laurieco

I'm down to booking our last two nights in the south of France before driving back to Barcelona. We'll be near Nimes for two nights, Châteauneuf du Pape for one, Gordes for two and now I am trying to decide between Cassis or L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for the last two. Thoughts? I'm at a loss. I used to love to plan itineraries and look at hotels, but for some reason, I've been finding that planning this trip is a pain in the ass and it isn't even that long. We leave Sept. 4 so I need to book something this weekend. Thanks for any advice.

Myer

Isle-sur-la-sorgue is very nice. My only complaint is that we went on market day and the town was overrun by the market.

It would have been a lot nicer without it.

KarenWoo

The market is Held on Thursdays and Sundays. Sunday is much worse because of the market. I think Thursday is manageable.

laurieco

We would be there from Monday to Wednesday so we would escape the craziness of the market.

mjs

I am not sure I understand your choices of places to stay. Nimes is a bit out of the way as a place to spend two nights and explore Provence. Its fine for a starting point to visit places like Arles, Uzes and Pont du Gard but not central to much of Provence. CDP is fine if you are spending time to visit wineries and Gordes is a good place from which to explore the Luberon. L'lsle-sur is very close to Gordes so why move? Cassis is on the coast almost half way to the Cote. What is is that you want to do there besides visit the Calanques/

StCirq

They are very different, apples and oranges. What do you want to experience?

StuDudley

I agree with mjs. I know you already have non-refundable reservations in Nimes - so that can't change. Gordes & l'Isle sur la Sorgue are 25 mins apart - so staying in l'Isle sur las Sorgue won't gain you anything. Just add the 2 nights to Gordes. L'Isle Sur la Sorgue is dead, dead, dead on Mondays if you want to wander in town (shops are closed). If you "must" stay elsewhere - stay in St Remy. Cassis will make your total (un-necessary, IMO) driving between Barcelona and Provence 10 1/2 hrs instead of the 9 hrs I mentioned on your prior thread. Parking is difficult in Cassis.

Cassis to Barcelona - 5 1/2 to 5 3/4 hrs
St Remy to Barcelona - 4 3/4 hrs

Stu Dudley

laurieco

What do we want to experience. Hmmm, a taste of the region I guess.

mjs, we aren't spending the entire time in Nimes, in fact, the hotel we are at is outside of Nimes and we do plan on going to Arles, and maybe Uzes and Pont du Gard. We do want to visit a winery or two so CDP seems like a good place, and it has been recommended very highly.

I've decided on spending the last two nights in Collioure. It is different from the other places we are staying in, looks beautiful and can drive to other small villages, and, is only a bit more than a 2 hour drive back to Barcelona. I've been all over the place trying to figure out where to go, and it's been a pain, but I think we have a decent itinerary for our first time in the region. I know it won't be our last.

Thanks to all who chimed in!

StuDudley

Make sure you get a comfortable car - that's where you will spend a good portion of your vacation - on the boring Autoroute!!! Driving into Barcelona isn't a joy either.

From your other thread - with a modification:

- Barcelonaa to Nimes - 4 hrs without any stops for toll booths, deviations, pottie breaks, food, gas, etc. Immediately after a flight from "where?"
- St Remy to Collioure 3 hr 40 mins
- Collioure to Barcerlona 2 hr 15 mins
- Total 10 hours. Add 45 mins for "delays" = 10 3/4 hrs "butts in the car".

- Barcelona to Nimes by train - 3 1/2 trip, 0 hrs driving
- St Remy de Provence to Nimes 1 hr driving
- Nimes to Barcelona 3 1/2 hrs. Many daily departures

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

>> St Remy to Collioure 3 hr 40 mins<<

That should be Gordes to Collioure.

laurieco

stu, we did reserve a comfortable car, a Volkswagen Golf which holds 5 people, 4 pieces of luggage and has a/c. I think the driving will be enjoyable as we do like to drive. In fact, DH loves it. He is far more comfortable in a car than in a train. I like both so it doesn't matter, but I do like the independence of having a car. I'll let you know how it worked out, and, if you are right, then I will let you say "I told you so!"

MaineGG

In Collioure, be sure to check out the Hotel des Templiers. In the early 20th century, the hotel hosted many artists who sometimes paid with their works. Among those were Matisse, Derain, Picasso and Maillol. The walls of the place are covered with many of those paintings and sketches.
http://hotel-templiers.com/index.php/historique

We loved our few days in Collioure and made several long drives from there, the favorite being south along the coast on highway D914 to the Spanish border. Slow going, but eye-popping scenery.

laurieco

Thanks MaineGG. That sounds fabulous (and Matisse is my favorite artist).