Day Trip to Reims

In November 2009, we will stay at the Marriott Village Bailly-Romainvilliers for a week. Several places will be closed then (gardens at Giverny) so we are thinking about Reims one day and Chartres another. Any suggestions of places along the route to see or other ideas? Of course we want to tour Champagne houses. Are they open in Nov? We would love to find antique fairs or Brocante and Vide Grenier events would be great. We will have a car. Thanks in advance.

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What about Fontainebleau? Blandy les Tours?

Most of the larger Champagne houses are open year-round -- smaller ones are likely just wrapping up getting the year%26#39;s crop into the bottles (or casks, in some cases) and quieting down for the year -- so they%26#39;ll either have plenty of time, or will have closed down for a rest!

Chartres is good -- just keep in mind it%26#39;s the opposite side of Paris from Bailly.

Not too much left for brocantes or vides greniers -- and not quite time for marches de noel. www.vide-grenier.org will give you a fairly complete list.

You might also pop over to www.tourism77.co.uk -- it%26#39;s the English-language version of the official tourism site for the Seine-et-Marne.

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Thanks, I found your post. We have also been to Fontainebleau. Should we plan for an entire day at Chartres? it is 120 KM from the Marriott. Do you know of any antique shops or local fairs. We will do the fleas in Paris, but love local antique fairs. also can you suggest places close to the Marriott for dinner. We will have the car, but will take the train into Paris. It has been suggested that we not stay too late in Paris, because the trains are not that safe later in the evening.

Thanks again.

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The trains aren%26#39;t usually an issue -- as in any city, the later it gets, the more *interesting* the riders get, but you shouldn%26#39;t have any problems. Keep your wits about you, but you%26#39;re probably safer riding the RER here than you would be riding the Metra in DC.

There aren%26#39;t any regularly scheduled flea markets -- the website I gave you will give you information, usually a little closer to the date.

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the Tourism77 site will also tell you a list of any goings-on in the area, as well as links to what%26#39;s open.

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Thanks for the information. I will check out everything As it closer to the time we leave (Nov. 20) I know I will have more questions.