jamfar16

Hello Everyone,
My husband and I have just started talking about traveling to Europe this coming February over mid-winter break (I am a Guidance Counselor in a middle school in Queens, NY so that's the only long vacation in February we get). Anyways, the plan is to fly into London first. We will spend a few days there and then will leave on February 19th. This is where things changed. Originally, my husband mentioned wanting to visit Bordeaux for 2 nights/3 days after London then take a train to Paris and spend the rest of our time in Paris until we leave on February 25th.

But, just yesterday, my husband mentioned visiting the Loire Valley instead of Bordeaux (he knows I love white wine but I pretty much love every wine out there-I'm not picky). We both love food and wine. After reading earlier today about visiting Burgundy as well or perhaps instead of Loire Valley has made me extremely confused since I'm the one planning the trip (which I love planning).

With all that being said, I guess I can really use some advice on what would be the best area to visit given our timeline? Should we fly to Bordeaux from London for two nights/3 days; Should we fly to Paris from London then plan a day trip to the Loire Valley? Should we do the same and visit Burgundy as well? Should we plan a night to stay in one of the areas? (what's a girl to do??!?!)

Thank you all for any advice you can offer!

Farrah

PalenQ

mid-February is Loire is bleak IME and Burgundy too. And to do Burgundy or Loire justice you'd need to stay a couple of days not day trip - that is if wineries are your top priority-many are not in cities but rural areas where car is best.

A day trip to Loire by train to see chateaus is OK but again part of the joy of Loire castles are their parks and gardens.

Anyway for lots on trains in case you want to go to Loire or Burgundy or anywhere else check www.voyages-sncf.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Booking tickets early can save tons of money but lose flexibility as discounted tickets are train-specific and non-changeable non-refundable I believe.

From Tours station mini-bus tours take you to a few of the best of the chateaus in a day -best option sans car. Some may have tours that visit wineries too - like those at Vouvray, a neat old wine town with several in it.

StCirq

If white wines are your thing, neither Bordeaux nor Burgundy is a prime choice, though of course it's France and there will be wines of all kinds everywhere. Have you thought about Alsace (Strasbourg/Colmar, etc.)?

A single night anywhere never appeals to me. And the Loire Valley, IMO, compared to so many other places in France, is boring scenically. And in February the entire landscape of France will be dull and dead unless you are a skier and go to the Alps. You certainly won't be visiting vineyards, as most of the vintners will be having their congés annuelles in Bali and Ibiza.

I would just stay in Paris and drink whatever suits you. It's all there.

rs899

What they said. It will get dark early. Places will be closed or close early. Best to spend the time in Paris. If anything, take a train to Chartres or visit Versailles from Paris.

Michael

Chances are that you will not want to be outdoors much of the time while in France. For that reason it is best to stick to a large venue like Paris with its wide choice of museums and other enclosed venues like the <i>passages</i>. Day trips to Versailles, Chartres or Rouen can be done at the last minute, and take into account weather conditions.

MmePerdu

Indeed. There's no such thing as too long in Paris. Save the rest for a more interesting time of year for countryside.

Sarastro

I am not sure how many days you have in total but I would spend half in London and half in Paris.

In February is it cold and wet with little daylight. There really will not be much to see in Burgundy or Bordeaux in the middle of winter. There are the châteaux of the Loire Valley which will not be crowded and could be worth a couple of days to visit. To make this area as interesting as possible, you´ll want to study a bit on the region, maybe purchasing the Michelin Green Guide for the Châteaux of the Loire.

In the winter, the cities have much to offer from restaurants, exhibitions, museums, concerts, and a host of activities but there is no compelling need to travel far outside of either London or Paris.

mjs

I too am not sure how many days you have to travel but in February I would stick to London and Paris. You will never run out of things to do in those cities.

jamfar16

I don't mind visiting vineyards in the winter. To me, there is something magical,mystical, and romantic about them. I'm hoping that some will be open. I know it's not prime season for vineyards but being patient and looking past my stubbornness ) ) when it comes down to it- what would you recommend, area-wise? We will land in Paris on February 19 and will leave on February 25th.

Again, thank you all for your patience and advice.

Whathello

In feb we are either in the Caribbean or skiing.
Fir me ne ehitswine woukd be Loire valley from paris.
I have about 40 bottles from vouvray and I must go face !

StCirq

You're just not getting it. You probably CAN'T visit vineyards in February unless you have French relatives in the wine business, and they will not be wanting to show you around in February as there is NOTHING TO SEE but bare branches and hopefully wet earth. The French take their wine very seriously, and casual visitors dropping by in February??? Sorry, does not work.Nobody will invite you in or welcome you. It doesn't work that way. The season will be over, the tastings shut down, the families cloistered for the winter or en vacance

<<
I don't mind visiting vineyards in the winter. To me, there is something magical,mystical, and romantic about them>>

Oh pleeze, The magical, mystical, romantic is all dank cellars and dripping stone ceilings in February. I live here. I spend time with wine makers. I do not get the romance -it's a tourist fantasy, nothing less. Same as cheesemaking or cooking classes or anything else that is meant to make you feel as though you're part of the local culture, which you'll never be

You really do need to get out of your fantasy. French vintners don't change their schedules to suit visitors.

