DJ_Pulse

Hi everyone! I'm planning for a 10-14 day stay beginning in Paris and potentially neighboring areas/countries. I'm interested in visiting places like Versailles and Southern France's wine region. First timer going with my wife. How long should I dedicate to Paris, and what areas do you recommend as potential places to visit? In addition, my method of transportation do you recommend, TGV vs. rail system.. truly a first timer who wants to experience the "City of Lights" and all that it has to offer. Everything else would be gravy. Merci!

Christina

hi, DJ -- FYI for starters, it's known as the "City of Light"

This is a little too broad to answer much, but for 10-14 days in France for a newcomer, I'd recommend about 5-7 in Paris, if you are only thinking of one other area (some wine area in the south, which one?). Because you can go to Versailles and some other places right from Paris easily as day trips.

I'd suggest you think about taking the TGV to the south for that part. I think you are confused about what TGV is, it is the rail system. It's just a name for their high-speed trains. Those are only on certain routes, but one of them goes from Paris down to Lyon/Avignon/Aix-en-Provence and Marseille so would fit that part of your trip. You could then rent a car at the station and do your wine region thing down ther. For convenience, you might book an open-jaw flight (into Paris, out of Marseille). It shouldn't cost much more than just RT Paris, and will be easier than getting back to Paris. Or, you could get one out of Nice if you meander over that way.

DJ_Pulse

Christina thanks so much for your help. Bordeaux in the southwest is an area of interest from a wine perspective. Any areas in northern France that may be worth a visit..?

Thanks for the clarification on the TGV. Sounds like something I'll include in my trip (Marseilles), as well as day trips to Versailles among others.

luvparee

I'd certainly do 14 days rather than 10! My group flew from Chicago to Charles DeGaulle, took the TGV to Avignon right from the airport TGV staton (2 hr 40 min ride), stayed in a guesthouse in Perne les Fontaines for 8 nights, did day trips around the various perched villages (Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, L'Isle sur la Sorgue (fabulous market on Sunday morning), St. Remy, etc., and one day went north to wine country -- Vaison-la-Romaine, Gigondas and Chateauneuf de Pape (and many other wine villages). We then took the TGV back to Paris, stayed there 8 nights, and flew home (against our better judgment!!!). There is so much to do in France that sometimes you have to leave things for the next trip!

Enjoy!!!

joy/luvparee

Travelnut

If you don't mind some links, here are great threads to print and highlight for your planning...

<font color="red"><b>Must-read links for Paris 'newbies':</b></font>

<b>Paris Superthread:</b>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

<b>100 Great things to do in Paris:</b>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1277898

<b>Paris - Favorite Walks:</b>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34511772

<b>Paris restaurants:</b>
&lt;&gt;L'Ile St Louis -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34843539
&lt;&gt;le Marais -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34843448
&lt;&gt;Montparnasse -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34853133
&lt;&gt;Various -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34803621

<b>Local transportation information, maps, routing system, etc:</b>
www.ratp.fr

<b>In-depth tutorial of how to use SNCF website (France rail tickets):</b>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34752919
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...xt=superthread

DJ_Pulse

Thanks Travelnut.

DJ

Michel_Paris

You could spend all of your time in Paris, and so one or more days trips. Versailles, Chartres, Reims, Giverny, Auvers sur Oise, Vaux le Vicomte,etc..are ones the get mentioned often. There would be visited using RER or SNCF, which is the &quot;regular&quot; rail system, versus the high speed, usuallly longer distance train, the TGV.

What are your interests? If you really want to do the city/country thing, you could spend, say, half of your tiem in Paris, then rent a car and go to....Loire for castles, Normandie for countryside..D-Day..St Michel, Burgundy/Bordeaux for wine country,etc...or perhaps just rent a room in a small town and spend time there...Dijon gets mention here, as well as several places in Provence.

Many potential itineraries, people here will help.