Last minute advice

Leaving Wednesday morning.

We have pretty much all schedule thru next Tuesday.

Now we are wondering if it would be a good idea to take some trips to Normandy and also wineries.

I need some recommendations for either one as:

Distance

Winery areas

Transportation (I would like a car but, price? With gas an all)

Time needed (can we go and back on the same day?)

And last

How’s the weather now?

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If you will only be in Paris from Thursday morning til Tuesday, I would not do any more than Paris. It requires at least a week to do well...you will have your schedule very full already.

In any event, to get to Normandy it takes about 2 hours. Depending on where you want to go of course....Giverny is much closer than the DDay beaches, for instance. You could take the train up and then rent a car (like take the train to Caen and rent to go up to the DDay beaches)....car prices range at about 50 dollars a day, at least they did last fall when I rented a car. And gas is about twice what you pay in the U.S. But if you get a diesel car you use much less gas.

For wineries, you could go to the Touraine and visit a Vouvray winery (about 1 hour by train), or to the Champagne region and visit some champagne caves. Bourgogne is a bit further.

The only thing I think you could comfortably do in one day is either Giverny or Champagne...

Les

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Sorry, I did not mean to say Tuesday was my last day. I still have 2 more days after that.

I will consider your recomendations for Giverny or Champagne.

Thanks Les

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At this time of year I would probably do Champagne...the leaves in the vineyards will be a beautiful color. You could go to Reims and see the caves there, or go to Epernay (Dom Perignon is a Moet et Chandon champagne, located there).

If you go to Reims and want an unforgettable yet pricey meal, try the Boyer les Crayeres http://www.gerardboyer.com/

very nice....

Have a great trip!

Les

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Another wine/ train only option would go to Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy vineyards, and a lovely medieval small town in its own right. It%26#39;s doable as a day trip, about 2 hours on one of the few direct TGVs, but plenty of possibilities with a quick change at Dijon. You can visit cellars in the town itself, or through a short hop provided by a shuttle.

The fall foliage in Europe isn%26#39;t as spectacular as in North America, but it%26#39;s pretty nice in wine growing areas, such as Burgundy or Alsace (Champagne is a tad bare IMHO... )