We just returned from our first trip to France. We were in Paris and Provence. We are now planning a trip for next year to the Amalfi coast and also returning to Paris. We will have a few extra days to visit another area in France. We thought of the Loire valley, or maybe Normandy. We enjoy quaint villages, nice scenery, good food and wine. Any recommendations? And could these locations be visited on daytrips from Paris or best to stay for a few nights?

In case it will be of some use or interest to you, I'm copying my post from another thread about 'Loire Valley':
Last October, we took the TGV to St Pierre des Corps, then a local train (15 minute ride) to Amboise. We took a taxi to the hotel, but we could have walked (about 20minutes) but it was drizzling.
We stayed at le Manoir les Minimes, which is enclosed in a walled courtyard with free parking for guests, and is about 2 blocks from the beginning of town 'center' and the Chateau d'Amboise. We walked to Clos Luce, da Vinci's last home (an interesting museum of his inventions), and ate dinner at La Florentine, an Italian/ French casual restaurant.
We spent the first afternoon/night in Amboise, doing the above, then the next morning we took the local train -back- to St Pierre des Corps and picked up our rental car (booked online thru AVIS.fr, which was cheaper than AVIS.com, and included the CDW etc). We left out of St Pierre des Corps for the day, and drove to Chateaux Chambord and Cheverny, then to le Manoir les Minimes.
The next day (3rd day) we drove to Chinon and checked into Hotel Diderot, also situated in a walled enclosure with guest parking. Between Amboise and Chinon, we visited Loches'dungeon and castle, and Montresor, a tiny beautiful village with an interesting chateau.
The next day(4th) we drove to Azay-le-Rideau and Fontevraud l'Abbaye, then back to Chinon.
The final day in the Loire, we took the car back to St P-d-Corps and then took the TGV back to Paris.
TGV - 2 r/t tickets 124 Euro
Amboise train 12 Euro
(reserved online at www.sncf.com and picked up all tickets at SNCF boutique in Paris near my hotel)
Car rental was close to 318 Euro (replacement fuel not included; Avis.fr)
le Manoir les Minimes was 120 Euro/double, 11 euro pp/brkf
http://www.manoirlesminimes.com
Hotel Diderot was 64 Euro/double, 6.5 Euro pp/ brkf
http://www.hoteldiderot.com/index.html
http://www.chateau-amboise.com/
http://www.vinci-closluce.com/
http://www.chambord.org/anglais.htm
http://www.chateau-cheverny.fr/
http://www.tourisme-valdindrois-mont...en/index1.html
http://www.loches-tourainecotesud.com/accueilgb.htm
http://www.monum.fr/m_azay/fs_index.dml?lang=en
http://www.abbaye-fontevraud.com/indexflash.htm
La Florentine
50 place Michel Debré 37400 Amboise - 02 47 57 49 49

Dordogne-Lot area.

We also went from Paris (by train) to Amboise and loved staying at Manoir les Minimes. We rented bikes for a couple days, biked to Chenonceau one day & Vouvrey the next. We really enjoyed the area, and found it worth at least a 2 or 3 night stay. It's too far for a day trip IMO.

Thanks for all the info. It sounds great

How many is "a few extra days?" If it's 4-5 your options are significant and could include the Dordogne, Pays Basque, Alsace...just about anywhere because it's so easy to get to far-reaching places on the high-speed trains. If it's 2-3, however, I'd stay close to Paris - i.e., Loire, Normandy, Burgundy.

Hi Boulder,

Depends what you mean by 'quaint'. Quaint to me is thatched, timber framed, pretty and Normany has it in abundance. IMO 'The Loire' is somewhat more classical. I also think the food in Normandy is nicer.

Having said that both are lovely, the scenery in both great and I am sure you will have a wonderful few days whichever you choose.

