Trip Logistics

12 nights lodging and 8 days bicycling

Flight

We traveled with Air France on a direct flight from Chicago to Paris. After reserving our tickets, we called Air France to request that they add “bicycle in the hold” to our record. This is per the airline’s requirement, but it took several calls to make sure this was done correctly. They ultimately provided an email confirmation to us that the bicycles were also booked. For Air France, bicycles can be carried for $150 (per trip, per bike) and are limited to no more than 50 lbs.

Itinerary

We purposely tried to keep our mileage at 50 km or less per day to accommodate our fitness levels and to allow time for frequent stops for photos.

Day Location Distance*
Day 0 ORD-CDG to Meaux (shuttle)
Day 1 Meaux to Nanteuil-sur-Marne 26 km
Day 2 Nanteuil to Château-Thierry 26 km
Day 3 Château-Thierry sightseeing 34 km
Day 4 Château-Thierry to Mareuil-sur-Äy 53 km
Day 5 Mareuil-sur-Äy to La Chaussée-sur-Marne 46 km
Day 6 La Chaussée-sur-Marne to Chamouilley 55 km
Day 7 Chamouilly to Gudmont-Villiers 38 km
Day 8 reach Chaumont, rent car, drive to Contrexéville 34 km
Day 9 sightseeing in Contrexéville  
Day 10 return to Meaux by car  
Day 11 rest/pack day in Meaux  
Day 12 (shuttle to airport) depart CDG-ORD  

* planned mileage

Lodging Arrangements

Meaux
Hotel Campanile Meaux
1 Rue de la Cave aux Hérons
77100 Meaux
(Province: Île-de-France)
tel. +33 160 23 4141
http://www.campanile.com/en/hotels/campanile-meaux

Nanteuil sur Marne
Hotel Auberge du Lion d'Or
2 Rue du Bac
77730 Nanteuil sur Marne
(Province: Île-de-France)
tel. +33 160 23 6221
https://www.logishotels.com/fr/hotel/auberge-du-lion-d-or-486

Château-Thierry
Historique Ferme Jean de la Fontaine
Chierry (southeast on edge of Château-Thierry)
Ferme de la tuèterie
02400 Chierry
(Province: Champagne)
Evening meal on-site requested (must be reserved in advance)
https://www.chambresdhotesdecharme-chateauthierry.com/
Does not accept credit cards

Mareuil-sur-Äy
La Marotiere
11, rue Sadi Carnot
51160 Mareuil-sur-Äy
(Province: Champagne)
tel. +33 326 52 1100
http://www.lamarotiere.com/ Advance deposit required with reservation

La Chaussee-sur-Marne
Logis Hôtel Clos de Mutigny
17 Avenue du Dr Justin Jolly
51240 La Chaussée-sur-Marne
(Province: Champagne)
tel. +33 326 729420
http://www.clos-de-mutigny.com/en/index.php

Chamoulilley
Auberge du Cheval Blanc
11 Place de la Mairie
52410 Chamouilley
(Province: Champagne)
tel. +33 325 55 5992
http://www.auberge-duchevalblanc.com/

Gudmont-Villiers
Hotel La Source Bleue
Rue la papeterie
52320 Gudmont-Villiers
(Province: Champagne)
tel. +33 325 94 7035
https://www.logishotels.com/en/hotel/hotel-la-source-bleue-170034?partid=661

Contrexeville
Hotel Cosmos
13 Rue de Metz
88140 Contrexéville
(Province: Lorraine)
Tel. +33 329 07 6161
http://www.hotelcontrexeville.com/en/

We were pleased with all of our lodging arrangements. They were within our budget and offered what we expected or more.

Other Transportation:

We arranged a private shuttle to/from the Paris airport through the ala carte services of Blue Marble Tours in Paris

Chaumont
Europcar
23 Rue Anatole France
52000 Chaumont
(Province: Champagne)
tel. +33 325 32 0079
The return for our rental car in Meaux was located directly next-door to our hotel. We also knew that there was a bicycle shop in Meaux less than a quarter-mile from our hotel, but fortunately, we never needed them.