ljc4creb

I have decided to make France my graduation/birthday/anniversary gift to myself and husband. Looking at the last 2 weeks in May 2011 and have just started my research. Is this a good time to go? Does anyone have any advice on how to split this time up? Paris of course but how long? Southern area? Thought about going to Italy for a few places we missed when we were there a few years ago. Not sure if that would work at the end of this trip or would it be too much. Didn't make it to Cinque Terra or Lucca. Appreciate any advice. I couldn't have had such a great trip to Italy without Fodors and all the advice and tips I used. I will read all the threads here but just wanted to get an idea of where and how long to spend time in different areas. Thanks.

michele_d

Hi ljc4creb,
There is so much to see in France that I would probably just stay there if you only have two weeks. Paris of course. The Loire is lovely. The Dordogne is fabulous, as is Provence. We also loved Beaune and the Alsace region.

Will you have a car? This will make a difference in your itinerary. Pick no more than 3/4 locations. We saw all the above in 4 weeks and still could have spent so much more time there.

Michele

tom18

May is generally a good time to travel in Europe, especially the Mediterrean area. There are lots of possibilities besides Paris. I'd suggest you'd either look up a French travel site on the Internet or borrow a good travel guide book from the library and get a general idea of what's available in the various parts of France, and then narrow it down from there in terms of your intersts and the time available.

nytraveler

It would help to now what you're most interested in. In any case I would give yourself 6 nights in Paris and then move onto 2 or 3 other places - depending on how many days youhave in 2 weeks. Are you leaving Friday night and coming back 2 Sundays later - or is the trip shorter?

ira

Hi ljc4creb

2 weeks gives you sufficient time to visit Paris and one part of France. Lat May is a good time to go.

For a first-time visit, I suggest combining Paris with
Alsace, the Dordogne, Burgundy, or Provence
in that order.

You would want a car for your visit to "France profond".

These might help you:

Ira Visits Zurich, The Bodensee, Alsace and Paris – May 2008
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=35136218

Ira Visits Europe – May, 2007 (Salzburg, Fuessen, Bodensee, Burgundy, Alsace)
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=35014078

Ira Does France (Bordeaux, Dordogne, Paris) 2005
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34676645

Ira’s Mother’s Trip to Paris (2004)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34497442

Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...=2&tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34712768

Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=35095155

Jacquemart-André Museum
http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/jacquemart/

In Paris, we always stay at the Hotel Bonaparte, 61 Rue Bonaparte in the 6th. From 138E dbl w/bkfst. It is just around the corner from Place St. Sulpice, near 3 metro stops and 4 bus routes. Has AC and an elevator.

The staff speaks English well, and is very helpful. The front desk is staffed 24/7

They can arrange a shuttle pickup to/from CDG for you.

Tel 33 1 43 26 97 37
FAX 33 1 46 33 57 67
[email protected]
www.hotelbonaparte.fr

For more info, enter "Hotel Bonaparte" in the "search the forum" box.

Enjoy your visit

ParisAmsterdam

Since you'd like to see 2 parts of France be sure to investigate an 'open jaw' ticket where you fly into one city and out of another.

In your case flying into Nice, taking a TGV to Paris then home from CDG might be a plan...

And of course your hotel needs in Paris have been looked after by Ira so no worries there! ;^)

Rob

ljc4creb

My goodness, everyone thank you so much! Great head start. Ira, your are awesome! Was thinking of leaving Sunday night and coming back on a Sunday.