ToryTraveling

We will be finishing a month's stay in France in late June and making a long Saturday's drive from Languedoc up to catch our flight home from Charles de Gaulle airport on Sunday. I would like to find a memorable small hotel (not extraordinarily pricey so probably no more than 3 stars) within two hours of Paris for our last evening's stay. I found some suggestions close to Amboise but fear that is a bit too far south to make it safely for our flight on mid-day Sunday. Perhaps Fontainebleau?--though I have not found great recommendations there. Can anyone suggest a memorable town and inn or hotel they have enjoyed en route?

Gretchen

Why don't you turn in your car and take the TGV. Have a memorable last night IN Paris.

StCirq

Is there a reason you're making that long, boring drive? You could hop on a train, be there in half the time, and enjoy a lovely afternoon and evening in Paris.

Sarastro

1. That´s an 8 to 9 hour drive non stop. Assuming you are taking A75, and why not because there are no tolls, Orléans is a logical stopping place. Amboise is out of your way and you already have not allocated sufficient time.

2. Please, hotel stars mean very little. What is your budget window? Better yet, take a look at Logis de France. Their hotels are very comfortable and most have an excellent restaurant on property.
www.logisdefrance.com

3. A better plan would be to: a) allocate 2-3 days for this drive or b) take the train as others have pointed out. The train will take about 3 - 3½ hours vs. 10 hours or more on the road if you drive.

HappyTrvlr

Joigny or Auxerre? We syaed in Joigny for a few nights and enjoyed this northern section of Burgundy.

ToryTraveling

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Yes, I fully recognize the length of the drive and there are several reasons we are not doing this leg on the train. Yes, we could take it slower, but we are choosing to maximize our last days at a house in the south and we have spent loads of time in Paris already so that is not where we wish to spend our last evening in France. That said, thank you for the recommendations to look at Joigny or Auxerre, and Orleans makes a lot of sense too. With respect to our hotel budget, I am looking at things in the range of 150 Euro.

StCirq

But, but, but....you could take a train to someplace south of the airport and still avoid that horrible drive. And then hop on a train to CDG. Trust me, that drive is a freaking pain in the A**. You have options. Exercise them. Who in their right mind would want to end a lovely vacation in France with a horrible 10-hour boring drive...when there are OPTIONS??

cigalechanta

Not sure of the prices as it's been a few years but my late husband and I loved the Moulin des Ruats in Avallon by the state parc. It's the only place I have tasted the Blue Fish.
Truit Bleu (sp?) As did MFK Fisher

ggreen

What about one of the Relais & Chateaux? We stayed in one about five years ago on the eastern end of the Loire Valley and it was just the kind of stopover we needed - and you describe. I know some of their properties are quite expensive, but not all of them are...

http://www.relaischateaux.com/spip.p...e=home&lang=en

For example, this one in the Loire is 2 hours from Paris:
http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/sea...urant/liondor/

One of the things we liked is that we knew we'd get a good dinner along with our night's stay, and not need to know of other eateries in the area.

FWIW, when I looked up the URL for Relais & Chateaux just now, I noticed another chain of boutique hotels that looks promising: http://www.relaisdusilence.com/EN/France/

taconictraveler

Tory: I just have to mention the place we stayed in BARBIZON, just near Fontainbleau last October

It is called Les Pleiades. Please give it a look. Easy drive in to Paris, of about one hour. Not EXACTLY on the route to CDG, but a fabulous hotel in a most charming small town. It was a special treat for ourselves, and worked so very well. I think it may be over your budget, but it is a gem.

Judy

Tory, we loved Barbizon as well. I don't have a hotel recommendation as our stay was about 10 years ago, but would encourage you to see what's on Trip Advisor thee.

ToryTraveling

Thanks for the suggestion to look in Barbizon. Although Pleiades doesn't have availability, there are other interesting options there and the town sounds delightful. Moulin des Ruats looks lovely too--just the kind of place I was looking for; though probably a little too far for us to make it into Paris on time, I will look into it further. StCirq, your point is well taken and I promise you I will further consider the alternatives to driving.