Q & A

Subject: A week in France.

Question: There are so many great places to visit in France that I am having difficulty narrowing it down. My wife and I plan to spend a week in France starting on October 19th and we are having trouble figuring out where to go and what to do. We know we will be flying into Paris and will stay there for approx 3 days. Btw, recommendations on inexpensive (70 Euros or less) clean hotels in Paris are most appreciated! We'd like to be in walking distance of most attractions and be in an area to get a feel for true Parisians culture. Quartier Latin or La Rieve Gauche perhaps?
The last few days of our visit will be spent in the south of France, probably in Nice, but again, recommendations are appreciated on what area of the Riviera is the best.
However, it's the middle of the trip that is most perplexing. Should we go to the Loire Valley, the Rhone Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy??? Ack, there are too many good choices. My main goal for this leg of the trip is to meet lots of great French people, visit some castles, and visit some French wineries(perhaps stay in a castle or Bed and Breakfast while we are there). Time is running out and I still can't decide. Can you help?
Thanks much in advance!

Answer: My personal feeling is that you should see Paris and then the Loire Valley. I went with my family this last summer to the Loire Valley and it was wonderful, see http://www.americansinfrance.net/newsletter/ReadLetter.cfm?Month=Oct%202002 and http://www.americansinfrance.net/Attractions/Loire.cfm on my web site, http://www.americansinfrance.net/.
I don't think that going to Nice is all that practical, as it is a six-hour train rain from Paris, if you want to see it along with Paris and some place else. You could think about doing Paris, Versailles and Burgundy, this way you would see castles and do some wine tasting. My in-laws have a B & B in Burgundy on a working farm, http://www.m-fjsolutions.com/BB. As for where to stay in Paris, don't worry about it; Paris is not that big a city. Just aim for the first to tenth arrondissement. I cannot recommend any hotels all I can offer is a link to one of my sponsors, http://www.venere.com/.

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