You are bringing to life your destination celebration in the Loire Valley, or you are attending a loved one's destination celebration in the Loire valley, beautiful! Now you are wondering what suits you best between taking the trains, renting cars, or booking shuttles to get to the Loire Valley in France and get around. In this blog post, we share with you the easiest, fastest, cheapest, and also VIP and exclusive ways to get where you want from in the Loire Valley. Sure you will soon understand the French system and will feel comfortable moving anywhere else in France.
We encourage you to save this post into your contact list, and for those getting married or attending a wedding in the Loire Valley, to add this post to your wedding's website to inform your guests on the best ways to get to the Loire Valley and move around.
FRENCH RAILWAY DIRECT BOOKING FAST AND EASY ON ANDROID IOS APPS WEB BROWSER - ENGLISH
Anyone who used to travel and book their train tickets themselves is encouraged to download the French railway network app SNCF Connect: Trains & trips on the App Store (apple.com) and SNCF Connect: Trains & trips - Apps on Google Play, you can also access the service on any browsers Train travel around France and Europe by SNCF Connect (sncf-connect.com) This is complete service to book train tickets and more
Landing at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) and traveling to the Loire Valley
You are flying from abroad and you already know that you are landing at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, we suggest the following transports to get easily and comfortably to the Loire Valley. Note for our friends traveling with large size luggage; we encourage you to book any speed train TGV non OUIGO. OUIGO is an affordable price TGV, which is very good, however, you might feel missing some space to store your luggage. Otherwise, any TGV INOUI is fast and comfortable.
Speed train TGV from CDG airport to the Loire Valley
By far our favourite for those who like to use their times TGV means "Train à Grande Vitesse" as to say "high-speed train". Comfortable with wifi and bar-wagon, these trains bring you and your guests directly to the Loire Valley. You can easily book any train ticket online at the best price on the official railway French system at the Official French trains system, OUI SNCF, which is available in several languages. You can also book and follow your bookings via their Apple Store and Google Play OUI SNCF smartphone app.
The TGV station is located at Airport Charles de Gaulle 2 underneath Terminal 2 (T2) and between terminals 2C - 2E and 2D - 2F. Not landing at T2? No problem, the shuttle between terminals will get you there easily and in no time.
From T2, you access the terminals 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G and CDGVAL shuttle train via level 4. You will find the information desk as well ticket sales. It is also good to know that there is a Waiting lounge that may be of use on your way back if you are early to catch your flight.
The cities served by the TGV from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and the Loire Valley are Orleans, Blois, Tours St Pierre des Corps, Angers St Laud, Nantes.
Car rental at CDG airport to anywhere in France and abroad
May you prefer driving yourself and enjoying the roads of French life, then a car rental is for you and also straight from the airport. you will find many car rental offices located inside the terminals of the airport Charles de Gaulles. Depending on your preferred car rental supplier, you will find them at various Terminals. See here for the list of car rental offices and their location at the airport
RER (commuter train) at CDG airport to Paris Metro and RER
May you want to do some touring in Paris before heading to the Loire Valley, you can take the RER to Paris' main metro stations than any metro to get to your favourite place in Paris.
More about all transports at Paris airport Charles de Gaulle airport in English.
May you require a concierge service or VIP service at Charles de Gaulle airport, click here
Landing at Paris Orly airport (ORY) and traveling to the Loire Valley
You are flying from abroad and you already know that you are landing at Paris' Orly Airport (ORY). From Paris Orly Airport, we suggest the following transports to get easily and comfortably to the Loire Valley.
Bus shuttle from Orly airport to Paris city's train stations
There is no direct speed train from the Orly airport itself, as it is the case from Charles de Gaulle airport, However, there are various train stations in Paris city, the one bundling the departures by speed trains (TGV) and regional trains (TER) to the Loire Valley is the train station named "Gare Montparnasse" in city centre of Paris.
At the airport Orly there are direct buses named “Le bus direct” going to Paris city centre, near the train station Paris Montparnasse from where you can catch the next speed train to the Loire Valley. We have checked lately, the direct bus leaves from any terminal and drives straight to Denfert-Rochereau in Paris center. It cost less than 10€ and special price return ticket, for kids 4 to 11 y.o., and for group from 3 passengers. You can pay on the bus and at the machines located in and outside the airport Payment can be made online here or at the bus stop outside the terminal of the arrivals or even on the bus with the driver for an extra 1€.
From Denfert-Rochereau you either take a 2 stations ride by metro or, and here we highly recommend this option, you enjoy a stroll through the renowned street "Daguerre" to reach the train station Montparnasse. We guaranty you that you will want to take more time there on your way back to the airport.
Depending on the time of the year, a speed train ticket to the Loire Valley straight from the train station costs between 20€ to 50€ depending on how early you book your ticket. A note for our friends traveling with large size luggage; we encourage you to book any speed train TGV non OUIGO. OUIGO is an affordable price TGV, which is very good, however, you might feel missing some space to store your luggage. Otherwise, any TGV INOUI is fast and comfortable.
Car rental from Orly airport
Care hiring straight from the airport. Here, and also at other brokers such as Car Europe, you can check the best rates and also choose a different return address for more comfort and freedom in your itinerary.
