Europe, with an Arctic cruise, a Balkan tour and bits of France and Malta

[Myrna]

@ VPS and @ Rooflyer - Success!
emailed James and Matthew at Sans Souci and got a reply within 2 hours that they sometimes close the B&B for a break, but they have opened up the calendar for our booking. What excellent service!! So, we have booked and paid ...
Thank you both for encouraging me to write the email.

 

[VPS]

@ VPS and @ Rooflyer - Success!
emailed James and Matthew at Sans Souci and got a reply within 2 hours that they sometimes close the B&B for a break, but they have opened up the calendar for our booking. What excellent service!! So, we have booked and paid ...
Thank you both for encouraging me to write the email.

Excellent news. I am so pleased that they are looking after themselves and obviously doing well enough that they can just say we need a break because I think they work very long hours.

All you need to do now is find a driver

I’m hopeless at doing trip reports because I just get tired but I have lots of ideas on the Château that I saw in the area so feel free to message me or post on here if you want some info

 

[RooFlyer]

Something additional re San Souci. They have a minimum 2 night stay, at least over Summer. I am after just one night next year, as I'm just driving through, and they told me that 2 months prior, you can book a single night (as well as e-mailing them prior to see if there was a 1 night gap for any of their rooms).

 

[Myrna]

Maybe I should offer my services as a Chauffeur

 

[Myrna]

In Matthew's reply, he mentioned that he would recommend SIXT at Saint Pierre des Corps TGV station as they have used it on many occasions and found it had a good selection of cars. I have not asked him about a private driver, but will do. Hubby has softened a bit toward renting a car - but if we can get a driver for reasonable costs we may do that.

Matthew also mentioned that they are located 5 minutes from Chateau Chenonceau, 15 minutes from the 3 Chateaux at Amboise (Royal, Close Luce and Gaillard), 20 minutes from Chateau Chaumont Sur Loire,30 minutes from Chateaux Villandry, Ussé, Azay Le Rideau and 40 minutes from Chateaux Cheverny, Chambord and Blois. We aim to visit 6 chateaux (2 each day - we are staying 4 nights): Chambord, Cheverny, Chenonceau, Villandry, Amboise (Royal and Close Luce). @VPS - any input you have on these would be much appreciated.

 

[RooFlyer]

A number of them are covered in the trip report above.

You can walk from Clos Luce (Leonardo da Vinc’s home) to Royal Ambois (where his tomb is).

 

[VPS]

In Matthew's reply, he mentioned that he would recommend SIXT at Saint Pierre des Corps TGV station as they have used it on many occasions and found it had a good selection of cars. I have not asked him about a private driver, but will do. Hubby has softened a bit toward renting a car - but if we can get a driver for reasonable costs we may do that.

Matthew also mentioned that they are located 5 minutes from Chateau Chenonceau, 15 minutes from the 3 Chateaux at Amboise (Royal, Close Luce and Gaillard), 20 minutes from Chateau Chaumont Sur Loire,30 minutes from Chateaux Villandry, Ussé, Azay Le Rideau and 40 minutes from Chateaux Cheverny, Chambord and Blois. We aim to visit 6 chateaux (2 each day - we are staying 4 nights): Chambord, Cheverny, Chenonceau, Villandry, Amboise (Royal and Close Luce). @VPS - any input you have on these would be much appreciated.

If it was earlier in the year I would consider but I like to be out of Europe before the end of May - it gets too hot and busy for me

Just of the top of my head would be

Chenonceau
Rideau
Villandry
Cheverney

Not Blois

If you nudge me in a couple of weeks when I will have completed organising something big I will post photos and reviews of each of the castles

 

[VPS]

In Matthew's reply, he mentioned that he would recommend SIXT at Saint Pierre des Corps TGV station as they have used it on many occasions and found it had a good selection of cars. I have not asked him about a private driver, but will do. Hubby has softened a bit toward renting a car - but if we can get a driver for reasonable costs we may do that.

Matthew also mentioned that they are located 5 minutes from Chateau Chenonceau, 15 minutes from the 3 Chateaux at Amboise (Royal, Close Luce and Gaillard), 20 minutes from Chateau Chaumont Sur Loire,30 minutes from Chateaux Villandry, Ussé, Azay Le Rideau and 40 minutes from Chateaux Cheverny, Chambord and Blois. We aim to visit 6 chateaux (2 each day - we are staying 4 nights): Chambord, Cheverny, Chenonceau, Villandry, Amboise (Royal and Close Luce). @VPS - any input you have on these would be much appreciated.

Just found my unfinished TR with some photos and links.

Post in thread 'From New York city to old London town (no Rio but lots of other places)'

Oct 14, 2024

More Montresor

• VPS

• 

 

[RooFlyer]

I've just subscribed to Cruise Globe, which provides a nice map of a cruise actual route once its completed.

 

[Myrna]

@VPS and @RooFlyer
We are currently at Sans Soucci BnB in Luzillé / Tours in the Loire Valley. We are very happy to follow your recommendation to stay here while visiting the chateaux . Matthew and James are fantastic and personable hotsts
Bed is really comfortable, the room is small but very clean and everything worked. We rented a car from SIXT and there are plenty of parking at the property. Great and quiet location, no traffic noise.
Breakfasts have been the best - varied everyday and home cooked
The pool is a very good size but we did not bring our swimsuits. So we just dipped our feet in the pool and it felt so good. As you know parts of Europe has been in a heatwave . In the Loire Valley it has been 41C plus, so we have been sweating like walking around the chateaux and gardens. Inside the parked rental car today it was 55C - I was melting. We drank gazillions of water.
We are not able to enjoy James’ evening meals because he had a heart attack a few weeks ago and was in the hospital for 5 days. Evening meals are now off the menu for the foreseeable future.
Hubby is very happy that we stay at Sans Souci to not only support 2 lovely Aussies but also enjoy their wonderful place. It is definitely the place to stay in the Loire Valley.
Happy hubby happy life
We have visited 4 chateaux, 2 more to go in the searing heat . There are some beautiful sunflower fields out now near Sans Soucci
PS - am terrible at doing trip reports so there will be none

 

[pagingjoan]

@VPS and @RooFlyer
We are currently at Sans Soucci BnB in Luzillé / Tours in the Loire Valley. We are very happy to follow your recommendation to stay here while visiting the chateaux . Matthew and James are fantastic and personable hotsts
Bed is really comfortable, the room is small but very clean and everything worked. We rented a car from SIXT and there are plenty of parking at the property. Great and quiet location, no traffic noise.
Breakfasts have been the best - varied everyday and home cooked
The pool is a very good size but we did not bring our swimsuits. So we just dipped our feet in the pool and it felt so good. As you know parts of Europe has been in a heatwave . In the Loire Valley it has been 41C plus, so we have been sweating like walking around the chateaux and gardens. Inside the parked rental car today it was 55C - I was melting. We drank gazillions of water.
We are not able to enjoy James’ evening meals because he had a heart attack a few weeks ago and was in the hospital for 5 days. Evening meals are now off the menu for the foreseeable future.
Hubby is very happy that we stay at Sans Souci to not only support 2 lovely Aussies but also enjoy their wonderful place. It is definitely the place to stay in the Loire Valley.
Happy hubby happy life
We have visited 4 chateaux, 2 more to go in the searing heat . There are some beautiful sunflower fields out now near Sans Soucci
PS - am terrible at doing trip reports so there will be none

You have made a good fist of a mini trip report, Myrna!