u/Internal_Rip_159 — reddlx

I am traveling to France at the end of the summer for an event in Druex and I am trying to plan my time over there. I have two different itineraries that I am choosing between. One where I spend the entire time in France and one where I mix my time between the Netherlands and France.

Version 1: France only

August 26th: Arrive in Paris. Rent a car and drive to Lorie Valley area to spend night.

August 27th-28th: spend time in Loire Valley.

August 29th-August 31st: drive to Normandy on the 29th. I am really interested in WW2 stuff so the DDAY beaches are a must. I will likely prioritize Omaha beach. Is Utah or any of the other beaches worth visiting?

September 1-September 3: Drive back to Paris and return car. I plan to do most of the typical touristy things in Paris and surrounding areas these days. I want to go to the Palace of Versailles. I think it flows better to save Paris to this point so I’m not coming back to Paris just so I can leave right away to Druex.

September 4- September 6: Event in Druex. I’m not going to plan any other activities for these days.

September 7-9: The plan is to take a train from Paris to southern part of France and relax and decompose in Nice or Marseille.

September 10: return to Paris and do any last minute things I missed previously in Paris.

September 11: fly home

Version 2: Netherlands and France

August 26: Arrive in Amsterdam. Light exploring of Amsterdam if I have energy/time.

August 27-29: Amsterdam/surrounding area (Haarlem might be a good day trip) (I also want to see the Dutch resistance museum)

August 30: take train to Paris. Spend night in Paris and do light exploring.

September 1-3. Paris/surrounding areas

September 4-6: Dreux. Not doing anything else on those days.

September 7-10: Normandy and Loire Valley. Would return to Paris by the evening of the 10th.

September 11: Return flight

I really like both of these options but man I am a bit bummed that I will be missing southern France on the 2nd version. Any thoughts?

I am traveling to France at the end of the summer to play in a sports competition and I am trying to plan my time while I am not playing. I have two different versions of my itinerary. Version 1 would just be me spending the entire time in France. In version 1, I would be playing this competition with a throw together team meaning I wouldn’t have any practices with them prior to the competition. Version 2 is assuming I play with a different team from the Netherlands at my competition. This would require me to be in the Netherlands to practice with my team the weekend before the competition. My gear for this sport also would need to be stored in a checked bag like item so I need to consider that also as I go around.

Version 1: France only

August 26th: Arrive in Paris. Rent a car and drive to Lorie Valley area to spend night.

August 27th-28th: spend time in Loire Valley.

September 1-September 3: Drive back to Paris and return rental car. I plan to do most of the typical touristy things in Paris and surrounding areas these days. I also plan to go to the Palace of Versailles. My competition is in Druex, so it flows better to save Paris to this point so I’m not coming back to Paris just to immediately leave again. Plus I may be able to hang out with some of teammates in Paris before the competition.

September 4- September 6: Competition in Druex. I will likely need to get another rental car for this but I should be able to coordinate something with my team. I’m not going to plan any other activities for these days.

September 7-9: At this point I don’t want to keep my checked bag with me. Maybe I could head back to Paris and get some place to store my checked bag for a few days. I want to travel light for the last few days since I will be taking more public transportation options from this point on. The plan is to take a train to southern part of France and relax and decompose in Nice or Marseille.

September 10: return to Paris and do any last minute things I missed previously, or maybe I have time for one last excursion?

September 11: fly home

Version 2: Netherlands and France

August 26: Arrive in Amsterdam. Ride share to hotel. If it wasn’t for my checked bag I would likely take a cheaper public transportation option, but I fear I will be a target with my checked bag on public transportation. I will do light exploring of Amsterdam this day if I have energy/time.

August 27 & 28: Amsterdam/surrounding area. Haarlem might be a good day trip. I also want to see the Dutch resistance museum.

August 29 & 30: Practice with the Dutch team. I will likely need to rent a car for these few days unless I can get a ride from one of my teammates. I would likely spend night of the 30th near Amsterdam.

September 1: take train to Paris. Would my checked bag be an issue for the trains? That was one of my concerns. I considered stopping in Bruges or Ghent on the way and not arriving in Paris till the 2nd or 3rd but I think that is probably too much.

Everything after this just follows version 1 of my trip but I will likely need to skip southern France.

September 1-3. Paris/surrounding areas

September 4-6: rent a car and go to Druex competition

September 7-10: Normandy and Loire Valley. Would return to Paris by the evening of the 10th.

September 11: Return flight

I’m also considering a 3rd option that would be a hybrid of 1 and 2 where i would be playing my competition with the throw together team but I would still go to the Netherlands first. In version 3, I would have August 29th and 30th back where I could spend extra time in the Netherlands or go to France earlier. I would likely need to skip southern France, but it might be possible if I really tighten things up a bit more in my itinerary.

After writing these out, version 1 honestly sounds the most appealing to me. Any thoughts or recommendations?