How far of a trip is from Paris to Loire Valley. Planning to book a package to Paris for 6 nights, but I want to visit something outside of Paris as well. Is the train to go to Loire Valley expensive and how far is the trip?

Are you asking about a day trip? You can do a minivan tour from Paris to I think 3 of the chateaus. We did a day trip to Angers, maybe not technically the Loire Valley but it seemed more convenient as the connections from the train to the various chateaus seemed tricky. We got PREMS fares from Paris to Angers - the chateau was quite interesting (tho not very luxurious) and there was a marvelous tapestry there. Made for a pleasant day and was cheaper than the minivan tour.

With only 6 nights in Paris I'd go to Versailles. Much closer and easier as a day trip and something you will never forget. We took the train on our own, not a tour, and it was very doable.

Since that trip we've been back to Paris many times and always want to return to Versailles, but so many new places beckon us.

There are a large number of Paris day trips that can be made without having to spend the day packed in a bus traveling to, through, and from the Loire Valley. Here is a list:

Giverny
http://giverny.org/gardens/

Open daily except Mondays from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm from April 1st to October 31st
__________

Vaux-le-Vicomte
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/

Open from March 15th to November 9th from 10.00 am to 06.00 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm
RER D to Melun
Shuttle or taxi from Melun
Entrance: from 14€

__________

Chantilly
http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/
__________

Fontainebleau
http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/

Take SNCF train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon in the direction of Montargis Sens and disembark at Gare de Fontainebleau Avon
Fare 9.40€
En route time 1+02
http://www.transilien.com

From Gare de Fontainebleau-Avon, take Aérial bus line A to Château
Fare: 1.40€
Buses every 15 mintues.

Entrance fee: 8€
Students: 6€
Free entry the first Sunday of each month
Entrance plus one hour guided tour (in French only): 11€

__________

Provins
http://www.provins.net/

Low Season
Open from January 2nd to March 21st and from November 3rd to December 31th 2008:
Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekends & public holidays from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
High Season
From March 22nd to November 2nd :
Daily from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m..
General closure December 25th and January 1st

__________

Versailles
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/

RER C: direction Versailles-Rive-Gauche-château
Gare Montparnasse: SNCF train serving Versailles-Chantiers
Gare Saint-Lazare: SNCF train direction Versailles-rive-droite

__________

Chartres
http://sacred-destinations.com/franc...-cathedral.htm
http://www.mymaze.de/chartres_technisch_e.htm
http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/
__________

And for children:

Parc Asterix
http://www.parcasterix.fr/
__________

Disneyland Paris
http://www.disneylandparis.com/

Yes I was thinking of a day trip. Would like to stay overnight in Loire Valley, but I think that will be over my budget already. Where can I book those minivan tours? I'm sure they have other places to choose from as well.

The final entry of this report might be of interest to you.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-questions.cfm

There's no need to shell out for a minivan tour. Here's a one-day DiY that costs about $50: http://tinyurl.com/ct27a7

hi schweetpea,

i was looking into something similar myself ... so i am following this thread closely.

one option i was considering ... TGV from paris to tours and then the full day or 1/2 day tours offered by this company ... http://www.accodispo-tours.com/

take a look. this may work for you.

If this will be your first time to Paris, I wouldn't book anything until you got there. Paris has so many wonderful things to do that the time will fly by and 6 days will not seem nearly enough, especially if you're wanting to leave Paris for a day or two. If I were you, I'd plan on going to Versailles and saving the Loire chateaux and others for another trip. Or look into Vaux-le-Vicomte, Malmaison, or Fontainebleu for some options close to Paris.