glenn_col

We are travelling to France from Australia in late August, 2010 and have already booked the following areas. 1 week in Paris in apartment, 1 week in Sarlat and 1 week in Provence, near Avignon. We would like to start heading north east from Avignon and would like to end up in Loire Valley just before heading back to Paris to head home.

My thoughts were Annecy or Chamonix, Dijon, then Loire, spending about 3 nights in each.

Would be grateful for any other suggestions, and or great places to stay in these areas. It doesn't have to be in the centre of town as we will have a car.

Sue3953

What a lovely trip! In Burgundy we stayed in Cluny for three nights and found that a good place to drive through the vineyard towns with the seductive names of Chardonney, Pouille, and Fusse on the way to Beaune and Dijon. Also in the Loire we stayed in Chenenceaux, a good base for seeing several chateaux

StuDudley

I don't think Chamonix would take 3 nights - unless you plan to do a lot of serious climbing & hiking. I would do 3 nights in Dijon/Burgundy and 3 nights Annecy/Alps.

IMO, the countryside around the Loire will be quite disappointing after you have visited the Dordogne, Provence, Burgundy, and the Alps. If this was my trip, I would visit Versailles while staying in Paris, visit a few of the many chateaux around Burgundy & Beaujolais while in that region, and then skip the Loire. I would then do 4 nights in Annecy/Alps & 5 nights in Dijon/Burgundy then take the TGV from Dijon directly to CDG in time to catch your flight home.

Stu Dudley

zorrosf

Some people love the Loire Valley, some don't. Count me among those who feel that there are more interesting, more charming areas to visit first. You don't say exactly where you are staying when. For example, if Avignon were your final stop before heading home, you could TGV to CDG from Avignon! In addition to the suggestions above, you may wish to explore the Atlantic coast, which would include the Ile de Re, Vannes and Brittany, then head east to Mont St. Michel and Normandy before ending up in Paris to depart.

However, there is no "bad" decision to make.

Michael

I gather you have a RT from Paris. If landing in Paris, stop by a couple of chateaux in the Loire on your way down to the Dordogne. The other way of doing it would be an open jaw landing in Paris and leaving from Nice. You might then drive down to Burgundy (visit Vaux-le-Vicomte on the way), cross through the Auvergne to get to Sarlat and from Sarlat go to the Provence. If chateaux interest you, you might be interested in their construction as demonstrated in Guédelon.

Look into car leasing for that period of time. It might be cheaper than renting a car, although in the last years I have done better with a rental than with a lease for a period of 30+ days. That comes close to your needs if you are staying in Paris for a week.

These Burgundy pictures might whet your appetite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...55059630/show/

glenn_col

We land in Paris 27 August, 2010 and have rented a Paris Perfect Apartment in the 7th for a week (no car). During this week my husband and our friend are going up to the WW1 Sites for a couple of days, whilst we girls stay in the apartment.

We will catch a fast train from Paris to Souillac and then on to Sarlat, where we have hired a car for two weeks with a couple of friends. From here we will do day trips and also a canoe down the Dordogne.

We will then drive to Loriol du Comtat (just out of Avignon) and are staying at a Chateau for another week and do all the surrounding towns as day trips again.
We are dropping our friends in Nice at the end of the week, changing to a smaller car, and may stay there for 2 nights before heading north.

Thanks Stu, I have printed off your Dordogne and Provence Itinerary's and will be studying them over the next few months.

I like the idea of staying in one place and doing day trips, so will add more time to Annecy and do a day trip to Chaminox, and also add days to Dijon/Burgundy, and possibly drop car off and go straight to airport from there by TGV as suggested.

Although we are 60 years young, I feel we will be back to France sometime to see the areas we have missed, as we just don't like packing up and travelling to new accommodation every day.

Auto Europe have special "early bird" rates out at the moment in Australia, and seeing we will be changing cars from a 7 seater after two weeks, to a 4 seater, leasing is out of the question.

Thanks everyone for your help, and keep it coming.
Love the photo's Michael.....just can't wait to go.

We did a five week trip in Italy 3 years ago and thanks to Fodors help, we had the most fantastic time. I'm sure France will be similar!

rbartizek

Not sure what your travel style is, but if you're looking for a relaxed, authentic and fun-filled stop, stay a few nights at Domaine des Anges in Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy. Owned and run by an ex-pat Brit couple, it's in one of the premier white Burgundy villages. Let John Nicholls direct you to the local wine watering hole and give you a lesson in boules (kind of like bocci) in the courtyard. Lady Celine will please your palate with a wonderful table d'hote and her home-made jams. (John is a serious fan of cheeses, so be prepared.)
The charming village is surrounded by vineyards and is near historic - but touristy - Beaune, yet not far off the A6. We enjoyed just driving off the main routes, finding small, local restaurants and little-known vineyards.
I'm not them, just a very satisfied client (October 2009). They don't have a web site but you can e-mail [email protected] or find them on TripAdvisor. Prices are very reasonable.

glenn_col

Thanks rbartizek, this is exactly the kind of thing we are looking for. We are "over" huge five star hotels, and have had great experiences lately in small B&B's on our travels throughout Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. When we are in Sarlat, we have booked out a 4 bedroom B&B with friends, with a similar atmosphere. Will email them for rates...pity they don't have a website.

nicerue50

on your drive from Paris to Sarlat...a side stop to Oradour-sur-Glane is well woth it for history. Village destroyed by Germans June 10, 1944. Old village kept as memorial and new town built. For history buffs very interesting.

Michael

Here are two sites I used successfully to find B&Bs:

http://www.france-voyage.com/

http://www.gites-de-france.com/gites...ambres_d_hotes