Should we break the Paris habit?

I share your love of Paris. I make it a point to stop there at least one night everytime I go to Europe. Last year, we drove all around France, Switz and Italian Riviera. We got done everything we wanted to do and had two nights left before we flew out of Paris.

We wound up really loving Paris this time around. Since we had been there before and did all of the "tourist" things, we had no agenda this time around. We walked aimlessly through neighborhoods, ate in small delis, cafes, met some great people and walked around just enjoying the little things!

Of all of the places we visited around France, the one I want to return to is Provence. I loved the whole Ste. Michelle/St. Tropez area. We also stayed in St. Remy de Provence and made day trips all over the place.

Provence is a truly wonderful place. Of course, it is not Paris, but it is wonderful in it's own way. I'm sure you will love it and want to return.

two loves have I, Provence and Paris but I know alot more of Provence, and yes, VERY different. B&bs less expensive in Provence as is wine. The ambiance, the markets are a different flavor.

If Paris gives you a satisfactory amount of bang for your buck, then I, for one, say go where you get the most enjoyment.
It is, after all, your money and I would not even begin to tell you how to spend it.

My traveling companion and I (wife of 50 years) have a predilection for Switzerland. People ask us why we keep going back there. Why not go to x? (x being your country of choice)

We have tried to go some place new each year before, or after Switzerland. We have paid three visits to Paris, two to Wales, one to Scotland, one to Ireland, two to Vienna and Salzburg, and one to Prague.

We enjoyed the alternatives, but in the end, we felt at home in the Berner Oberland because we rent an apartment at the same place each time.

We have a friend who almost always goes to the same beach on her vacation. Once, when someone was criticizing her lack of variety, she retorted: It's my money, not yours.
I spend it like I want. OK??

So I think my bottom line is exactly that: It is your money.

bob' d'accord

Hi MAP,
I share your love of Paris, having just spent a month there during May of this year. (we have been other times as well) I love the countryside but Paris just has that certain something that not many other cities have so I keep returning. I am like you, deciding for my next trip do I add Provence in to the equation as well as Paris. I spent 3 weeks in Provence the year before last and loved it as well.

Certainly it is a lot cheaper than Paris, both for accommodation and for food. You will need to hire a car where as of course in Paris you just use public transport, so that adds an additional expense for you.

I think a bit of both would be the ideal holiday! Provence has the most lovely villages, but I find the touring around a very different experience to staying in an apartment and wandering around on foot.

Of course if you rent an apartment for a month, some agencies will give you a fairly hefty discount, basically four weeks for the price of three, so of course the question remains, well if we are getting the fourth week for "free" then why move out and pay for more accomation somewhere else. Can you stay for longer? ie the month, if you get a "good deal" and then a week in Provence?

Good luck, what a lovely dilema to be in. I envy you.

Schnauzer

Make new friends and keep the old,
One is silver and the other gold.

So, What is it about Provence that everyone loves and how long would you need to be there to experience it? Can you get to ANY Provence village by train?

Several times we have split the time between the Cote D'Azur, Provence and Paris. The hotels in the South of France are much cheaper but then we go in March so that is a factor.

When I first posted this topic, I thought it might be perceived as "silly." It sounds like a ridiculous dilemma to have to choose between two wonderful places. I feel a good deal less sheepish after hearing such sincere responses, and I can see others deal with the same thing.

What I glean from the replies is that Provence is worth it, but wanting the full month in Paris is not insane. Some of you seem to share the idea that familiarity can be a good thing and there is nothing bad with doing something you love over and over. So far none of our other side trips has matched our Paris experiences.

I'd welcome any other thoughts on the subject, and thank you for posting.

As for me, the landscape of (inland) Provence is pretty but not as beautiful as Tuscany. I go for the lifestyle, the food, the markets, the warmer weather. And I like smaller towns and cities.

But you do need a car to get to those smaller towns. Trains don't go everywhere. There are buses but I suspect not at convenient times.

To the OP, you can rent self-catering accommodations in Provence as well as Paris, stay for a week or two, shop at the local markets, and explore around by car. Check out www.gites-de-france.com as well as www.slowtrav.com.

