THE LOIRE - France 2014 - page 561

By Minivan Excursion to Nearby Châteaux: Acco-Dispo runs good half- and all-
day English tours from Amboise and Tours to all the major châteaux six days a week
(Mon-Sat). Costs vary with the itinerary (half-day-€34/person, full-day-€53/person; free
hotel pickups, small groups of 2-8 people, mobile [phone], www.accodispo-
tours.com ) . While on the road, you'll usually get a fun and enthusiastic running comment-
ary—but you're on your own at the sights (discounted tickets available from the driver).
Reserve a week ahead by email, or two to three days by phone. (Day-trippers from Paris
find this service convenient). Acco-Dispo also runs multiday tours of the Loire and Brit-
tany.
Another minivan option, Loire Valley Tours offers all-day itineraries from Amboise
and Tours that are fully guided and include admissions, lunch, and wine-tasting (about
€140/person, tel. [phone], www.loire-valley-tours.com ) . Quart de Tours also of-
fers excursions (see “By Shuttle Van,” earlier).
By Taxi
Most châteaux are too expensive to visit by cab, but a taxi from Amboise to Chenonceau
costs about €27 (€38 on Sundays and after 19:00, tel. [phone] or 02 47 57 30 39).
The meter doesn't start until you do.
By Train
Within the Loire
From Amboise by Train to: Chenonceaux (trains are a more frequent, if a slower
and pricier, option than the bus; 6/day, most about 1 hour, transfer at St-Pierre-des-
Corps—check connections to avoid long waits), Blois (14/day, 20 minutes, bus or taxi
excursions from there to Chambord and Cheverny—see “Blois Connections,” here ) ,
Chaumont (about 14/day, 35 minutes, take 10-minute train to Onzain on the Amboise-
Blois route, 25-minute walk—you can see château from station), Tours (12/day, 25
minutes, allows connections to châteaux west of Tours), Chinon (12/day, 1.5-2.25 hours,
transfer in Tours and possibly in St-Pierre-des-Corps), Azay-le-Rideau (6/day, 2 hours,
transfer in Tours and possibly in St-Pierre-des-Corps).
Beyond the Loire
Twelve 15-minute trains link Amboise daily to the regional train hub of St-Pierre-des-
Corps (in suburban Tours). There you'll find reasonable connections to distant points (in-
cludingtheTGVtoParis'GareMontparnasse).TransferringinPariscanbethefastestway
to reach many French destinations, even in the south.