By brillianata @ Adobe Stock
In a recent email, Pascale Bernasse of French Wine Explorers explained how you can get from the United States to French wine country. He wrote:
Wine Country from Paris
Most wine regions do not have direct flights from the USA or other countries, so you may need to connect in Paris. Here are tips to connect from Paris:
- You need at least 3 hours between connecting flights at the Charles de Gaulle Airport (to connect to Bordeaux, Lyon, or Marseille by air).
- If you spend time in Paris before your tour, many transatlantic flights touch down before hotel check-in times. Avoid waiting for a room jet-lagged and cranky, book a spa treatment for your arrival, then check in once you’re finished, feeling relaxed and revitalized. We also recommend this if you arrive in wine country before the hotel check-in time of 3 pm.
How To Get To Each Wine Region
Bordeaux: Connect through Paris on your travel day (1 hour flight) or take the high-speed train (about 2-3 hours) from Paris or Paris CDG airport.
Burgundy: Paris or Paris CDG Airport: 1.5 hours by train (either Beaune or Dijon stations). Consider flying into Geneva which is 2 hours from Beaune by car. Lyon is about 1.5 hours by car.
Avignon: same as Bordeaux, flying into Marseilles or taking the high-speed train.
Loire Valley: 1 hour by high-speed train from Paris or Paris CDG airport, arriving at the St. Pierre des Corps station. For Nantes, you can connect by train or take a connecting flight.
Champagne: 45-minute train from Paris to Reims, 1.5 hour car ride.
There are trains from the Paris city center and the Paris CDG Airport, check with Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) for schedules and fares. NOTE: Many train schedules are released only 60 days in advance. We highly recommend traveling First Class (which is noted as Comfort Class) via the train.
If you want to avoid Paris, fly into a major hub–such as London or Nice–and then continue by plane to Bordeaux, Lyon or Marseilles. Just make sure you are arriving and departing from the same airport if you choose a major hub like London.
Please check with us before you finalize your travel plans to make sure you have the most efficient and effective travel itinerary. Bon Voyage!
Read more about all things Paris here.
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