you went on at:
http://212.155.112.36/cgi-bin/tourin...ous-rubrique=3 We would also prefer to spend more time at either of these places (Loire Valley or Mont. St. Michel) but time doesn't allow for it. Is there one tour you felt was more enjoyable or not as rushed (or that you just thought was more worth not missing)? Thanks.
Dec 5th, 2002, 10:20 AM
#13
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Having done both the Citirama tour and the Paris Vision tour and also a tour on my own, I'd suggest the following. Take the TGV from Paris to St Pierre des Corps. Immediatly after you exit the train station is the car rental (Avis, Hertz).Rent a car and drive to the different chateaux. This way you can see what you want to see. We left at 7:00 and returned at 8:00 pm. We liked it so much we did it again the next day. We bought a eurorail ticket for the minimum time since we went train hopping arounf France. The last time we did this we stayed overnight near Tours. We have always been able to see at least 4-5 chateaux at a time.
Dec 6th, 2002, 04:47 AM
#14
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Michael:
An easy day trip only 90 mins of out Paris via the TGV (Gare Montparnasse) is the western Loire city (Anjou region)of Angers. The Chateau d'Angers was started during the 9th century and appears now as it did when Louis IX was on the throne (1228-1238). It also houses the Apocalypse Tapestries, an impressive work, extant from about 1375. Based on the book of St. John it has grotesque beasts, social satires and makes for intersting viewing. For lunch try, La Ferme (Pl. de Freppel across from the Cathedral. St. Maurice) The Chateau is only a 7 min walk from the train station..very easy access .. Good luck!
Regards.
Luis
An easy day trip only 90 mins of out Paris via the TGV (Gare Montparnasse) is the western Loire city (Anjou region)of Angers. The Chateau d'Angers was started during the 9th century and appears now as it did when Louis IX was on the throne (1228-1238). It also houses the Apocalypse Tapestries, an impressive work, extant from about 1375. Based on the book of St. John it has grotesque beasts, social satires and makes for intersting viewing. For lunch try, La Ferme (Pl. de Freppel across from the Cathedral. St. Maurice) The Chateau is only a 7 min walk from the train station..very easy access .. Good luck!
Regards.
Luis
