Hi there
My wife and I are from South Africa and planning a trip in June this year. We land in Paris and leave from Venice. We plan on spending 3 nights in paris, then making our way south to Tours by train and then hiring a car and expolring the Loire Valley for a couple of days. Not sure where to go there - so suggestions welcome.
From there we plan on going south towards the coast then crossing the boarder and into Italy. We want to spend time in Florence and surrounds then make our way up to Venice.
We have roughly 10 nights for France and 10 for Italy and have only booked the 3 nights for Paris so far.
I really would appreciate some advice on places to do and see. We want to experience French and Italian country side, small towns, fine food etc - with a bit of the obvious tourist big city stuff.
Should we be hiring a car for the whole trip? Should be dropping off car in France and then hiring another in Italy etc [is that a cheaper option?]

Thanks

Many years ago we did a very similar trip. We visited Paris then rented a car and drove south through the Rhone Valley to Lyon and then to Provence and the French Riviera. We then crossed the border to Italy and drove along the Italian Riviera. Then to Pisa, Florence, Tuscany and Rome. We had a little over 3 weeks for the trip. We didn't feel at all rushed.

With the same amount of time, you could visit Paris, the Loire Valley, the Riviera. These days, it is very expensive to turn in a car in a different country than where it is rented. You might want to drop the car along the Riviera and train to Genoa or someplace in Northeast Italy. Rent a car and continue your trip. Actually, depending on what you want to see in Italy (other than Florence and Venice) you really won't need a car. You might want to visit Cinque Terre. You won't need a car there either.

Happy planning and have a good trip.

Others who have rented autos warn about high drop-off rates between countries, so mamcalice's advice gets seconded.

Hi DS,

>We plan on spending 3 nights in paris, then making our way south to Tours by train and then hiring a car and expolring the Loire Valley for a couple of days. Not sure where to go there ....<

May I suggest that, since this is your first visit, that you fly into Venice for 4 nights, train to Florence for 3 nights, train to Rome for 3 nights and then fly to Paris for the rest of the visit before going home?

With Paris as a base you can take a daytrips to Strasbourg (2:20 hr on the TGV), Dijon (1:35 hr) and Chartres (1 hr) or Versailles (0:40 hr).

This way you will see The Big 3 of Italy and get to enjoy Paris as it should be enjoyed.

Enjoy your visit.

I second Ira's suggestions, although you don't mention whether this is your first trip or not - if it is, then I would start in Rome and work up toward Venice via Florence using Italian trains. If you can spend a little more time in Italy then there are some nice day trips from Florence - Siena, Pisa San Gimignano and the like.

Same for Paris, I would definitely second both Versailles and Strasbourg.

In terms of travel, I am suggesting this way because you can also take a sleeper train from Venice to Paris (or the reverse if you want to end in Rome obviously). It leaves Venice Santa Lucia at around 8pm and reaches Paris Lyon at 930am the next morning.

Since you're going in June, around now (90 days in advance) is the bets time to start booking trains for the cheapest prices.