dorkforcemom

I'm considering a weeklong vacation to Europe over Spring Break (2 adults)which, for us, falls the middle of March. (We're going to Italy the first week of May). I've always yearned to travel to Provence but timing for a spring/summer trip has never worked out. We have $3000 worth of travel vouchers to be used within a year - lucky me! I know that Spain/Portugal would provide the best weather option but my heartstrings are tugging towards the south of France. We've traveled several times to Paris and have thoroughly explored Normandy & the Loire valley. So...what about Provence in March?

jd_dallas

My wife is a teacher so we are also limited in when we travel. In early March 2004 we spent 4 days in Provence (staying at a B&B near St. Remy and exploring from there each day), after the same amount of time in Barcelona and the coast of Spain. This was our first trip to Provence. While the weather was not ideal, it was for us a wonderful trip, and there are advantages to going then.

We had little or no rain during our stay, but the weather was cool to cold (our hostess said it was unseasonably cold that year), and we got to experience the mistral. On the other hand, the towns, shops, restaurants were not crowded, and there was seldom any difficult traffic. In a couple of towns (Roussilon comes to mind), it seemed that much of the town was closed up. However, that was not true in most of the towns we visited, and there was plenty to do and see, and eat and drink.

As I remember the 4 days, 2 were cold and blustery, and the other 2 were cool but pleasant.

So it depends on what is most important to you. We would prefer to go in April or May, and this year we took our European trip in early June instead of March, but we would definitely go back to Provence and hope for a couple of warm days.

DanM

I would say if that is where you want to go and that is when you can go, then you should go. Things will be open, there will be food to eat, and you will have more than enough to do considering the amount of time that you have. Will it be like June or September, no. But it will still be Provence. I would go in the middle of January if that was the only time I could go.

Underhill

We went in December 2001 and were treated to a week of springlike weather--so take your chances on March and don't worry.

AGM_Cape_Cod

We have gone to Provence the last two years in mid to late March and had a wonderful time. The first year we had fabulous weather-70s and sunny and the second year was more overcast. The advantages was that there was very little traffic, as far as I could tell everything was open or just opening as it seems to be the start of the season. There were places that we went that we could see would be overrun in the summer. We were able to eat outside in cafes for lunch and sometimes dinner. I would go for it, we are already booked for next March so maybe we will see you there!

dorkforcemom

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement with an eye for mid-March travel to Provence. Now I just need to "sell" the concept to my DH (who claims Italy has the most personality of any European country)!