natalie6225

Hello! My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to France & Switzerland in June and would love some advice to figure out our best travel route. We fly into Paris on June 18th and out of Paris on July 1st. We have not yet booked any hotels, but below is a list of places we'd like to visit.

Paris, France (maybe 4 days, possible days trips to Loire Valley, Versailles & Giverny)
Burgundy, France (def. want to do some wine tasting)
Provence, France & possible days trip the South of France town (planning on renting a car and absolutely want to see the lavender fields)
Lyon, France (1-2 days)
Geneva, Switzerland

Can anyone offer advice on how much time you think we should spend in each place and what order we should visit the above places? Suggestions on activities and hotels/B&B's/hostels would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Natalie

Rastaguytoday

Start with the fact you only have 2 weeks, less travel time.

Paris can take months to know, even without Giverny and Versailles.

Skip the Loire Valley this trip.

For that short of a period, fly or train down to Marseilles and rent a car from there.

By train, stop, for an intransit day trip to Lyon. Have lunch there, by all means. Visit Fourvière cathefral.

The lavender fields are great. Went there a few years ago.
http://www.thelavendermuseum.com/

If you must go to Switzerland, fly. Why waste a day on a train? Train travel is great, but your schedule is limited.

Frankly, I found very little of interest in Geneva.

Open jaw into Paris and out of Marseilles.

natalie6225

Thank you!

ira

Hi N,

You have 2 weeks.

Paris is worth a week all by itself without any daytrips.

>Provence, .... absolutely want to see the lavender fields<

Your second week will be near the peak season.

I suggest that you plan those two places.

You might find my trip report helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-europe.cfm

traveller1959

I agree with the others that you are planning to many destinations within too few time. And I also agree that Geneve is one of the least attractive destinations in Switzerland. If you want to see the Alps, stay on the French side - the "Route des Grandes Alpes" is spectacular!

Here is my proposal:

18 June: Paris
19 June: Paris
20 June: daytrip to Versailles
21 June: Paris
22 June: TGV train to Beaune. Visit a beautiful historic town, especially one of the oldest hospital, the Hotel Dieu.
http://www.hospices-de-beaune.com/in...-Dieu/Le-Musee

The world's best winetasting is in the historical vaults of the Marchè du Vin in Beaune. Skip the first wines and fill yourself with the better ones in the old church. In any case, you will be severely drunk after having tasted two dozen varieties of Bourgogne wines.
www.marcheauxvins.com
23 June: TGV from Beaune to Avignon. Rent a car. Drive through Provence (Lavender fields). I personally find the lavender fields around Senanque Abbey very pretty.http://www.senanque.fr/
24 June: Provence.
25 June: Provence.
25 June: Provence.
26 June: Drive from Provence to Guillestre.
27 June: Drive the Route des Grandes Alpes via Col de Izourd and Col du Galibier to St. Jean-de-Maurienne
http://www.grande-traversee-alpes.co...-grandes-alpes
28 June: Drive to Lyon. Drop the rental car.
29 June: Lyon
30 June: TGV from Lyon to Paris.
1 July: fly home

natalie6225

Thank you all for the suggestions! We have decided not to visit Geneva and narrow down the places we want to visit to spend more time in each city.