Southern France Suggestions

Old Apr 18th, 2013, 07:40 AM
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Southern France Suggestions

Hi,
A childhood friend is getting married in Dijon in early July, so five to six of us want to extend our stay after the wedding in Southern France. We are looking for a good "hub" to stay for 3-4 nights and are really struggling. We want to keep this trip at a reasonable budget and really want to be near a great beach. I have been to St. Tropaz, Antibes, Cannes, Nice, Ville Franche Sur Mer, Cap Ferret, and Monte Carlo, so I am hoping to explore some other cities. We have been looking at places further west of these cities, ie Marseille, Cassis, and Bandol, but it has been difficult to find a place and a good itinerary. Does anyone have some good suggestions of which cities we should visit for these 4-5 days as well as where we should make our "hub" (specific city and possibly specific hotel/b&b)? Any tips would be much appreciated!

Thanks!
Kara
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 08:54 AM
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Also, do you think it would be better to go even further west and go to the Montpelier area?
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 09:23 AM
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I'd head for the Pays Basque-Bearn region and the Basque coast. The area around Biarritz is great (www.tourisme64.com).
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 10:09 AM
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Dijon to Biarritz is a 10-hr drive - if not more - and over €150 in gas and tolls.
What about Montpellier and the Espiguette beach? http://www.leguidemontpellier.com/plages/espiguette.php
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 10:11 AM
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I would head for the Camargue, Montpellier, Sète, and surrounds, maybe go as far as Perpignan/Collioure if you have the time.
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 02:32 PM
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I have read that the area around Biarritz is beautiful as well, and I think we have found a way to make the traveling doable (staying the night in Paris and catching a flight the next morning to Biarritz). I don't know much about the Montpellier area; however, it does appear that Biarritz is a more beachy place. Does anyone have any must see's or do's in this area? Thank you everyone for your quick responses and opinions.
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 03:33 PM
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We were in the Biarritz area for the last two weeks of June last year. I think there were only 1 or 2 days I would consider the weather nice enough to spend time at the beach.

Stu Dudley
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 05:05 PM
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We've spent 16 weeks vacationing along the Cote d'Azur. We've also spent 4 weeks in the Pays Basque area (Biarritz) in late June & early Sept. "Beach life" in St Tropez, Nice, Cannes etc is "superior" to that in Biarritz, IMO. I don't consider Biarritz to be a "great beach" like the above mentioned Cote d'Azur beaches - especially nothing like St Tropez/Pampelonne.

One of my guide books said that the Pays Basque gets more rain than they get in Ireland.

I would stick with beaches along the Mediterranee. Consider Collioure if you want something other than the Cote d'Azur - but that's a long distance from Dijon. There is a 3 hr TGV that departs Dijon at 9:17 & arrives in Marseille 3 1/2 hrs later. There is an afternoon TGV also. Cassis is an "OK" possibility - but again - it nothing "decadent" like St Tropez/Cannes/Nice.

Stu Dudley
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Old Apr 18th, 2013, 10:04 PM
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The Provence region and St Remy could be a good option, only 4hrs drive from Dijon and a perfect place to discover a lot (hiking, beaches nearby, history, aix, avignon, arles, roman ruins, Van Gogh, wines, etc...)
More ideas on
http://saintremydeprovencetourism.bl...aint-remy.html
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