There is no such thing as too much of Paris, IMO. I'll be making my 107th trip there soon, so you see what I mean. Nor do I think there's anything wrong with revisiting a place time and time again - I've had a house in the Dordogne for 18 years and spend weeks/months there every year. That said, I also make time to visit many, many other places, and Provence is one of my favorites. It is NOTHING like Paris - like another country entirely, and I'm sure you'd fall in love with it too (I've never heard of anyone who went there coming back with negative things to say about it).

Apart from the train fare to get there,and the cost of a rental car to get around (which in my opinion is essential) it shouldn't be any more expensive than Paris. In fact, it will probably be less expensive. Find yourself a little gîte or apartment to rent for a week, go to the wonderful fresh markets and buy makings for your meals, and enjoy the gorgeous villages and countryside. Then back to Paris.

Haven't been to Provence yet, but I completely sympathise with the new place vs Paris habit dilemma. Combining both is a good idea, especially when you're lucky enough to have a whole month. I've found that it's easier to completely enjoy a new place in addition to Paris rather than instead of Paris, because in the latter case it's hard to avoid the "was this worth the sacrifice" comparison, a sure recipe for disappointment.

If convenient, I prefer to fly roundtrip to Paris and do the side-trip from there instead of open-jaw because "going home" to Paris is the best feeling.

We just booked our 7th trip to Paris for Sept.'09. Last year our friends said "Paris, again?" This year they just say "When are you going to Paris this year?"

We looked at alot of different options in Europe and finally decided we needed to be in Paris. We also rent an apartment to keep costs down and because we love the feeling of an apartment instead of a hotel.

There are so many favorite restaurants and places that we revisit, but we always find some new things to do.

This year we'll be in Paris 5 days, then off to a little rental house in The Loire Valley for a week, then back to Paris for another 4 days. 2 years ago we went to The Loire for 4 days only. There is so much we missed, that we feel the need to return. Having the cottage will be very relaxing also.

Every time we visit Paris we add on another place to go with it. So to get to your question about Provence, we have spent time in the South and loved every moment. With all of the time you have I would definitely see Provence as you mention. It is not touristy and not expensive unless you go to high end places which doesn't seem to be your style.

We have taken the TGV to Avignon, rented a car, and explored for 5 days, then back to Paris.

We also took the TGV to Aix en Provence and did the same.

Then we stayed in Antibes to explore the Riviera.

I spend hours, if not days, on the computer until I find the right propery for us. www.VRBO.com and www.Homeaway.com are 2 sites that have places to fit every budget. A car is relatively inexpensive and allows you to drive to all the cute little towns. Driving in the South is easy. Food is in all price ranges just as in Paris.

Provence is stunningly beautiful-----do your research and enjoy! We loved our time there and will return in the future.

StCirq-----I don't think I'll live long enough to come close to your 107 times in Paris. No wonder you always have such good suggestions!

To TPAYT, on our sidetrip to the Loire a few years ago, we had lunch in a charming hotel/restaurant called La Roseraie in Chenonceaux. The food was not too frilly and simply delicious...a great bargain. I like your travel plan.

St. Cirq, I, too, respect your opinions and now I understand why! What an interesting life you must lead. Is Louis Katz still your travel agent/reservationist? He did well for us in 2004.

Hi, MAP. I do lead an interesting life, that's for sure! I only have one, as far as I know, and I'm trying to make the most of it.

And yes, I still use Lewis, or at least get his input (sometimes I get a better deal on my own, and he's always great about confirming that) for every trip. He's a very good resource.

Hi MAP,

This year, we shall visit Provence for about a week.

I was going to take us home by air from Avignon, but because of a one-day special I was able to take the train and spend a night in Paris before flying home from there.

You can love Paris and Provence, at the same time.


Very European attitude.

St. Cirq, if we were to do a combination Paris/Provence trip in 2010, which month would you choose considering best airfare, fewest tourists, and optimal weather?

I'm not expert on your situation, just chiming in as someone who really enjoys returning to places that I love. There is less of an adjustment period, and you can build on what you've learned before. Every trip is different anyways, even in the exact same place.

MAP, I'd choose end of September/early October. Second choice: end of April/early May.

