mls1234

My husband and I are spending 3 nights in Barcelona.Returning our trip to Barcelona.
We will have a total of 10 days including return trip, to explore the Dordogne region.
Would like a restful vacation.
Spending a few nights in a nice town,good hotel and good food and wine.
Spending another few days and nights in another town,
Would like best central locations to stay and ,returning back to town in evening.
Is it a good idea to return to Barcelona.
We fly into there.
Going in March 13 to 23
Advise please
Thanks,
Maria

Traveling to Dordogne.
Would like a restful vacation, stopping along the way.
staying

Michael

You'll need a car in the Dordogne, so it might be best to rent the car in Barcelona and return it there.

Your best bet is to stay in Sarlat. If you want to stay in another town, Brantôme might offer you the opportunity to see a completely different part of the Dordogne. But perhaps it would be better to spend some time between the Dordogne and Barcelona. Albi comes to mind, or someplace in the Languedoc.

You might want to consult some guidebooks. The Michelin Green Guides are very good for the history and what there is to see in the area.

mls1234

thank you very much.
Maria

Michael

You might want to ask the editors to remove the trip report marker. That should be added only when giving a trip report and might stop some contributors from even looking at your posting.

StCirq

I'm not sure I understand your plan. You are going to spend 3 nights in Barcelona, then 10 nights going to the Dordogne and back to Barcelona? And you want two different locales to stay in?

There's a lot of interesting territory between Barcelona and the Dordogne. But if your goal is the Dordogne, just head for Sarlat and make that your base until it's time to return to Barcelona.

mls1234

Thanks everyone.
Doing research
So far we will drive from barcelona to Serlat.
And, stay put.
What about a stop in either Toulouse or Carcassonne.
for a lunch break?
Maria

Michael

Avoid Toulouse which represents a waste of time if going there just for lunch. Carcassonne or Albi (its church is worth a visit, as is the Toulouse-Lautrec museum in the bishop's palace next door) would make more sense.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623313123155/ and the next six pictures.

StCirq

Toulouse is too big a city for just a "lunch break." Carcassonne,maybe, though I'd probably choose somewhere smaller without tour buses all over like Albi or Castelnaudary (for the cassoulet).

mls1234

Love the pics michael.
Will take the advise.
Maria

mls1234

what would be the interesting territory between Barcelona and the Dordogne?

Pvoyageuse

"what would be the interesting territory between Barcelona and the Dordogne?"

1.The Costa Brava, north of Barcelona from Blanes to the French border then on to Banyuls, Port-Vendres, Collioure and Perpignan.
2. From Perpignan to Carcassonne via Quillan, the Cathar castles of Peyrepertuse, Queribus, Puilaurens or
3. from Perpignan to Carcassonne via Salses (castle), Narbonne, Abbey of Fontfroide and Lésignan.
4. Near Carcassonne, the Lastours Castles.

A nice place for lunch : Auberge du Poids Public, Saint Félix du Lauragais

Michael

The drive from Prades to La Tour de Carol and then back down to Foix is worthwhile. Besides the scenery, there's a <i>plus beau village</i> on the way, and farther up, a Vauban fortification.

Or one can go from Prades to Quillan via the Col de Jau. The area feels quite isolated.

Mimar

Do you really want to return to Barcelona? Could you fly out of some other city, like Toulouse or Bordeaux? Or have you already bought your tickets and it's too expensive to change.

mls1234

Hi, we already bought tickets.
Maybe we could drive from Barcelona, drive 1/2 day and stop overnight.
then head Serlat to stay for about 8 days.
Then, back to Barcelona and stay one overnight night in a nice town.
Return to Barcelona and return car.
what do you think?

mls1234

Would you stay in albi overnight, traveling from Barcelona?
Then leave next day for Serlat?
Good restaurant,nice place to stay?
Thank you,
Maria