Champagne region vs Loire Valley
May 29, 2018, 6:42 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 32
You mention you land at Orly airport which is South of Paris so easy to get to the Loire if you hire a car, more difficult if you train as you'll need to go in to the centre of Paris to pick up the TGV. Orleans is about an hours (very easy motorway) drive from Paris and Tours less than an hour further on (again easy by motorway)
I would say definitely hire a car at Orly on arrival then rather than stay in Orleans or Tours I'd aim to stay at a Chateau in between the 2 then spend some time visiting some of the great Chateau - Chenonceau, Chambord, etc. There is no shortage of great boutique luxury hotels that will have a great restaurant and selection of local wines to try
I would say definitely hire a car at Orly on arrival then rather than stay in Orleans or Tours I'd aim to stay at a Chateau in between the 2 then spend some time visiting some of the great Chateau - Chenonceau, Chambord, etc. There is no shortage of great boutique luxury hotels that will have a great restaurant and selection of local wines to try
Jun 1, 2018, 10:55 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 83
I think the Loire Valley is absolutely wonderful but deserves a lot more than a day and a half (last time I went, we spent ten days driving from St. Benoit to Nantes). I would be more inclined to go to Champagne for such a short visit (and it's a bit closer).
Jun 9, 2018, 6:29 am
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
What time of year? In the summer, the Loire is filled with tourists and the number of bikes on roads between major chateaux can make driving a challenge. The famous castles are impressive to do (once, or better, a few at a time spread over several trips) but I prefer the wines/scenery/ambience of the champagne region. It's generally more relaxing. Also, if you're going by train, you can stay in Reims or Epernay and visit some champagne houses in either of these towns pretty easily. From Paris there should be nonstop trains, with Epernay being first (slightly closer to Paris) but of course it's a smaller city. There's a famous luxury hotel in Reims and a very nice country place overlooking the vines with a very good restaurant outside of Epernay. Both have starred restaurants of course.
For both wine and a nice castle in the Loire, don't miss Chinon. It's a small village and from one direction (I don't remember which way) you enter the village driving down a small hill and it seems magical and very traditional. IIRC the castle (which isn't as large as some of the other ones) is still privately owned but open to the public with lots of restored original areas. For my taste, these are some of the better Loire wines.
For both wine and a nice castle in the Loire, don't miss Chinon. It's a small village and from one direction (I don't remember which way) you enter the village driving down a small hill and it seems magical and very traditional. IIRC the castle (which isn't as large as some of the other ones) is still privately owned but open to the public with lots of restored original areas. For my taste, these are some of the better Loire wines.
Jun 12, 2018, 4:30 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 32
What time of year? In the summer, the Loire is filled with tourists and the number of bikes on roads between major chateaux can make driving a challenge. The famous castles are impressive to do (once, or better, a few at a time spread over several trips) but I prefer the wines/scenery/ambience of the champagne region. It's generally more relaxing. Also, if you're going by train, you can stay in Reims or Epernay and visit some champagne houses in either of these towns pretty easily. From Paris there should be nonstop trains, with Epernay being first (slightly closer to Paris) but of course it's a smaller city. There's a famous luxury hotel in Reims and a very nice country place overlooking the vines with a very good restaurant outside of Epernay. Both have starred restaurants of course.
For both wine and a nice castle in the Loire, don't miss Chinon. It's a small village and from one direction (I don't remember which way) you enter the village driving down a small hill and it seems magical and very traditional. IIRC the castle (which isn't as large as some of the other ones) is still privately owned but open to the public with lots of restored original areas. For my taste, these are some of the better Loire wines.
For both wine and a nice castle in the Loire, don't miss Chinon. It's a small village and from one direction (I don't remember which way) you enter the village driving down a small hill and it seems magical and very traditional. IIRC the castle (which isn't as large as some of the other ones) is still privately owned but open to the public with lots of restored original areas. For my taste, these are some of the better Loire wines.
Jun 12, 2018, 7:27 pm
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
These are both expensive hotels (in Relais et Chateaux), but the place in Reims is Domaine des Crayeres and the one overlooking vineyards is Royal Chamnpagne. Enjoy!