loveyblue

We are planning a trip to France in late September & October. Our itinerary looks like this:
Sept 25 - Fly into Amsterdam - 3 nights
Sept 28-Oct 6 - River Cruise
Oct 6 & 7 - Basel, Switzerland

We plan to rent a car in Basel and spend several weeks just driving small back roads, visiting wineries, etc. We enjoy market days, sightseeing, great meals, people watching, long walks, cooking, etc
Oct 8,9,10 - Beaune, France
Oct 11 & 12 Luneville/Nancy
Oct 13,14,15 Barr/Obenai - Alsace Wine Route
Oct 16 & 17 Reims - The Champagne Route

Return the Car in Reims and take the train to Paris (I know that we need to rent and return car within same country, but just have figured that out yet.)
Oct 18 - 21 in Paris

Oct 22 - Return to US

Please take a look at our itineary & feel free to make suggestions, comments, add new ideas.
I would love restaurant & hotel ideas. Cooking classes. ETC

We have visited Paris several times but this is our first time to visit this part of France.

Thank you in advance for any help or ideas you would share with us.

Loveyblue

StCirq

If you rent a car in Switzerland and return it in France, you're looking a paying a huge extra fee.

loveyblue

StCirq,
Yes, I know that but just haven't made that reservation yet.

Please let me know what you think of this timeline. I have enjoyed so many of your hints & tips over the last several years. Your replies & comments on France have inspired me to want to travel there more and more.

loveyblue

StCirq

Thanks, lovelyblue.

I'm far from knowledgeable about the Burgundy area, having just passed through it briefly a few times years ago. And I'm not a big fan of the Champagne region. I do know Alsace quite well and love Obernai and the wine towns there. And overall, your timeline looks fine. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Rastaguytoday

Why don't you return the car in Geneva, train to the Beaune area, and pick up another car there?

There should be a direct train to Dijon. Pick up the car there and return it to Reims.

loveyblue

We are still working on hotels for our trip. I have made several reservations but have not done Paris yet.

On past trips we have stayed at D'Aubuson, Relais Christine, Napolean, Britinique and several other smaller hotels My husband is very happy staying at the D'Aubuson again - they have gin and a lot of ice in the bar for his nightly martini! But I would like some of your ideas for an interesting change.

I would also like to take a cooking class one day. Macarons or ? Any suggestions along this line would be welcomed.

Thank you for your help
Loveyblue

JAMH

Do you want to do the cooking class in Paris?

loveyblue

Oh, my that is a little confusing...I do want to do the cooking class in Paris.
Thank you
loveyblue

Betty1

You can probably avoid the big fee for picking up in one country & dropping off in another by picking up your car on the French side of the Basel-Mulhouse airport. Talk to AutoEurope / Kemwel about this.

Mimar

Yes, Basel is so close to the French border; Mulhouse is only 18 minutes away by TGV. You can pick up the car in Mulhouse near the train station. Or, as Betty1 suggests, at the airport. There's sure to be public transportation from Basel to the airport.

Gretchen

Where does your river cruise go.

JAMH

Fo cooking classes in Paris check out L'Atelier des Chefs. LAC is pretty good but is not for individualized attention. You select from a variety of classes on already determined topics. I have never tried them but I have heard good things, but classes might be in French. For more individualized attention with classes taught in English, try Cook'n with Class located in Montmartre, which is excellent.

Underhill

FYI, better get that Paris hotel booking very soon: October is very high season there because of all the trade and fashion shows. Late September could also be a problem.

Based on your previous hotels, I suggest looking at the hotel Le Madison. The location is excellent: right across from the church of St-Germain and the métro station. The hotel's corner front rooms facing the boulevard (no, no traffic noise) are quite large for Paris.

loveyblue

Betty - Thank you for the information about renting on the french side of the airport! This is our first time to Basel & I didn't realize that was even a possibility.

Mimar - Will also look into Mulhouse as a possibility.

Gretchen - We are doing a river cruise (our first river cruise) from Amsterdam to Basel. We are flying into Amsterdam - spending 3 days and then we will be on the boat for a week.

JAMH - Great ideas for a cooking school. I will look into availability.

Underhill - Le Madison sounds like a good alternative.
I had wanted to stay in an apartment but most are for 7 days minimun (& I guess at some point we have to go home). And, yes I know October is busy - I told my husband we have to make up our mind by Sunday evening!

Thanks to all for your help.
loveyblue

amer_can

You wish to do Champagne area so be aware that during harvest the more reasonable motels/hotels are, as we found near Eperny, full with workers..several to a room. T'wasn't easy but we managed. Campanielle establishments, although not picturesque were more than adequate for those with a car.

waterdog

I will second Underhill's recommendation of the Madison. You also might look at the Relais St. Germain.

waterdog

We will be Beaune a month before you in September. For one of our days there, we booked a tour with Burgundy Discovery. Their offerings sounded interesting and they were very responsive to my questions.

loveyblue

Thank you Waterdog...that sounds like something we would also enjoy.

loveyblue

Thank you Waterdog...that sounds like something we would also enjoy.

waterdog

LovelyBlue
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