IzabellaBella

Hello again!

My husband and I are planning a trip to France in September. We were in Italy for 3 weeks in May, so visiting many museums and churches are not necessary.

Here are our thoughts:
Fly into Nice and out of Paris
2 week trip

I am seeking recommendations for Day trips from Nice.
I am seeking some day trips from Paris. We are already planning to visit Versailles.

When in Provence and Burgundy, what are some good base towns?
Here, we would like to stay a few nights(2 or 3) in the countryside or in a Farmhouse. Does anyone have any recommendations?. I am having a harder time finding places in France than i did for Italy. We would like to stay in an area that has vineyards and rolling hills. We would need to stay in a place that is relatively close to a main train station since we won't have a car, but don't mind paying for a taxi to the farmhouse. Since we won't have a car, we will need a restaurant nearby or on the grounds and a possible nearby village where we can walk the streets or grab something to eat.

Would you recommend visiting Bordeaux?

Between Bordeaux, Provence and Burgundy which 2 should I visit. I don't think I want to travel to all 3. Can I do 1 area of the 3 as a day trip, and from where?

I am looking Recommendations needed for day tours or cooking classes.

We absolutely loved Italy and will be returning for another trip, but until then, would it be wise to fly into Milan, stay in Lake Como then head to Nice and move our way up towards Paris?

Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated for places to visit while in France are appreciated.

StCirq

That's way too much for two weeks.

It will be close to impossible to rent a farmhouse for 2-3 days.

No, don't go to Bordeaux. And don't go to Milan and Lake Como and then to Nice and Paris. You simply have no time for all that.

I think you need a good map of France and the Michelin Green Guide.

StuDudley

and rent a car...... The best parts of Burgundy, Provence, and the hill towns behind Nice (dozens of them) can best (often only) be reached by car.

My wife & I have vacationed on the Cote d'Azur for 16 weeks, Provence for 18, and Burgundy/Beaujolais for 4. I developed a 27 page itinerary that describes our favorite towns & villages, scenic drives, outdoor markets, shops, and has a section about purchasing Provence fabric. I have sent this itinerary to over 3,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach a copy to the reply e-mail. However, you'll need a car to see the best stuff described in this itinerary.

Stu Dudley

suec1

Nice - lots of possible daytrips by frequent adn cheap (1E) local bus - my favorite - Villa Euphrisi.

Maybe check out Beaune - it is on my list of places I want to return to - we had lunch there and a few hours to explore when we took a rivercruise several years ago. Lots of vineyards in the area. Check out train connections, I think it is doable (tho maybe not with a farmhouse stay) but the village is lovely with some nice restuarants to chose from.

But I think you can limit your trip to Nice, Beaune? and Paris - save the Italian Lakes for another trip.

PalenQ

When in Provence and Burgundy, what are some good base towns?
Here, we would like to stay a few nights(2 or 3) in the countryside or in a Farmhouse. Does anyone have any recommendations?>

http://www.gites-de-france-paca.com/...=home&_lang=GB

Scour the gites-de-france web site for those areas - gites are self-catering homes or farmhouses often in small villages - and yes IME you can in September rent them for 2-3 days, contrary to claims above - my in-laws routinely stay in such places for a few nights so that should not be a problem at that time of year - in July and August it may be true but you can find what you want for a few days - public transportation could though be iffy so look for a town with train service or decent bus service to train stations.

If traveling around France and Italy by train then by all means look at the France-Italy railpass - if taking several long-distance trains - great sources of info on trains in those countries - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

IzabellaBella

Thanks Everyone. Since we were just in Italy in May(Venice, Florence, Capri, Rome), I thought that we could add a few days in Northern Italy to our France trip,since we loved Italy so much. Perhaps we will just stick to France only and Save Northern Italy for another trip.

houli

You must do in two trips. Planning Provence for two week right now. Last September we spent two weeks in Lake District of Italy...Como, Maggiore, on to the Dolomites and it was a bit much could definitely go back. I agree I feel like I am having a harder time picking places to stay in Provence, so many options I want two different experience and the choices are limitless. Good Luck!

PalenQ

I am seeking recommendations for Day trips from Nice.>

Wow tons and one reason to spend more than a few days there:

All up and down the coast take shuttle trains to Cannes, Monaco, Antibes, Grasse (perfume factories) and really neat old city

Take buses to St-Paul-du-Vence, Vence, Eze

Hop the Chemins de fer de Provence up into the hinterlands of the Maritime Alps - to say Annot, a sleepy city unlike anything on the glitzy Riviera.

PalenQ

http://translate.google.com/translat...%26es_sm%3D122

check out the Trein des Pignes - a famous tiny train that takes you into the hinterlands of the Maritime Alps backdropping Provence - get off at a sleepy town like Annot - have lunch or do what I did walk back on foot paths or forwards to another station on the line. Hiking maps available at the Nice train station, a few blocks north of the main Nice-Ville statio.

So for something unusual and different than the modern Riviera.