My adult daughter and I have tickets for our first visit to Paris March 13-21. We are also thinking about one night at the Trianon Palace in Versailles (Starwood connection) and also considering spending one night in the champagne region. Anyone have an opinion on this? We speak some French. Any other suggestions are welcome. We like to walk a lot and don't get tired easily, but also don't like over-schedule. We have tickets to the ballet Tuesday the 18th, but nothing else is for sure. Thanks in advance.

I have seveal iteniaries on my web site. Emilyandjim.info. We have been to Paris several times and you might some good idea of some special museums we have visited.

Versailles is only about 30 minutes from Paris - it really doesn't make any sense to move to a hotel there. I would do that as a day trip and then, since it's further and in the opposite direction - spend 2 nights in Reims or perhaps even Eparnay - depending on how to plan to travel to Champagne country.

ny, the deal with the Versailles hotel is that it is supposed to be one of Starwood's finest, and we can stay for free, so I think we'll do that for one night. Is there anywhere you would recommend that we stay in Reims? Should we do an organized champagne tour, or just wing it? What about restaurants there? We like quaint and authentic. Thanks for your help.

Hi

My wife and I went to Paris last year and I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there to start with

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

We've done mostly day trips from Paris, but on one summer trip with a group of friends, we went straight from CDG to Versailles, arriving about noon. We checked into the hotel, had lunch, spent a wonderful afternoon wandering the grounds of the Chateau and had a leisurely dinner. The next morning, we were the first people to go into the Chateau, and we had the rest of the afternnon and evening in Paris.

I really like the Hotel de France Versailles Chateau, right across from the Chateau. It certainly isn't free, but it is lovely and convenient. Your hotel sounds even nicer though and it's free!

Versailles has plenty of little restaurants and a good market in the morning. If the weather is nice and you would enjoy the grounds and gardens, I think you would like it. It was a great way to start our trip.

Thanks, everyone, for the good ideas and great photos!

Sassafrass, your suggestion makes a lot of sense. If we decide to go directly to Versailles and stay there the first night, how do we get there from CDG? Train? Cab?

We were a small group, seven grown-ups and four kids, so we had a van service pick us up at the airport and we took taxis back to Paris. That made more sense for our size group. So, unfortunately, I don't know the best way for you to get from CDG to Versailles, but I am sure others on the board can advise you.