You're projecting some sort of fantasy onto your vacation, which could be a good one even in February IF you knew what you were doing, which it doesn't sound like you do.

Stay in Paris.

PalenQ

sounds like Whatgoodbye now has 38 bottles of Vouvray bubbly -must have drunk a couple before posting!

The Loire Valley is renown for a few wines but IME it is not nearly as much a total wine district (vineyards and wineries everywhere) as those other two. Saumur, Bourgeuil, Chinon, Vouvray and Montlouis and that area, are more like that but east of Vouvray features hardly any wines. Orelans, where I have spent a lot of time, indeed was known not for wine but as a vinegar capital - before the industry dried up much of the town stunk of vinegar processing odors emitted from factories right in the town center.

Vovuray is an especially nice old small town and would be on target to head for as it has several wineries in town itself and its wines, arguably, along with Sancerre -way far upstream on the Loire way past Orleans are I believe the most prestigous of Loire wines.

Vouvray had an interesting adventure with the new high-speed TGV line when it was planned to be built with a tunnel thru the chalky cliffs Vouvrays are aged in-it was feared that the shaking and vibrations of bullet trains could wreak havoc on the Vovray's wine industry so special measures were taken to lessen the impact - if going to St-Pierre-des-Corps (really Tours mainline station a few miles outside Tours itself) you can easily see Vouvray and its vineyards from the train just before it crosses the Loire.

Montlouis can be reached by regional trains from S-P-des-Corps I believe but Vouvray I think by bus if any - but would not be a bad cab ride. So if day-tripping from Paris those are two impressive wine areas easily hit in conjunction with TGVs from Paris.

Montlouis: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/montlouis.html

Vouvray: https://www.google.com/search?q=vouv...w=1745&bih=864

Michael

You forgot the Sancerre area for good white wines.

Michael

If you insist on wine tasting, consider a day trip to the Champagne region. I suspect that some of the champagne cellars will be open to visitors.

PalenQ

You forgot the Sancerre area for good white wines.>

No never - re my 3rd paragraph - Sancerre is a "Loire Wine" because it is near (really a hill town hovering far above) the Loire but it is far removed from most other Loire wine districts I know of - which are mainly TMK confied to the Vouvray-Tours-Chinon-Saumur-Bourgeuil areas so it would be easy to forget but forget me not those delicate prestigious Sancerre whites -sometimes dubbed the 'best Sauvignon Blancs in France.

denisea

I also suggest Champagne. Reims is a quick TGV ride from Paris and you will find Champagne houses to visit and taste. The cathedral there is where French kings were crowned and my favorite.

jamfar16

@stcirq -Appreciate your snooty opinion (even if it was very negative and condescending). I think if this is your way of being helpful, QUIT NOW and keep your day job ��- Love, The Person with a Fantasy

As for everyone else, thank you all so much for your input. You all have been extremely informative and kind. Excited to look into different options.

Thanks again.

Sassafrass

These tours are expensive and I could not get any to pull up for your time frame, so they may not offer them then, but if they are doing them during that time, it might work for you and be a lot of fun.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...de_France.html

A few bits of advice.

Two nights someplace will never give you three days. At best, it will give you one whole day and part of two other days, so be careful never to overestimate how much time you will have in a place. That leads to stress and rushing, and difficulty planning. Also, part days may not be quite as efficient for sightseeing because of travel logistics. When you start to layout the trip in real time, allow travel time to include getting from your hotel to the train station and from the station to your next hotel. A two hour train ride may mean three or more hours travel time.

Of course, you want the trip to fit your interests and expectations as much as possible, and you do as much as you can to make it happen. I have been thrilled with trips when I got to do and see everything I wanted. However, when it comes to travel, IME, you may have to adapt your activities to the situation. From what St Cirq says, visiting vineyards in February would be like expecting to ski in PA in July, not the optimum time of year for the activity.

Besides famous sights, take advantage of things for which a place is known. If you have any interest in theater, that could be a focus in London. Reserve ahead or as soon as you arrive, check out what is available and get discount tickets. You could go to a play, concert or dance performance every single afternoon or evening!

When everything goes perfectly, enjoy and be happy.
When everything falls apart with delayed or cancelled flights, bad weather, etc., adjust plans, enjoy the unexpected experience and be happy.

Research opening and closing times and days of museums, ticket availability, etc. ahead of time so you don't miss something simply from poor planning.

Have fun planning

fourfortravel

jamfar16, I appreciate your fantasy. I, too, conjure images and notions about places I am planning to visit.

This said, we live in Vienna and the vineyard scene in Austria is dead in February, as well. Many vintners use the month to head elsewhere; aside from some of the larger cooperatives, most of the heurigers (wine taverns) are closed, or only open (their interior space) on the weekends. The vines themselves are *just* brown twigs hugging the dark wires, all against oftentimes gray skies. Nothing about this is magical or mystical, just dreary and sad.

We have spent a week in Paris in February and loved it. Gray and wet in Paris means stunning black and white photos outside to contrast with the bright insides of museums and palaces and the sparkle of a glass of wine with dinner enjoyed in a cozy bistro.

jamikins

To give you an idea of what the countryside could look like here is our album from Burgundy over New Years in 2014/2015. It isn't Feb but it shows you what the vines will look like.

We stayed in Beaune and there were some tasting opportunities in town, but a lot were closed for the winter.

https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]