Places To Go Day Tripping From Paris

If you are planning to be in Paris, there are many one day excursions to great attractions that are within an easy drive from Paris.  Here are a few worth considering.

Title: Day Tripping from Paris

Author: Deirdre Murray

Paris' reputation as a superb travel destination is well justified - the city is home to an overwhelming selection of attractions - the iconic Eiffel tower, superb Louvre Gallery, landmark Arc de Triomphe… the list goes on and on. HoweverParis' location makes it ideal for exploring some of the beautiful surrounding French countryside and smaller towns andcities. If you have the time - and the freedom of a rental car - it is well worth venturing away from the city to one of the many wonderful destinations just a short drive away. Here are just a few of the possible tours you can make from Paris in your rentalcar;

1. Disneyland Paris

 Europe's top tourist destination, Disneyland Paris, is just 32
km (20 miles) outside of the centre of Paris, and can be reached
by taking the A4 motorway Metz-Nancy (follow the signs).
Featuring two theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney
Studios), as well as 'Disney Village', seven themed hotels and
Golf Disneyland, the whole complex is near enough one-fifth of
the size of Paris itself.

Disneyland Paris is a perfect family attraction, with much on
offer for both children and adults. It is widely praised for
being more elaborately and thoughtfully designed than its U.S
counterparts, although you should still expect to have to queue
for the rides, particularly the popular 'Pirates of the
Caribbean' ride, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and the
Indiana Jones Temple of Doom. There is a fast-pass system in
place for those of you who simply cannot deal with the waiting
in line.

Yes, Disneyland is always going to be an expensive trip - but if
you have a budget to stick to, there are ways of cutting back on
your spending while you are there. Food and refreshments in the
park are notoriously overpriced - for low cost eats, it is
advisable to bring snacks, drinks and sandwiches in with you,
and get away with buying just one meal during the day.

2. The Loire Valley

 The stunning Loire Valley is renowned for its opulent chateaux,
luscious landscape and divine gastronomy and wine. Just two
hours drive from Paris in your rental car will open up a whole
new France to you - idyllic, aristocratic and peaceful, as
opposed to the high-speed urbanity and dense population of
Paris. The Loire Valley is a large area with many sights and
attractions, and as such, in preparation for your day trip you
may want to decide in advance which area you would most like to
visit. Otherwise, an overnight stay may be the best option,
should you want to spend a little more time in the area. There
are many guesthouses, B&Bs and hotels throughout the region,
with everything from luxury boutique hotels to more basic and
budget-friendly establishments.

Self-drive with Argus Car Hire gives you the freedom to explore
different towns and chateaux throughout the Loire Valley at a
pace that suits you. Some of the highlights of the Loire Valley
region are the Chateau de Villandry, the Chateau d'Usse, the
picturesque town of Saumur and it's imposing Chateau, and the
Troglodyte village of Rochemenier. To save on money, you may
want to simply appreciate some of the Chateaux from the outside
rather than paying for a full tour. The area lends itself very
well to picnicking, which is a low cost but very enjoyable way
to eat in France - although eating out in this region is highly
recommended, as the quality of the food and wine in this part of
France is famous.

3. Reims

 Just 135km from Paris is the Champagne City of Reims, one of
the major centres of champagne production in France (and the
world). There is a wealth of attractions to be visited in Reims,
including the magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral, The
Palace of Tau and the Porte de Mars to name but a few. Of
course, no visit to Reims would be complete without a guided
tour in one of the city's world-renowned champagne houses. The
tours are quite cheap, and for the low cost of admission you
generally receive a sample of champagne as well as your guided
tour. It is a good idea to book this in advance - particularly
if there is a particular brand of champagne you are more
interested in. Taittinger, Pommery, Ruinart, and Veuve Cliquot
are among the famous champagne houses offering tours to
visitors.

Be careful if you aren't staying in Reims overnight - don't
indulge in too much champagne before your drive back to Paris.
The limit here id 0.5mg/ml, so perhaps it is wiser to bring some
champagne back to Paris with you if you don't intend on spending
the night.

4. Mon-Saint-Michel

 Located 201 miles west of Paris, the drive to Mont-Saint-Michel
will take somewhere in the region of 4 hours. It's quite a trek,
however the journey is worth the effort, and the drive through
Normandy is quite pleasant. Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island,
being an island at high tide, but attached to the land by a
natural bridge at low tide. The peak of the island is the site
of the wonderfully preserved and architecturally spectacular St
Michel Abbey, a must-see on the island, and a relatively low
cost attraction at €8 for adult admission. OAP and students can
pay less to access the abbey, and it is free for children.
Special rates and discounts are available for groups and schools.

Staying the night on the island is becoming more and more
popular, with many tourists taking the opportunity to embark on
a 'night visit' and witness the tide rushing in at an
unbelievable speed. In general, the island is very
tourist-heavy, and as such the prices of food etc are relatively
high. Budget travelers, it is advisable to bring your own food
and refreshments to avoid spending too much on food while you
are there.

About the author:
Deirdre Murray is a freelance journalist and travel writer who
currently writes city guides and travel articles for both online
and print media.

For more information on Paris take a look at Car Hire Paris or visit http://www.argusrentals.com/Europe/France/car-rental-car-hire-Paris-CDG-Airport-T1.html

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments with us about other great things to do and places to see while in Paris.

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