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Post by Terrie on Nov 18, 2011 16:14:02 GMT -5
Hi all. I just booked a trip to the Loire Valley for next April. I'll be there from the 8th to the 12th with a girlfriend before going back to Paris. I am staying at the same hotel where geordy stayed in Tours ( Hotel Ronsard). My friend and I are planning on renting a car at CDG, driving to Tours, and spending the days visiting chateaux. Anyone have any advice about things we MUST see, do, places to eat, etc. ? Thanks in advance.
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Post by sunshine817 on Nov 19, 2011 1:44:16 GMT -5
Terrie, I'd strongly suggest taking the train from CDG to Tours and getting a good night's sleep, THEN picking up your car the next morning and carrying on with your journey. (This also saves you a day's car rental)
The trip from CDG to Tours will take you at least 4 hours to drive - and strange roads in an unfamiliar car when you're struggling with jet lag and sheer fatigue is a Really Bad Idea (especially if you run into some of the traffic that frequently clogs that route).
Whichever way you go, you won't get into Tours in time to get to a chateau and see it before closing time for the day -- so you're not losing any time.
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Post by Jody on Nov 19, 2011 4:47:20 GMT -5
I totally agree with sunshine, train then get the car. We stayed at a lovely place i Onzain, The Domaine des hauts de Loire. The food was exceptional. We prefer to stay at a place with a restaurant on site. So no night driving and you can have as much wine as you chose. We try various restaurants at lunch. Cheverney and amboise are musts on my list and the gardens of Villandry are extra special. We had no problems reaching any chateaux from Onzain
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Post by Terrie on Nov 19, 2011 15:16:22 GMT -5
I think you both might be right about the car and the long drive. Thanks for the info and advice. You just picked up the car at the train station?
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Post by Sandy M on Nov 19, 2011 15:52:09 GMT -5
I think you both might be right about the car and the long drive. Thanks for the info and advice. You just picked up the car at the train station? And I agree with Sunshine and Jody - we took the train to Tours a couple of years ago and rented a vehicle right there at the train station - drove around to see some chateaus, stayed for two nights, turned the car back in and took the train back to Paris! I too think you would be in for a big headache to try to drive to Tours. |
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Post by Jody on Nov 21, 2011 6:50:16 GMT -5
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Post by Terrie on Nov 24, 2011 17:24:59 GMT -5
Sandy, I am going to take everyone's advice. I hope I don't have trouble with the car rental because I realized the other day that the day I get there is .............EASTER SUNDAY!!!  Oh well. Jody, what a fun blog. Thanks. |
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aal
New Member
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Post by aal on Dec 4, 2011 15:14:19 GMT -5
Terrie, Renting a car on any Sunday is a bit of a challenge. Avis at the St Pierre des Corps station opens at 3:00 pm on Sundays; I believe that their other Tours locations are all closed on Sunday. (We encountered this problem when we arrived in Tours on Saturday evening.)
We had a wonderful time visiting the chateaux. Our favorites were the garden festival at Chaumont, Villandry, and Chenonceau.
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Post by Terrie on Dec 10, 2011 11:42:48 GMT -5
Thanks aal. I am sure the problems will only be compounded by the fact that it's Easter Sunday. I've decided to put it out of my head until it gets closer and deal with it then. Maybe because it's Easter and traffic would possibly be lighter for that reason, it might make more sense to rent the car at CDG, where one would hope there was more activity, need for car rentals, etc...? All things that will no doubt be worked out between now and april.  |
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Oh well. 
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha