AlmostMrs

Dear Experts, I am planning my 10 day honeymoon in France in early September. My itinerary to date follows.

Arrive in Paris on Sunday for one night. My fiance has never been so we plan to kick off our trip here. Hotel secured.

Monday -- high speed train to Avignon. Stay for three nights. Use as base to visit Chateauneuf-du-Pape, St. Remy, Les Baux, Nimes, Arles. We will rent a car and visit some of these places by day, returning to Avignon by night. Hotel secured.

Depart Avignon Thursday by car or train-- here is my question...where should we base our stay for two nights from here, given the next and final stop on our trip is Nice! Maybe Aix-en-Provence? Or Marseilles? Help!

Saturday -- arrive in Nice for three nights. Use a base to visit Eze, Monaco, St. Tropez, Menton. Hotel secured. Fly home from Nice.

One last question, does my itinerary seem too ambitious? We would like to see as much as possible, but in a somewhat relaxed fashion, since this is a honeymoon after all. Our interests include FOOD and WINE, walking/exploring, charming shops and people-watching, some history (but we are not big museum people). Our hotel in Avignon has a pool so we may spend one day poolside, but otherwise we like to be out and about with the locals. Note we do not like big crowds or touristy places.

Any advice/critique you can provide would be most appreciated.

--AlmostMrs.

StuDudley

I would not have based in Avignon (many reasons), but it looks like you are already committed to that (reservations can be changed, however).

Also, the "pleasures" of Provence, IMO, are the pretty countryside and charming small villages - but I don't see this in your itinerary. Spend a lazy day driving through the Luberon visiting Gordes, Oppede, Menerbes, Bonnieux, Roussillon and the pretty countryside & vineyards between these perched villages.

I would be "big-citied out" after Paris, Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Aix, Monaco, and Nice. My favorites are Aix & Avignon in Provence and Nice on the Cote - so I would skip Arles, and especially Nimes & Monaco.

Bet you don't spend a day by the pool in Avignon.

IMO, St Tropez is too far away from Nice for a day trip. I wouldn't want to be there mid-day anyway. I would suggest that you depart Avignon early by car, spend the morning in Aix (Thurs is market day), then in the afternoon head to St Tropez & spend your 2 nights there. St Tropez is much more enjoyable without the huge mid-day crowds. Spend your "by the pool" time at Tahiti Plage on Pampalone beach mid-day Friday. Saturday is market day in St Tropez.

My wife & I have spent 34 weeks vacationing in Provence & the Cote d'Azur. I've developed a 27 page itinerary for this region that I've sent to around 3,000 people (really) on Fodors & aol. e-mail me at [email protected] if you would like a copy. I'll attach it to the reply e-mail.

Stu Dudley

ira

Hi AM,

Assuming that your plane tickets are purchased, I suggest stopping off in Aix-en-Provence on the way to Nice.

If you can change your plan, I suggest that you drop Nice and go back to Paris.

StuDudley

I really didn't answer your "does my itinerary seem too ambitious" question.

IMO, your problem is that you don't have enough time in any of your destinations. One day in paris is worthless for a first timer, 2 1/2 days in Provence (with 1 pool day) is about 3 days too little, same with Nice. Especially if you are seeking a relaxing/stress-free honeymoon.

This is how I would re-arrange things.

- Arrive at CDG & immediatly take the TGV to Avignon.

- Stay in the Luberon near Gordes, Roussillon, or Bonnieux in a small hotel or B&B. Stay for 5 nights/4 1/4 days. Visit St Remy, les Baux, Avignon, Lourmarin, the Luberon villages I mentioned, the Rhone winegrowing region (Vaison, Sablet, Seguret, Gigondas, Vacueyras, Beaumes de Venise - only need to visit Vaison & Seguret & tasting in Gigondas), the Pont du Gard, and Uzes. Do what you have time for in 4 1/2 days.

