Marko

Nearly finished, we have spent some time in Chianti and also Paris so this covers a few things we haven't got to,the middle bit, thanks to a company who wants to hear me talk. We had the kids with us last time so this is more adult orientated. here it is:
1.Depart Australia on Emirates in business class, arrive Milan, Dinner at Cracco Peck and overnight at the Hotel Straf.

2.Morning with just a quick walk around the Duomo (this time we will climb to the top !)before picking up hire car at Central Station.

Drive to Fidenza Village to stock up on bargains ! Drive onto La Grazie near Portovenere. Staying at Hotel DELLA BAIA .

3.Take a ferry to Monterosso,Train back to Vernazza and then walk back to Riomaggiore. An all day adventure. Hotel Della Baia.

4.Drive to Lucca, an early start. Back to hotel and an evening in Portovenere.

5.Drive to Florence for just a quick visit and then onto Borgo La Bagnaia south of Siena ( this is part of a conference/seminar/junket)

6.Tour to San Gimignano, dinner at Monteriggioni,Borgo La Bagnaia

7.Tour to Montalcino, consume some Brunello !,Borgo La Bagnaia.

8. To Florence airport to Milan then to Marseille, bus to Avignon, a tour of the Popes Palace , Dinner and staying at La Mirande.

9. Tour to St Benezet Bridge, then Chateauneuf du Pape, Lunch at La Sommellerie, after lunch tour to Les Baux, dinner at La Compagnie des Comptoirs.

10.Tour to Luberon,Fontaine de Vauclause,Senanque Abbey. Lunch at le Mas Tourteron. Then onto Roussillon, Isle sur la Sorgue. Dinner at Chateau d’Estoublon.

11.Tour to Aix-en-Provence, dinner at Christian Etienne Restaurant.

12. TGV to Paris, Villa St Germain,

13. Paris at Leisure, art gallery day

14. Paris at Leisure, Marais and Montmartre day

15. Paris at leisure,not sure what to do other than wander.
16. Day at Leisure,a half day of solid shopping ( so my wife says!) before transfer to CDG for late evening flight home on Emirates.

JandaO

the italy part looks exhausting.
Take more leisure time and less daytrips. Being in the car all day for several days will wear you out.
Just IMO...

Marko

ttt

SHADRACH

I went to Paris last year, and my favorites areas were:

Montmartre and the isles (Ile de la Cité and Ile St. Louis).

There you'll find the typical images you picture whenever you hear the word "Paris".

St. Michel is great for eating. There are all kinds of restaurants with all kinds of foods for all kinds of budgets.

I liked some parts of Le Marais, but I wasn't that impressed. I wasn't impressed by Champs Élysées either.

I think JandaO is right. You're italy itinerary seems a little bit exhausting.

Jean

If you decide to keep the Italy itinerary as is (which I also think is too much), make sure you know with detailed directions where you're going to park the car everywhere you go or you could waste a lot of your already stretched time driving around trying to figure out the parking situations.

Marko

Parking at La Grazie is fine, the hotel provides it. In Florence I have used two parking Garages before and I still have the phone numbers which I will check as it gets closer. Once we are at Borgo La Bagnaia all the touring is done with a small group with transport provided, so its sit back and be chauffered around.

Marko

Just found it in my notes, the parking garage is on Borgo Ognissanti, fairly easy to get to, unless someone has a suggestion on the Pitti Palace side of the river?

Sue_xx_yy

A warning: I have read that the Florence Airport, while recently reopened after a renovation, is still something of a mess, including the car rental area. So you might wish to allow extra time to do the dropoff and pick up your flight to Marseille (assuming that you are dropping your car off on this day and not earlier ??)

While it means another hotel switch, I'd consider overnighting in Lucca. This shortens your driving both on day 4 and day 5.

Marko

Thanks Sue, we did actually think about staying at Lucca but the distances especially on the autostrada are not great. It gives us a chance to relax a bit somewhere that shouldn't be too crowded at that time of the year.(late september)

Marko

any last comments, I am thinking that instead of spending three quarters of a day in Florence that we can divert off the road from Pisa and go across country to Siena and see some off the beaten track places. I will post a seperate question about it.

bombasticlife

Dinner at Le Mirande! You will love it. Reserve your table ahead of time, it fills up fast. I have reviewed some other restaurants in Avignon too at http://www.bombasticlife.com

Good luck and have a great time!