Who knows why a place calls to you. Why just that one place makes you say "ahhhh" when you arrive.
Some might say you are in a rut. You can say you have found your niche.
As long as you enjoy what you do I say go for it.

I have your same problem, but not just about Paris,about FRANCE! There are so many places I'd like to see in my lifetime, but I always seem to gravitate back to France. I've loved all the areas I've visited there, including of course Provence. I've spent 2 weeks in each of Provence, Dordogne, Burgundy, Alsace, Normandy, Loire Valley, and Brittany. I love driving around the countryside, the villages, markets, etc. And of course I've spent days at a time in Paris. My next trip is in October, and the whole (or most) time will be in Paris. I wish I could take a whole month like you!

If you do decide to spend a week of your time in Provence, I agree with the others, you'll need a car. I have stayed in some wonderful places in the provinces (hotels, inns, B&B's) for much less money than in Paris. The car rentals do eat into the budget, though. Have a wonderful trip, whatever you decide.

Combining is good. What would be even better is if you did not lock yourself into specific dates so that you could expand or reduce the time spent somewhere depending on how things turn out.

I understand why a flexible schedule is nice, but if you do things like apartment bookings, or prepurchased cheap train fares, it's not too possible.

NO!!!

Like many others who have posted on this thread, we also return again and again to places we love. Paris is one - where we take an apartment for at least two weeks and pretend we live there. Also the Dordogne - Sarlat - and Provence - Vaison-la-Romaine - and coming up in September, Lourmarin. How nice that you have such a decision to make!

WillTravel, I am thinking more of people on driving trips staying in hotels. On a first visit somewhere with no certainty that I will like the place, I certainly would not rent an apartment. The French on holiday make that mistake all the time and you never hear the end of their horror stories.

hi MAP,

DH and i spent one week in paris and one week in provence last fall - last week of sept/first week of oct. it was fantastic! provence is very different from paris.

we found provence to be cheaper - food, attractions, accommodations. HOWEVER, the rental car + gas were expensive. we got PREMs fares from paris to avignon -- 90 days ahead of your travel dates (and don't forget the time difference - it works in your favour if you're i north america).

i wish we had reversed our trip to spend one week in provence and then one week in paris. i left paris feeling very 'unfinished' ... and hence, we're going back again this fall (after spending five days in barcelona).

click on my name and you can find my trip reports.

have fun! i'm jealous!!

Yes, Kerouac, flexibility is a wonderful thing. We've got the Paris thing fine tuned, but Provence is uncertain. I am getting many good ideas from this site.

Ulaki, I know just what you mean about having to leave Paris prematurely. I think the week in Provence should precede the time in Paris.

A general question re. Provence: a small apartment for 2 in Lourmarin is 630 euro. How would that location/price be compared to say St. Remy, Saignon, or Aix en Provence?

I am also always faced with the same dilemma, Paris again for the umpteen time or a new city. I recently returned from perhaps my 30th trip to Paris . This time I stayed 2 weeks in an apartment in Paris and then went to Nice for 12 days. I am now thinking of my next trip perhaps this fall but definitely Spring 2010. Again I will combine Paris with another favorite or perhaps try a new city. I can not resist the lure of Paris and my friends no longer say PARIS AGAIN.
My feeling why not go again and again to a favorite place. There is always something new and exciting to discover.

So tdk, would you return to Nice? Were you able to explore the coastal area much, and did you think 12 days was a good length of time?

I would definitely return to Nice. I rented an apartment in the (OLD TOWN ) section of Nice. Great location, central to everything. The public transportation in Nice is fabulous. I usually travel alone and do not like to drive , so I rely on public transportation. You can take a bus to any city on the Riviera, the cost is only 1 Euro. There are also trains to many of the cities. I prefer the buses, they are air conditioned and the scenery is lovely. In addition you can ferry to St.Tropez.I enjoyed the entire 12 days, however probably for most people 1 week might be enough. I am seriously thinking of returning to Nice next year.

Thank you so much. My husband really wants to go to the coast of France, and Nice is tempting.

