Nice town close to Paris

[Peeps12]

Hi there

Thinking of going to France, namely Paris, next week for three days. Unable to stay in Paris but looking for recommendations of a nice town fairly close (within an hour or so) of Paris. We will be starting from Calais. We will have the car but could use the train to travel into central Paris. We're looking for a nice accessible town. Any recommendations gratefully received.

Many thanks

Not sure why you can't stay in Paris if you want to visit Paris - if you're planning to spend most of your time there you could look for a hotel on the outskirts but with a good metro link into the centre and with parking for your car. Much easier than coming in and out every day by train.

But if you really don't want to be in Paris, some options could include Versailles (see the palace), Fontainebleau or - even closer - St Germain-en-Laye - all pretty, smallish towns with good connections into the centre.

Slightly further away, bigger and better if you love champagne (lots of great champagne house tours) is Rheims. Also less than 1 hour on the fast train.

Have a lovely trip!

I agree staying in Paris is very much my preferred choice. Just a little expensive right now as we would need two rooms as we have three children two of whom have possible ASD just thought Paris might be too much and we could retreat when required. My eldest is desperate to go to Paris and I would love to make it work! Thanks so much for your recommendations.

Auver-sur-oise best town ever.

We stayed at Novotel Chateau de Versailles when we went to Paris because we also wanted to visit the Palace of Versailles (which was amazing!). The hotel is 15 minutes walk from the palace and pretty much exactly an hour's drive from central Paris. It was quicker and easier to take the train from the station almost next to the palace. Only took half an hour and about €8 return. The hotel has family rooms and interconnecting rooms. They also had a children's menu but we only ate there once.

Fontainebleau would fit the bill and would be an easy place to stay. When I lived in Paris it was a good place to meet up with my parents to avoid them having to drive into the city. There are a few restaurants to choose from and there's the forest and chateau there if you want things to look at.

But actually RiceKrispie's suggestion of Versaille is a fantastic idea because the palace is absolutely worth a visit. I'm not that into visiting these sorts of places and I was blown away by Versailles. It's interesting enough that the kids would enjoy it.

Versailles without doubt. I'm planning a weekend there in spring !

I know you said hotel but what about a Eurocamp place. They have 3 nights next week justnoutside Paris for £100 because it’s last minute and end of season. Easy to get the train in and out and you’ll have a place with your own toilet and kitchen plus a bedroom each.

Completely off topic but since when do Eurocamp accommodation have toilets? Admittedly it is 20 years since I last Eurocamped.

That's a brilliant suggestion for Paris on a budget.

INeedNewShoes we've done the Eurocamp style holiday in the summer, staying in static caravan type accommodation and they've all have toilets and showers.

they all have - sorry for the typos