Holidaying in France

madaminx

Hi All

Now that I am back from Portugal, I am planning for my holiday next year in France with my mum and sister.

As I am from N Ireland we are quite restricted regarding we can fly direct to (direct being our preference). Therefore arriving in Paris. Our initial vision for this holiday was sunshine, rolling hills, chateaux landscapes, rivers, cottages, french villagey feeling, however I have no idea where near paris we can venture that meets this vision and we would prefer not to compromise on the type of holiday we would like to have in France.

Can anyone provide any advice or have knowledge on places near Paris, modes of travel (not comfortable with hiring a car) etc. or put me in the right direction regarding where I can get advice on this?

Many thanks

M

warwicktiger

Train from Paris, try the TGV, To Angers for the Loire valley. Numerous chateaux and villages nearby

Bogtrotter

Why not fly from Dublin where you have the choice of direct flights to Paris, Nantes, Nice, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Rennes, Bordeaux, Tours and probably others. If you don't want to drive and park your car at the airport I think Translink do an airport service between Belfast and Dublin airport.

Another option is to tale your car on the ferry from Rosslare to Cherbourg or Roscoff... takes a bit longer to get there but you can bring a load of wine without the worry with airlines charging excess baggage.

angelil

I have lived in France since 2008 (just outside of Paris), and my view is this: you will not be able to have the exact holiday you want without renting a car. I know Angers well, and the town is lovely, but without hiring a car the nearby chateaux and villages will be out of reach. France is a vast country and while its commuter and long-distance transport networks are good, local transport is often poor, especially in the kinds of areas you are thinking of.

I would suggest getting the RER out of Paris to somewhere like Fontainebleau. It is a town too, but does have a castle and plenty of parkland. The same is the case for St-Germain-en-Laye, also accessible from the RER out of Paris. However, you will not be able to have the idyllic French provincial holiday you are wanting in either of these place. I therefore suggest that you rethink what you are prepared to do or not do, or to compromise severely. Good luck in planning your trip.

denwhatshisname

angelil wrote: »

my view is this: you will not be able to have the exact holiday you want without renting a car. .....

I wholeheartedly agree. I lived in Tours many moons ago. The only way to see the countryside was by car. Some of the chateau are outside of the main towns. Even renting a gite will sometimes put you in a small rural community with practically no transport.

"sunshine, rolling hills, chateaux landscapes, rivers, cottages, french villagey feeling"

Head west from Paris to the loire valley, or fly to Tours if you can.