Help needed with planning Dordogne/Provence itinerary
Jun 3rd, 2015, 10:36 AM
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Help needed with planning Dordogne/Provence itinerary
We are 2 couples, in our late 50’s, and would like help planning a part of our fall trip to France in early October.
After spending the first 5 nights in Paris, we will take the TGV train from Paris to Bordeaux, where we will rent a car. From there, we will drive to La Roque Gageac and stay for 5 nights. When we depart La Roque Gageac, we plan to drive to Arles in Provence, where we will stay for three nights before returning to Paris for a final 2 nights before flying home. We want to stay in Arles so that we can return the rental car and catch the TGV train in Avignon back to Paris.
We have several options for scheduling our travels during the Dordogne/Provence leg, and would appreciate opinions.
Option 1: After arriving by train from Paris, spend the night at a hotel in Bordeaux (recommendations appreciated!), pick up the rental car in the morning, and then drive to La Roque Gageac. This gives us time to explore Bordeaux, and spend a leisurely three hour drive traveling from Bordeaux to La Roque Gageac.
Option 2: Skip the night in Bordeaux, and drive directly to La Roque Gageac the same day we travel to Bordeaux by train. We realize this is a three hour train ride followed by a three hour car drive. But, this would give us an extra night. We would still stay 5 nights in La Roque Gageac, then use the extra night we gain to take two days to travel from La Roque Gageac to Arles. If we make that trip over two days, we would travel to Arles via Gardon, Figeac, Millau, Gignac, etc. and spend the night somewhere along the way (recommendations appreciated!).
If we choose Option 1, we won't have that "extra night" that we would gain by driving directly to La Roque Gageac on the front end. We would then need to make the drive to Arles in just 1 day, and would travel there on the auto route via Carcassonne.
So our decision is - do we choose a long travel day to get from Paris to La Roque Gageac by train/car, and then have two days to travel from La Roque Gageac to Arles, or do we spend a night in Bordeaux, and then have one long travel day by car to get from La Roque Gageac to Arles (and miss the "scenic route") through Figeac, etc.?
There are two other options to free up an extra night, which we would rather avoid if we can:
Option 3: Spend the night in Bordeaux, AND take the two days to drive from La Roque Gageac to Arles, but cut our stay in Arles down to two nights. But that seems a short time to spend in Provence.
Option 4: Spend the night in Bordeaux, AND take the two days to drive from La Roque Gageac to Arles, AND stay in Arles for three nights. Pick up the extra day at the very end of the trip, and spend just one night back in Paris instead of two when we return there by train from Provence.
Any input is most appreciated!
After spending the first 5 nights in Paris, we will take the TGV train from Paris to Bordeaux, where we will rent a car. From there, we will drive to La Roque Gageac and stay for 5 nights. When we depart La Roque Gageac, we plan to drive to Arles in Provence, where we will stay for three nights before returning to Paris for a final 2 nights before flying home. We want to stay in Arles so that we can return the rental car and catch the TGV train in Avignon back to Paris.
We have several options for scheduling our travels during the Dordogne/Provence leg, and would appreciate opinions.
Option 1: After arriving by train from Paris, spend the night at a hotel in Bordeaux (recommendations appreciated!), pick up the rental car in the morning, and then drive to La Roque Gageac. This gives us time to explore Bordeaux, and spend a leisurely three hour drive traveling from Bordeaux to La Roque Gageac.
Option 2: Skip the night in Bordeaux, and drive directly to La Roque Gageac the same day we travel to Bordeaux by train. We realize this is a three hour train ride followed by a three hour car drive. But, this would give us an extra night. We would still stay 5 nights in La Roque Gageac, then use the extra night we gain to take two days to travel from La Roque Gageac to Arles. If we make that trip over two days, we would travel to Arles via Gardon, Figeac, Millau, Gignac, etc. and spend the night somewhere along the way (recommendations appreciated!).
If we choose Option 1, we won't have that "extra night" that we would gain by driving directly to La Roque Gageac on the front end. We would then need to make the drive to Arles in just 1 day, and would travel there on the auto route via Carcassonne.
So our decision is - do we choose a long travel day to get from Paris to La Roque Gageac by train/car, and then have two days to travel from La Roque Gageac to Arles, or do we spend a night in Bordeaux, and then have one long travel day by car to get from La Roque Gageac to Arles (and miss the "scenic route") through Figeac, etc.?
There are two other options to free up an extra night, which we would rather avoid if we can:
Option 3: Spend the night in Bordeaux, AND take the two days to drive from La Roque Gageac to Arles, but cut our stay in Arles down to two nights. But that seems a short time to spend in Provence.
Option 4: Spend the night in Bordeaux, AND take the two days to drive from La Roque Gageac to Arles, AND stay in Arles for three nights. Pick up the extra day at the very end of the trip, and spend just one night back in Paris instead of two when we return there by train from Provence.
Any input is most appreciated!
Jun 3rd, 2015, 10:58 AM
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"We want to stay in Arles so that we can return the rental car and catch the TGV train in Avignon back to Paris. "
There are many lovely villages within a close range to Avignon, so you don't HAVE to stay there. I think 3 days would be too long for me.
The Luberon area will be lovely that time of year [we'll be there at the same time] and it an hour drive to the TGV station in Avignon.
