Julie Stenberg

We are looking at a 10 day trip to France in the end of January. We have never been to Paris, but suspect that spending the entire time there might be too much big city. When we were in Prague and Vienna we felt that four days was about enough time. Normally we like to break up the big cities with smaller villages and towns. But, it is going to be the dead of winter and so perhaps those smaller locales might not be so interesting. We had several thoughts. One is to spend 6 nights in Paris and then rent a car and drive to Rouen, Mont St. Michel, and into Brittany a ways (Dinard and Honfleur). Another thought was to skip Paris altogether and to fly or take the TGV to Marseille or Avignon where we would rent a car and explore the Mediterranean coast and southern Provence. But, from what I understand, the weather in that area while better than Paris is not going to be too great either. What should we do? I guess we don't want to set ourselves up for going someplace where the weather will be so horrible as ruin our vacation. We are not shoppers, sun-seekers, into glitz, or casino goers. Also, we are on a rather limited budget so indulging in luxury accomodations isn't what we are after either. We like ambience, just wandering around new places, museums (but not a non-stop diet of them), the outdoors, historic places, and cultural activities. Some of our favorite places to stay in previous European trips have been small family run inns in smal towns that we could use for a base for day trips. I should also mention that we are Minnesotans so any weather should be better than home at this time of year. Also, will some of these places outside of Paris be absolutely closed and dead? Has anyone actually been to any of these places in the winter, and what was your experience? And, even if you haven't actually been there at this time of year,what would you suggest as far as a plan? We know that this is not a once in a lifetime trip to France so we will take another opportunity to see the things that we eliminate on this trip.

Please

ttt<BR>someone please help Julie.<BR>Tks

Christina

I could maybe see touring cities in January, but personally I would have no desire to tour rural areas in January in France, what are you looking to do? Given your choice, I would definitely go south (the Loire might be more temperate). Brittany is one of the wettest areas of France, although more in Fall, I think, but winter is probably not going to be great. Some things are closed in winter or have reduced hours, like the chateaux, but they are still open some and at least that would be something to do. I would go to Nice and down there, as the weather won't be great, but it probably won't be miserable, and Nice has lots to do other than sun/beach activities, the coast will be pretty regardless, and there are some interesting nearby villages inland and on the coast. Avignon could be good in winter, also, but it's not a rural little village, of course. I haven't been there, but maybe Les Baux and things like that could still fill sightseeing in January. I myself would not go to Normany or Brittany, but I'm not that interested in some of those things either (ie, Mont SM), but having been to some like Honfleur, I don't see it as that exciting (there isn't that much to do in Honfleur although it's cute for a day trip in nice weather). I am rambling, I know, but I would vote for Avignon/Nice direction.

Kathleen

I'm trying to wrangle a 10-14 day trip to Paris this early January. I've been doing my research, and there's plenty to keep you occupied in Paris for that amount of time. I'm put together an tentative itinerary--three day trips (Normandy, Chartres, Fountainbleau) plus seven days for the city (and I'll have to leave some stuff out). Because of the weather, I won't be doing many of the parks & gardens, but some walking, markets, museums & shopping. The book 'WAlking Paris' has some great ideas--as do several posters on this board. <BR>Or if you don't want to spend the whole time in Paris, consider training it to London for a couple days too (another one of my options).

Cate

Kathleen,<BR>Will you be sharing the Paris portion of your itinerary? I know that I would (and probably Julie,too) would benefit from your research for Paris in January. I am concerned about going to Paris at this time of the year since the gardens/out-side cafes etc. won't be in full swing.

Greg

Personally, I could easily spend 10 days just in Paris, even in January, however it would be nice to add some variety to the trip. While it would be somewhat less cold in the south, I think that you might be better to consider 3-4 days closer to Paris. I think that the Loire could be a good choice as there are places to see that do not depend on the weather. Normandy and Brittany are lovely but would be more dependant on good weather. In the Loire there are numerous Chateaux to visit, as well as numerous towns, (Tours, Angers, Saumur, etc) that will offer things to do even if the weather is bad.