I personally would not day trip to either as I don't think you would get the flavour of either of the areas in a single day

Enjoy your trip

Was your Paris/Provence trip your first trip to Europe? On my second trip to Europe (30 years ago) I did the identical thing you are doing & returned to the same city (Amsterdam), because I enjoyed it so much the prior year. Now I realize that returning to the same place was a mistake, because there are so many fabulous destinations in Europe that it was silly to visit the same place on each of my very first two trips.

What's wrong with just staying in Italy. Rome, Amalfi Coast, the Tuscany countryside, and Venice are pretty good destinations - and you certainly won't be spending as much time getting from here to there as you would with a Amalfi, Paris, Normandy or Loire itinerary.

Just a thought!!!

Stu Dudley

No, this will be our ninth trip to Europe. We have been everywhere in Italy but wanted to return to the Amalfi coast. We also wanted to return to Paris as we really enjoyed it and there were a number of things we didn't have time to do this year. We have about three nights available to fit in another destination. Sounds like either Loire Valley or Normandy could fit the bill. Convenient access from Paris would be a plus. I like the idea of taking the TGV and then renting a car. We did that in Provence and it worked out very well.

Well, your only option for taking the TGV to Normandy would be to take it to Rennes and then travel north by car. The other, more popular, destinations in Normandy are served by regular trains, not TGVs.

For the Loire Valley you can take the TGV to Tours and pick up a car there - very easy.

I actually prefer Brittany over Normandy - especially the area around Dinan. Since the TGV has convenient departures to Rennes from Paris, and also from Rennes directly to the CDG airport, you could spend your last night in Rennes (beautiful city), and then catch the TGV and get to the airport at either 9:30 or 12:17 for your flight home.

Tours also has trains directly to CDG.

Stu Dudley

We just returned from our third trip to France, two of them including Paris. I think Normandy is higher on the "quaint" scale. Bayeux was not damaged at all in WWII, so it's very old and beautiful. The tapestry there is a nice stop. If you've not seen Mont Saint Michel, it's nice to spend a night on the island so that the tourists leave and you can have it to yourselves, early morning mass and all. Giverny is on the way back to Paris, and if you have time and love art, you could go early or late. We were just there and there were no crowds at eleven in the morning. Just lots of flowers. By the way, we've lived in Boulder for 32 years. Bon Voyage!

Consider Burgundy--beautiful little villages, towns with major sights (such as the cathedral in Autun and the basilica in Vézelay), ancient abbeys, restaurants with incredibly delicious food, and then all those great wines. You can take the TGV from Paris to Dijon in 1-1/2 hours, pick up a car, and head out to sample.

and don't forget to visit Dijon, it is worth it!
corinne

Too many options. Sounds like we may have to plan a third trip. Thanks for all the suggestions. Sandals, we have been in Boulder for 37 years. I guess that makes us locals.

I suggest you to come and visit The Loire Valley, especially the Touraine which is a wonderful and great place. I suggest you to spend nights in Amboise because you have many beautiful chateaux hotels which are very charming!!! For example the Choiseul, or the manoir des minimes,... Moreover, you can visit many things like wine cellars, chateaux, the town of Tours,le Clos Lucé,.... I suggest you to go to the web site: www.touraine.com

Another vote for Burgundy and especially Beaujolais, the southernmost part. It has beauty, small towns great wines and good restaurants. As Underhill suggested it's an easy ride from Dijon down the A6. AS pretty as Tuscany but far fewer tourists.

Ok, thanks to everyone. We have decided to do Paris, Loire Valley, and one other location - either Burgundy or Normandy. Strictly from a logistical standpoint is there a reason to pick one over the other? We will be flying in and out of CDG and spending the first four nights in Paris.

Although we have not been yet, Alsace is on our list for a future trip.

We have been to Normandy and it would definitely give you what you are looking for.

I just want to mention you that during the next two weeks, in the Touraine, I saw on the web site www.plusdetouraine.com that many hotels and chambres d'hotes will be 50% cheaper. I think it could be great to spend a week end in the Touraine and discover the region.