There are many lovely villages within a close range to Avignon, so you don't HAVE to stay there. I think 3 days would be too long for me.
The Luberon area will be lovely that time of year [we'll be there at the same time] and it an hour drive to the TGV station in Avignon.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 11:32 AM
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I would take the train from Paris to Brive la Gaillarde instead of Bordeaux. There are frequent trains. One leaves at 8:41 & arrives in Brive at 13:00. Then it is less than 1 1/2 hrs to Roque Gageac. You could stop at Collonges la Rouge for a visit along the way. The drive from Brive is more scenic than the drive from Bordeaux.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Jun 4th, 2015, 04:00 AM
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Thank you DebitNM and StuDudley! Autoeurope in Brive only had midsize cars available in Brive, and we need a larger car (family size) for headroom (we are all tall). Sixt in Brive appears to have a huge fleet but this is a company new to us. Have you rented from them?
Jun 4th, 2015, 12:43 PM
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Sixt is a very well-known car rental company in Germany. I've never used them but they are very common (I think German, not sure). I don't think major car companies are that different, they aren't in the US.
As for Bordeaux, I loved the Hotel Majestic.
http://www.hotel-majestic.com/en/
It's just a short walk of a block or two to the main center (place de la Comedie, etc) and tourist office, and it's near a park where there are tram lines and a bus stop for a bus that goes direct to the airport. I arrived by train and just took the tram, it's only a half block from the Quinconces stop. There are good restaurants within a block.
As for Bordeaux, I loved the Hotel Majestic.
http://www.hotel-majestic.com/en/
It's just a short walk of a block or two to the main center (place de la Comedie, etc) and tourist office, and it's near a park where there are tram lines and a bus stop for a bus that goes direct to the airport. I arrived by train and just took the tram, it's only a half block from the Quinconces stop. There are good restaurants within a block.
Jun 4th, 2015, 03:21 PM
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There is an option 5. I think you need another night in Provence for a total of 4 nights instead of 3. You can accomplish this by getting to La Roque Gageac the same day you leave Paris ( no overnight in Bordeaux) AND driving from La Roque Gageac to Provence in one day(no stop overnight in route). A night in Provence is worth more than a night in Bordeaux.
Another thought. It appears that if you reverse the order of your trip you solve the problem of the car size and the long day Paris to La Roque Gageac.Also the long drive between Provence and Dordogne can be minimized.
Your trip would be something like this:
After spending the first 5 nights in Paris, you will take the TGV train from Paris to Avignon (2-3/4 hrs non stop), where you will rent a car(Huge choice of cars at Gare TGV Avignon). From there, you will drive to your accomodation in Provence in less than one hour.Stay in Provence for 4 nights. When you depart Provence, you will drive to the Dordogne area, where you will stay for 5 nights. After 5 nights you will drive 1-1/2 hrs to Brive, return your car, take the train to Paris for your last 2 nights.
For your 5 night stay in the Dordogne area you could spend your first night in Figeac or St-Cirq Lapopie to break up your drive from Provence.The next morning you could visit Grotte de Pech-merle and possibly Monpazier or Rocamadour before arriving at your accommodation in La Roque.
For your stay in Provence I recommend staying in a smaller village instead of Arles. I can recommend two B&Bs:
Le Mas Perreal near Saint Saturnin-Lès-Apt (Luberon) http://masperreal.com/
and
Mas Laurent near Uzes
http://www.maslaurent.com/en/
Both have great accommodations,great setting, terrific breakfasts, friendly and helpful english speaking(American and Australian) hosts.Two nights at each would make a memorable stay in Provence.Both are within an hour of Avignon.
Another thought. It appears that if you reverse the order of your trip you solve the problem of the car size and the long day Paris to La Roque Gageac.Also the long drive between Provence and Dordogne can be minimized.
Your trip would be something like this:
After spending the first 5 nights in Paris, you will take the TGV train from Paris to Avignon (2-3/4 hrs non stop), where you will rent a car(Huge choice of cars at Gare TGV Avignon). From there, you will drive to your accomodation in Provence in less than one hour.Stay in Provence for 4 nights. When you depart Provence, you will drive to the Dordogne area, where you will stay for 5 nights. After 5 nights you will drive 1-1/2 hrs to Brive, return your car, take the train to Paris for your last 2 nights.
For your 5 night stay in the Dordogne area you could spend your first night in Figeac or St-Cirq Lapopie to break up your drive from Provence.The next morning you could visit Grotte de Pech-merle and possibly Monpazier or Rocamadour before arriving at your accommodation in La Roque.
For your stay in Provence I recommend staying in a smaller village instead of Arles. I can recommend two B&Bs:
Le Mas Perreal near Saint Saturnin-Lès-Apt (Luberon) http://masperreal.com/
and
Mas Laurent near Uzes
http://www.maslaurent.com/en/
Both have great accommodations,great setting, terrific breakfasts, friendly and helpful english speaking(American and Australian) hosts.Two nights at each would make a memorable stay in Provence.Both are within an hour of Avignon.
Jun 10th, 2015, 04:29 PM
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If you are still debating your initial to options, I personally would prefer a long travel day and extra time in La Roque Gageac because there is SO much to see in and around La roque Gageac! But it sounds like you are thinking of using the extra time to move on from there earlier than you otherwise would?