May you require a concierge service or VIP service at Orly airport, click here
LANDING AT THE AIRPORT OF THE CITY OF TOURS IN THE LOIRE VALLEY AND TRAVELING AROUND
If you have the chance of flying directly to Tours airport, one of the biggest cities in the Loire Valley, and may want to hire a car upon your arrival at the airport of Tours, then here are some tips.
Car rental from Tours' airport
Book your car in advance! There is no stationed car rental office at the airport of Tours, but you still can hire a car via two care rental providers, AVIS and EUROPCARE with pre-reservation (English spoken).
The pricing would differ depending on the number of seats, the standard of the vehicle ex. a P308 or a "family" ex. Ford C-max, or an SUV ex. P3008, and the insurance you chose to take.
The designated drivers are requested to present their driving license as well as their payment card. You will be encouraged to take the necessary insurance.
AVIS TOURS, Z.A. Le Papillon, 37210 Parcay Meslay, tel. +33 2 47 49 21 49 avis.tours@auto-tours.fr,
EUROPCAR, 194 Avenue Maginot, 37100 Tours, tel. +33 2 47 85 85 85, www.Europcar.com
Avis and Europcar bring in the rented car at the arrival of commercial flights such as Ryanair.
Taxis
You can also choose to call a local taxi, here is one Taxi GIE Tours 02 47 20 30 40
More contacts
You easily find the right taxi for your trip during your stay at any time and anywhere in the region via iTaxis.
Check and book your inter-regional and speed trains anywhere in France and in Europe via the official site in English of the French railway system.
LANDING AT THE AIRPORT OF THE CITY OF NANTES IN THE LOIRE VALLEY AND TRAVELING TO THE WEST COAST
Car rental
Several car rental companies are located at Nantes airport (NTE) itself. You find the list and direct web links here.
Shuttle between Nantes airport and Nantes train station
The airport's shuttle is run by the public transport company of Nantes (TAN) which connects the city centre of Nantes, the train station and the airport. Here you find more information about this shuttle, including contact details and a booking form.
Taxi
From Nantes airport to Nantes train station or to PIriac sure Mer or La Turballe or elsewhere on the west coast, there are several taxi companies departing from Nantes airport. You find more information including contact details and the booking form here.
Train
From Nantes train station you can use the regional train TER to Le Croisic. See the example on the national SNCF Connect railway network app for departure from "Nantes Atlantique (NTE), Bouguenais to Piriac-sur-Mer"
YOU TRAVEL FROM PARIS ALONG THE LOIRE VALLEY TO THE WEST COAST
Car rental from Paris airports
From Paris Orly or Charles de Gaulle airports, at each airport, you find many car rental companies and you are pretty sure to get a car even without pre-booking any in advance, though if you have specific requirements we suggest that you book in advance. For the booking form and a list of rental car companies at each airport, click here.
Train, Bus, and Car-sharing, from Paris airports and Paris
With the new modern app and also on the browser the "SNCF Connect" French railway system you can enter your point of departure and point of arrival, the app will propose to you options of trains, buses, and car-sharing. or anywhere in Paris (chose City Paris Ile de France in the search tab Departure to all options, same as when you book a flight anywhere in the world), travelling to the ocean coast such as Le Croisic or Batz-sur-Mer, for example, to then reach Piriac sur Mer ou La Turballe, and more cities, you can choose to rent a car from one of Paris airports or travel comfortably by train or by bus for a better price or even sharing a car.
Taxi nationwide
While Uber serves most of the big and middle-sized cities in France it is not that popular yet in remote or small cities. We advise you to turn to the national network G7 when it comes to booking and tracking a taxi at any time, here.
You travel from Guernsey to the Loire Valley
For those wishing to travel from Guernsey by boat, Condor currently has a sailing (via Jersey) scheduled to leave Guernsey, arriving in St Malo. They also have a direct sailing, arriving in St Malo. There is a return ferry leaving St Malo, arriving in Guernsey. If you are considering traveling by Condor we would recommend booking as soon as possible given that the celebrations are held over a bank holiday weekend. Check Condor Ferries.
Aurigny offers limited direct flights from Guernsey to Dinard. Check Aurigny.
You travel from the UK to the Loire Valley
For those wishing to fly from the UK, Ryanair operates a direct service between Stansted and Tours. Easyjet also operates a route to and from Nantes Atlantique Airport. There is a fast train connection between Nantes (Gare de Nantes) and Tours (Gare de Tours) that takes approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Easyjet, BA and various other airlines service Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from the UK. The airport is approximately forty minutes drive from Paris Montparnasse train station, which offers fast trains to Tours and St-Pierre Des Corps (approximately 50 and 55 minutes drive respectively from the Château). The fast train takes about an hour from Paris Montparnasse.
We help you!
We are happy to help you out with creating your best itinerary, just.ask@castlekey.com together with your date, your hour and your address of arrival, and terminal if flying to France, the number of passengers, your destination(s) as well as your date, your hour and your address of departure, and terminal if flying back from France and the number of passengers. Your destination wedding is a click away with Castle Key Destination Wedding just.ask@castlekey.com or calls the operations in France at +33 6 47 35 67 42.