The scenery along the Cote d'Azur is stunning, and Nice makes a great base. It has beautiful curvy Belle Epoque architecture and a lazy, sensual vibe to match. And interesting food. It's all that Italian influence. Plus, as tdk320n says, there are buses, trains and boats along the coast, the little Train des Pignes inland. So you don't need a car.

You sound like you're city people, so Nice might suit you better than, say, a small town in the Luberon.

love Paris every chance I get, including this fall. Took one wonderful trip to Provence-certain to skip Nice-see my trip log Ah Provence

My husband and I love Paris, it is definitely our default option when we travel. We have aspirations to visit so many other places and occasionally we do but more often than not we head to France. On different trips we've spent time in Normandy, the Perigord region, Provence and the Chamonix area. Normandy is our favorite (in fact, we got married there!). I prefer going there in late May when the days are sooo long, the apple trees are in blossom, the weather is pleasant...we rented a house about an hour and a half from Paris, SW of Rouen, I believe. Approximately a 1/2 hour from the coast. It was just beautiful. We spent days driving and walking along country roads, going to the markets and cooking up a feast back at the house, visiting the ocean...sigh. I was not that enamored with Provence the one time I went.

I think when you return to a place you love it becomes "yours," a part of you. And that to me is beautiful. I love all of France, and return again and again to both Paris and Provence. 8-10 days in Provence, in the Lubéron (rentals are relatively cheap), and 8 - 10 days in Paris, in that order. It's much easier to leave from Paris, and to spend your last night of vacation there can be magical. Good luck, bon voyage!

MAP--My wife and I have had the same experiences and concerns as you. This year our (fifth) trip to Paris will begin with 7-8 days in Florence and Venice followed by a stop "somewhere" on the way to Paris: Provence, Strasbourg/Colmar, ??? for 4-5 days, and then 4 weeks in a Paris apartment. We could spend months in Paris and never tire of it. Last time (for the whole month of May 2008) we took several one-day train trips (Reims, Dijon, etc.) but this year we are augmenting Paris with stays in some other places first. We were in Antibes/Nice/Monaco several years ago for a few days and liked it; my wife visited friends in St. Paul de Vence a few years ago and found the smaller towns charming.

Whatever you do, you can hardly go wrong.

I guess I shouldn't feel bad that my wife and I wish to return to Paris when we were only there 3 years ago. I do agree with the renting of an apartment as not only are you cutting costs (you can buy food and eat in your flat or on picnics), but you are often immersing yourself within the local area. My only concern is that we now have a 2-year old. We have travelled with him (we were in Mallorca and Barcelona last year as well as Hawaii twice this year). And Paris may not be the best option. Beaches, parks, and ocean may trump museums, bistros, and monuments. But I welcome the thoughts of others.

Frenchwow, I read your Provence report with total amazement! The detail was fabulous, though I agonized for you with a broken ankle at the end of your trip. Provence sounds fascinating.

Did I understand you correctly when you commented you would skip Nice? Any particular reason? Have you any thoughts on comparing Nice and surrounding area with Provence?

Love Paris....can't stay away. Have tried lately, but it is a constant in our life, and has to always be a part of our trip. Back again ASAP!!!

I like southern France better than Paris, especially Aix-en-Provence. I don't feel as stressed out there. I don't know why but for some reason I feel really exhausted everytime I go to Paris, even with no itinerary.

MAP, You can certainly find quite inexpensive places to stay should you choose Provence. I think your original suggestion of a week in Provence and the remainder in Paris sounds like it will work for you. Getting a Paris apartment for 3 weeks will keep costs down, and even factoring in the costs of TGV to Provence, you can be sure that the prices in Provence (depending on your activities) will be lower.
One recommended place for accomodation in a small village (Lourmarin) in Provence is http://www.rentourhomeinprovence.com/
We stayed ther efor a wekk in May 2008 and absolutely loved it. You may need to consider renting a car should you wish to travel the countryside. Looking forward to hearing more of your plans!

Thank you so much, Jenn-Mitch. Both apartments look enchanting, and I will certainly give them serious consideration. My husband is a little on the fence between the Riviera,Nice in particular, and Provence. Any thoughts on which to choose? We wouldn't have to rent a car in Nice as I hear public trans. is plentiful.