Kathleen

Cate, right now I only have a rough idea for my itinerary. I'm putting together eight or nine 'daily itineraries' that will each cover a certain area. I like to include a museum or two, shopping, and some sights & churches, all strung around a walking route. This way I don't get bored--I love the Louvre, but I couldn't take a whole day there. For example, walk thru Ile St Louis and Ile de le Cite, with Notre Dame, etc, then shopping at Samarataine. Because it's winter, I won't plan on visiting most of the gardens & parks, but walking on the streets between sights should be okay. Please don't think I'm too anal about all this either, I just like to be prepared! Because I travel alone, I like to have plans--though I have been known to chuck them out the window if some great opportunity presents itself. But either way I'm prepared!<BR>I'll be working out the details on my 'days' over the next few days, if you want to e-mail me for details....

Beth

http://www.jack-travel.com/Jacks_Europeantravels/html/FranceTravel.htm<BR><BR>The above site lists "day trips" from Paris. I spent 10 days in Paris this summer and could have used more time, but if the city wears you out, there is always Versailles, Chartres and its cathedral, various towns where the Impressionists painted, etc. Have a wonderful time.

ann

I'm planning a 10 day trip in March (weather should be better than January but still not real spring like - or so I gather, someone correct me if I'm wrong). Anyway, a friend suggested to me to take the train to Brussels - only 1 and a half hours from Paris. I'm planning on one night in Brussels and one or two in Brugges - a small town which looks like it will be great for wandering, history, etc. - which is about an hour from Brussels. Though this is north of Paris I understand the weather is similiar. This is all based on research since I obviously havn't made the trip yet. I've only been to Paris in the summer - where two summers ago it was in the 50s-60s and raining for most of two whole weeks!

elvira

Julie, you have to think of France as you would your own country - would you go to the snowy countryside or the seashore at home? Using the U.S. as an example, I wouldn't go to Kennebunkport or Hilton Head or Amish country in January. I WOULD go to NYC or Savannah or Seattle...<BR>Sooo...spend your time in Paris. Take day trips to Brussels or Lyon or even London. Don't go to Mont St Michel or Brittany - it IS freezing cold, you'll be miserable, you'll have no fun, you'll think they're terrible places. Rouen as a day trip, or overnight trip, wouldn't be bad...unless the weather is really awful.<BR>I've been to London, Milan, and Paris in the winter...I would *never* go into the countryside.<BR><BR>

Jim P

As a fellow, rather former Golden Gopher, I understant the need to escape from the frozen tundra in January. Forget the car. Paris weather will be "variable"; you may luck out and get great light raincoat-type weather or windy/rainy/yucky stuff. Take bus trips to the close-in sites such as Chartres on nice days and explore the city/ museums etc on the not so nice days. We have been to Paris 30+ times and have only seen a small part. You won't get bored.

Julie

Hello fellow Minnesotan. Right now the weather we're having here is nice enough that leaving no longer sounds so important but it will undoubtedly be cold in January and you'll enjoy being anywhere but here. I also understand your concern about being in a big city like Paris an entire ten days. I<BR>m now a total convert and could happily live there, but the first time I spent a full 10 days just in Paris it "got on me"--just the continual traffic and city noise. So if you know that about yourself, stick with your plan to spend 6 days in Paris and 4 somewhere else. You could stay, for instance, in St. Germain en Laye just outside of Paris and still make day train trips to some of the same places other posters have mentioned taking from Paris but still be in a smaller, quieter city in the evening. From there you could go to Brussels, Rouen, Chartres, Amiens, Beauvais, Chantilly. Certainly doing all of this from a small city on the outskirts of Paris would be easier by car and if you're comfortable doing that I'd recommend it. It opens many more possibilities. At worst, from St. Germain you might have to take the RER back into Paris and the train from there--but again, you'd be in a quieter place for the night. If you rent a car, there is a lot you could see in the Ile de France area surrounding Paris. Beside the places I've mentioned above, you could also see Rambouillet, Vaux la Vicomte, Fontainebleu, Compiegne and Reims. If you're willing to pack a couple of times you could stay 2 nights in a small town to the West or Northwest of Paris and 2 nights to the East or Southeast of Paris and make it easier to take in the towns, cathedrals, and chateaux in each of the areas.

mitch

I got one of those bargain flights to Paris last January & there were some benefits being there at that time. Most obvious is no standing in long lines to see things....even got into the Musee d'Orsay rather fast. I was good for about 4 days in Paris & then took day trips to Chartres, Fontainbleau, and Chantilly. The weather was between 26 - 34 degrees most of the time. Only thing I didn't like was it getting dark so early.

