We will be in Paris next year, end of July early August, and will be spending 9 days in Paris. Any suggestions on spending 2 days somewhere outside Paris. I would like to see something else besides just the city. Is the Riviera possible or is it too far. We would like to be able to drive. Thanks...
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IMO the Riviera is much too far for two days, even if you fly to Nice. By TGV it%26#39;s about 6 hours from Paris, by car more than 10 hours.
You might want to consider Normandy, the Loire valley or Burgundy. In August Burgundy might be the least swamped with visitors, but not by much.
OTOH by August of next year you will be able to take the TGV to Strasbourg, pick up a car there, and spend a couple of days exploring Alsace which would probably be a bit less crowded than any of the others...
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Driving anywhere on the first of August is crazy, the roads will be clogged with holidayers. August is like the unoffical month of vacation in France, and I think that the traffic fatalities shoots up on the first just because everyone is rushing off to their summer homes. Definately consider taking your side trip in the July portion of your trip!
A nice side trip might be Amboise to see the Loire valley chateaus. Perhaps take the train to Amboise then rent a car there for two or three days, you will need one to see all the chateau as they are spread out of course and not nessesarily in towns with train connections.
If you are thinking of the Riviera then look into the cheapo airlines and see if you can get a inexspensive plane ticket, it will take to long to drive, and even the trains will take most of a day, what with getting to the train station, the train ride, then getting to your hotel and settling in etc. .
There again, the Riviera towns will be booked solid in August , so either book a hotel well in advance, or go in July before the hordes of locals( French) also choose to spend their vacation by the beach.
A beach type holiday with a different flavour then the south might be to try some of the Alantic resorts.
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Actually, you do not want to be driving on a weekend at the end of July either. Where ever you may want to go, take a train.
As for where to go. The Riviera would be my last choice. It is just South Beach with an accent. What are your passions and personal interests? You could do a cycling trip in Burgundy for wine. The Loire is great for royalty/chateaux buffs (and white wines), Champagne for serious drinkers, Normandy for some excellent cidre and history, Bordeaux for gorgeous scenery, beaches and %26quot;hic%26quot; the wines, or a TGV to Avignon for southern hospitality, a decent Pernod and a lovely rosé. Did somebody say alcoholic?
But seriously, there are countless overnights and if you give us an idea of what you enjoy at home, we could happily steer you in the right direction.
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Thanks for the excellent advice. I think an over night trip to experience some of the vineyards would be great. Probably Bordeaux or Burgundy. Which of the two would you recomend?
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Hello,
Say I would suggest that wherever you decide to go that you make your reservations early. Not just France is vacationing but the whole world, it seems, from mid July through August. Most all of the beaches are booked, especially if the weather is warm.
Normandy is truely nice, not too far from Paris and IMO a great place to drive for a couple of days. You might stop in Rouen on the way over and then visit the historical DDay beaches. There is also plenty of French history in the Normandy area. If you drive out on a weekday without a reservation, you will probably be able find something available though perhaps not right on the beach.
We came back from the Atlantic beaches in mid July this year....actually the beginning of Bastille weekend. Twas early Friday evening when we arrived at gare Montparnasse in Paris the large railroad station was so jammed with people leaving that it was actually dangerous to get through the crowds. Seems as if everyone was leaving.................
No matter where you decide to go....I can only say that it is a beautiful country...........you can hardly make a mistake.
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