Where would YOU go post-Paris Christmas?
 

If we (DH, DDs, ages 22 and 19, and possibly DD's boyfriend) are in Paris for Christmas week, where should we go the next week? Some recommend staying in Paris, but...we'd love to travel a bit while we're there.

We need to end up in Toulouse on or about January 7.

DH and I live in Asia and don't know much about Europe. Would LOVE your advice.

It will be the perfect time of year to improvise, depending on the weather or any events that you may have heard about over Christmas. So don't plan it too far ahead of time, but think about maybe three possible places south of Paris that might interest you -- and be prepared to ditch any or all of them if something better comes up.

I'll be honest, the idea of touring the French countryside in January is nothing that I would choose to do or that is so appealing. But since you are there, and need to end up in Toulouse anyway, I can think of a couple routes on the rail line that will work. I hope you are not traveling with a lot of luggage, as to get to Toulouse, you'll need to transfer on some routes as it's not on the most direct lines from some major places.

One route would be to take the train from Paris south to either Lyon or Avignon, spend some time, then take it to perhaps Montpellier for a day or two, and then to Toulouse. I think you have to transfer at Narbonne to get to Toulouse (which is actually a nice city in itself), but there might be direct trains from Montpellier.

The other route would be going through the Loire -- say train from Paris to Tours, then through Bordeaux to Toulouse, stopping where appeals to you on that route.

We did Christmas in Paris and went to Strasbourg and toured the route du vin. You could spend a few days there and then work your way down to Toulouse. Maybe even a day trip to Baden Baden for a spa day. Its only a 90 min. trip.

Jay- was your trip driving or on the train? I've heard Strasbourg is pretty. Christina -- thanks for your thoughts. Lyon or the Loire both sound like good possibilities. Would one or the other be a)either more appealing for the 20-something set or b)have more poor weather options?

I would think Avignon would be more appealing for younger folks, as well as Montpellier. Both have a lot of younger people, as there are universities (Montpellier has a lot of students), and both just seem pretty lively cities. Also, I don't find the Loire that interesting myself, in general, but I don't find touring chateaux that fascinating. They are just big stone houses to me, and most aren't even furnished. I think they are open in the winter, but with reduced hours.

Of course it should be somewhat warmer the farther south you go, but it's still winter anyway you look at it. Lyon is also a lively city with a lot to do and a lot of young people due to the university.

Strasbourg is pretty, but the opposite direction from Toulouse, so doesn't seem a good use of your limited time to me. But with the new high-speed train, you can get there in only a couple hours, I suppose, so I guess it could be an option -- just backtracking to Paris and then getting to Toulouse however you planned to do that. How did you plan to do that, anyway?

jgmc,
We drove. You could train it very easily. Christina is correct, Strasbourg is not on your way to Toulouse. But the trip was very fun and a bit different than in the summer. I would highly recommend it. If you aren't driving a car then you could get a car in Strasbourg. 3 days should be plenty.