Julie Stenberg

Thanks for all the advice. You've given me some serious thinking to do. I just had another thought about perhaps the coastal Languedoc-Rousillon area as an intriguing place to visit at this time of the year. So, I've got more research to do.

Vincent

Some places, such as Mont Saint-Michel, Bruges, the Loire chateaux are chock-a-block in season. So January is a good opportunity to have them to yourself, and it's so romantic in winter. You could for instance take a TGV to Rennes (two hours), a beautiful and lively provincial city, and from there on either rent a car or take a tour to Mont Saint-Michel. Or you could go skiing (the Alps are a five hour TGV trip from Paris), again January is a great season, snow and no crowds. Languedoc-Roussillon could be a tad depressing in the winter-time, except for Montpellier. It is mainly a rural area with a not very appealing coast, and the Cevennes can be quite chilly.

John

Julie, you took the words out of my keyboard. I think you could have a splendid time in Languedoc-Rousillon at that time of year. It can still be quite chilly at night, but you'll have a much better chance of sunny days than elsewhere in France (with the possible exception of the eastern Cote d'Azur - Monaco or Menton, for example. Don't discount the idea of early orange or lemon blossoms in the street trees in Menton. Or, it could rain.)<BR><BR>Back west, we think Perpignan is a fascinating place, and you could easily fill a week exploring villages along the coast between the Spanish border and Provence - empty beaches, flamingo flocks or white horses in the Camargue, or stony villages on the lower slopes of the Pyrenees. Maybe a couple of days' trek over to Barcelona for a definitive "urban" fix - lots and lots of choices in this fascinating area.

Lesley

In January you might have difficulty finding hotels that are open in smaller villages. Many of the little family run hotels close from Dec to April. For example, I can't find anything open at that time of year in Rocamador, which is one of my favourite stopping off places.

Randy

Julie:<BR><BR>I do not see any problem with 10 days in Paris. I have been to Paris four times and last year for two weeks. I still want to go back to see more. There are lots of things to do in Paris.<BR><BR>I am from northern Michigan and I am sure you will find that Paris is welcome relief from our climates. I have a friend in Nantes, France who has a vineyard and he gets fresh luttuce out of his garden year around. He called me in February last year and said he had just cut his lawn for the first time. No it is not Miami Beach, but it sure is better weather than we have. I was in Paris in November and felt very comfortable in a light jacket. I think you will find the stores, public buildings and the metro very warm by our standards up here in the north.<BR><BR>Do a lot of research and be flexable. Get on the internet a do some research so you know what options are available while you are there. Then take each day as it comes. If the weather is a nice day do some of the outdoor things. If is cold or windy or snow. Go to the Louvre, Pompidou Centre or shopping at BHV or Galleries Laffayate. You can also spend a day at Versailles. There are also tours out side of Paris, take a look at this web site: http://www.cityrama.com/<BR><BR>Here is another great web site:<BR>http://www.monum.fr/index.dml?new=1 This web site has over a 100 monuments in France with pictures, descriptions, price of tickets and the days and time they are open.<BR><BR>I spent four days in Angers in October and it is only two hours away from Paris via TGV. The Ch&acirc;teau of Angers is worth seeing and the city it self is beautiful. I had a hotel two block from the train station and only paid 160F for a single. http://www.ville-angers.fr/<BR><BR>Be sure to do your research before you go so that you can make the best use of your time. After you are in Paris for a couple of days you may decide that you will spend the 10 day right in Paris. If not, take a couple of side trips to break up the trip and see other parts of the country.<BR><BR>If you have any questions, e-mail me.<BR><BR><BR>