- On Friday, drive to Nice, stopping in Aix along the way for a visit. Stay in Nice for 4 nights/3 1/4 days. Keep the car for the first 1 1/2 days & visit St Paul, Gourdon, Tourrettes sur Loup, Vence, & Eze. Dump the car in the evening & visit Menton by train & also perhaps Villefranche. Get some beach time.

Stu Dudley

AlmostMrs

Hi Stu, Thank you for your emails. I appreciate the re-aarangement of the itinerary. I know one night in Paris is not enough, but hubby insists on at least visiting while in France, if only for one night. I will have a look at the itinerary you suggested and do some research to piece it all together. I will email you as suggested for your itinerary for the entire region...would love to have a look.

Hi Ira: Yes, Aix is on our list. And Nice is a definite...flight has been purchased and we have Starwoods points to use at Le Meridian Hotel there.

Cheers,
Krista

zootsi

I agree with Stu, we were in Provence a few years ago, and the Luberon area was our favorite, along with Nice. I would do several nights in Paris, then relax in the Luberon, a night or two in Avignon, and wind up in Nice

Christina

I like Avignon, it's a fun city and has some interesting sites. Using it as a base isn't such a bad idea, depending on where your hotel is and the car arrangements (there are some hotels on the outskirts that would make that easier, but you have that planned).

I would not recommend your next stop be Marseille, I would suggest Aix among your choices. Aix is a nice small city, also and might be easier as a base depending on where you stay. I really liked the Mas d'Entremont http://www.masdentremont.com which is a lovely country inn just outside Aix, I think it would be a good honeymoon choice. It makes driving/parking a snap but you can get in/out of Aix for sightseeing or whatever you want. It's a good base for driving to other sights (like that abbey up there, think Silvacane). It has a really good restaurant, also, and is actually fairly easy to get to from Avignon, and along a scenic road (the N7 from the west, you reach it before Aix, which makes it easy). http://routenationale7.blogspot.com/...on-aix-en.html

AlmostMrs

Thank you all for your advice and comments. Much appreciated. I will likely be back with some more questions as I fine-tune the itinerary.

Cheers...

TDudette

Welcome and almost happy wedding!

If it were I (and that;s a big if), I stay several days in Paris and several in Aix (you choose the number) and just overnight in Nice to catch your plane. Unless you have constitutions of steel, you will be pooped from the wedding and jet legged from the trip. Take a boat trip down the Seine in Paris. See the Eiffel Tower at night and walk down the Champs Elysees and relax. Go to a museum. Relax.

Then take the TGV to Avignon and local bus to Aix. Hub and I stayed in Acquabella Hotel:

http://www.aquabella.fr/english2005/espace_forme.html

It has a pool (heated by a local spring) a spa and a restaurant. There is a garage almost on the premises so it's perfect for using as a base to explore the area. It is also near good food and market area.

Please do let us know what you finally decide to do.

AlmostMrs

Hello and thank you to all for your advice. Our itinerary is finally set and we are very excited. We are spending two nights in Paris in Le Marais district. Then we are off to Avignon via the TGV. We will be there for three nights as a base to The Vaucluse/Luberon, staying at the Cloitre Saint Louis. Then we are off to Aix for one night at the Grand Hotel Roi Rene. From there we are heading to Nice for the final three nights of our trip at le Meridian...with day trips to Monaco, Eze, Villefranche and Menton. We will see as much as we can but we do want to spend some lazy time...eating, drinking and people-watching!

I received some great restaurant suggestions from Stu's trip report. If anyone else has a "must visit" restaurant in Avignon, please advise. Also, what is the mode of dress in the South of France? We are planing to pack light and dress casually, but look smart.

Many thanks,
AM

TDudette

Here is a link about the markets in Aix, FYI:

http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-marches.htm

We based in Aix and loved it. Hope you have time to stray from that main street toward the town hall area-it's really neat.

AlmostMrs

Thanks TDudette. I will check out the link.