Provence Itinerary 2012

Old Sep 19th, 2011, 01:28 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Provence Itinerary 2012

France Trip 2012

I'm new at this and it was suggested I posted this as a Trip Report and should have been posted as a general inquiry. So here goes again.

The following is my proposed visit in May / June of 2012. I would like to get some opinions on the pacing and whether I am too ambitious or could add more. I've tried to leave time to get back to home base each day for a late evening dinner, but I am flexible, in that if we are somewhere interesting we will stay. I will have a rental car for all times in Provence and will avoid cars in Paris.

If you see a day with some potential or know of something I should see along the way, please comment.

Any and all comments would be appreciated. Good, Bad or Indifferent.

Thanks

Proposed Itinerary

Friday, May 25
Arrive Paris CDG
TGV to Avignon
Rental Car to Saint- Remy-de-Provence (Stay 6 Nights in Saint Remy)
Take it easy – Jet Lag day

Saturday, May 26
Arles

Sunday, May 27
Sunday was a problem -
Aigues Mortes
Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer (potential for some Roma event around this date)
Chateau Tarascon in late afternoon (before 6PM)

Monday, May 28
Orange
Chateauneuf du Pape (Check out some vineyards)
Avignon (late afternoon & evening)

Tuesday, May 29
Nimes - AM
Uzes - PM
Pont du Gard - About 5 PM

Wednesday, May 30
Saint Remy (Wander around) (Market Day)
Glanum
Les Baux de Provence in late afternoon & evening
(Pretty slow day overall)

Thursday, May 31
Pack up and spend morning in Avignon
Check out Cavaillon in afternoon
Finish in Aix-en-Provence (base for for 2 nights)

Friday, June 1
Cassis – for the day
Aix-en Provence for late afternoon & evening

Saturday, June 2
Aix-en Provence for morning (market day)
Move on to Apt – late morning (market potential in Apt if we make it – but no hurry)
Saignon – for lunch
Finish in Bonnieux about 4 PM
Check in - base for 7 nights

Sunday, June 3
Coustellet (market)
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (market)
Fontaine de Vaucluse – check out golf course near Avignon and step on the 18th
Lacoste - Stay for dinner?

Monday, June 4
Sault
Gorges de la Nesque
Mont Ventoux (lunch time picnic on the peak)
Carpentras

Tuesday, June 5
Goult
Gordes
Roussillon

Wednesday, June 6
Oppede le Vieux
Menerbes
Some Wineries in area

Thursday, June 7
Foret de Cedres
More Wineries
Seems like a slow day

Friday, June 8
Bonnieux market
Lourmarin market
Cucuron
Pertuis
Cadenet

Saturday, June 9
Head to Avignon – early morning
TGV to Paris – 3 nights
Tour Paris

Sunday, June 10
Versailles in AM
Paris in PM and evening

Monday, June 11
Tour Paris

Tuesday, June 12
Fly Home
JIM123 is offline  
Old Sep 19th, 2011, 01:40 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
June 4th looks like a bit much; otherwise you've done a really good job of organizing your time.
Underhill is offline  
Old Sep 19th, 2011, 02:03 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We did much the same years back, but spent only 2/days in Aix; most of the rest we did out of St. Remy, before moving farther west towards Carcassone and ending at Toulous. Instead of the train, we flew to Marseilles, vehicle pick-up and concluding at Toulous, turned in car and flight to CDG for home

Hey, by the time you're finished you'll know those roads quite well. Felt like a local after 2+/weeks.

Good work first time out!!
sandi is offline  
Old Sep 19th, 2011, 02:33 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Plan to spend a couple hours in St Remy after you've had your fill (literally and figuratively) of the market. Go to the tourist office, get directions, and WALK along the country road to the hospital where Van Gogh lived, along the way you see information boards of his paintings. I found it very moving to be on the quiet country path where Van Gogh had walked .
We went to Isle sur la Sorgue, but not on market day (it was pouring) Advice on Fodors is ALWAYS to get to the Sunday market very, very early.
CaliNurse is offline  
Old Sep 19th, 2011, 02:46 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 4,588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You may be picknicking in your vehicle on the top of Mt.V.
Every time I've been up there it's been v. cold and v. windy.
immimi is offline  
Old Sep 20th, 2011, 03:47 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the comments.

Immimmi:I hadn't considered the elevation and the wind poential on Mont Ventoux. We'll pack somethging that will keep the cold & wind out. We will just be coming out of winter, so the sweaters should still be somewhere in the house.

Underhill: I'm not sure how to shorten the day other than keeping track of time and making a decision on Carpentras as we go.

Thanks again
JIM123 is offline  
Old Sep 20th, 2011, 04:54 AM
  #7  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi J,

Nice plan.

Gorge de l'Ardeche when visiting Uzes?

ira is offline  
Old Sep 20th, 2011, 05:13 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We drove up to the top of Mont Ventoux this summer, ascending on the road from Sault.

There are a couple of picnic areas with tables near the bottom, after you pass through the lavender fields. We ate at a spot on the right, at a curve in the road, with about five tables... very pleasant. You could enjoy a nice picnic here. Up at the top it was much cooler and windy and also pretty busy.

Kathy
KathyWood is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2011, 06:41 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ira: I'm planning to spend a few hours in Gorge de la Nesque near Monieux when I drive up Mont Ventoux, and the Gorges de l'Ardeche would add about 2 1/2 hours of driving to an already busy day when I'm at Nimes, Uzes, Pont du Gard. Can anyone comment on whether I punt Nimes and visit l'Ardeche as well?

Kathy: Thanks for the input. I will think about the timing once we hit Sault.
JIM123 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mbtadayyon
Europe
23
Apr 22nd, 2017 11:41 AM
jacolis
Europe
13
Jul 25th, 2015 04:34 AM
bluegal77
Europe
7
Dec 7th, 2013 09:42 PM
sharbear84
Europe
15
Apr 28th, 2011 04:14 PM
monicapileggi
Europe
25
Mar 5th, 2009 01:55 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -