12 days-Paris, Provence, Barcelona and maybe Amsterdam??
 

I am a lost cause-- so be gentle with me!
Flying into Paris in late July and need to end up in provence for a few days (family)-- would love a few days or weekend in Barcelona and Amsterdam... any suggestions? Is this even possible?
Thought of flying into Paris, TGV to Provence-- 4 days there then venture to Barcelona...then ...I need help figuring out the best way to cover these cities in this short time...(not interested in spending time in Paris as we have been there plenty)--

Prefer trains over planes-- Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise!

How many days total? and EITHER Amsterdam or Barcelona should be pretty doable with Paris and Provence - either should work out pretty easily by train. Flip a coin and pick one, then you can work on the details.

Barcelona to Amsterdam is at least 13 hours by train with the best route (one that does not suck an entire day out of your trip) being an overnight train to Paris them a station change for Paris Nord to Austerlitz.

Yuchhh.

It would cost you about $90 to fly, one way, on Easy Jet. 2.5 hours flight time.

That should make flying win out over train, or you reassess one of Barcelona and Amsterdam.

We go between Paris and Barcelona almost every year. But we take four days to do it, stopping for two nights in Burgundy and two in southern France.

The easiest way to get to Provence from Paris is on the TGV to Avignon. You get the best rates at www.voyages-sncf.com, but you can't book until within 90 days of travel. When registering, don't say you are from the U.S. or you'll be kicked over to raileurope and have limited schedules and higher prices.

It's more tedious to get to Barcelona from Provence, as there is no high-speed rail all the way. A new section to Figueres cuts a little time, but adds a transfer. We usually suffer with the slow train from Perpignan.

If you have time to stop, we love Domaine des Anges in Burgundy, www.domainedesangespuligny.com, not far from Beaune. Lovely winemaking village and great hosts. We take a TGV from Paris to Dijon, then pick up a car and drive about an hour to the chambre d'hote.

The drive from there to Provence is about four hours. It's best to have a car to get around to the villages.

Hi - I was wondering how you made out with your trip?
I am actually attempting to plan an almost identical itinerary.
We have from 3/31 - 4/12. We arrive in Paris and stay a few days. Travel to Provence for a few days (via overnight train I am thinking). Then over to Barcelona (again via overnight train I am thinking). and then finally end up in Madrid for the last 2 or 3 days. Do-able?

Thanks
-Andrew

Andrew - why an overnight train from Paris to Avignon - it is only a 2 3/4 hr train ride.

Stu Dudley

Hey S,

>12 days-Paris, Provence, Barcelona and maybe Amsterdam?? <

If you really work at it, you could include Madrid and Brussels. :)

I think that you know fully well that you should be splitting the time between Paris and Provence - period.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))