My husband and I are planning this trip, beginning in Nice, where we arrive on September 29. We have booked there for 5 nights, the first 3 of which will be with my son and his wife. They then take off on their own for Paris.

We will be renting a car and leaving Nice on 10/4, heading to Grasse, planning on wandering around, arriving later in the day, and then the following morning doing the perfume tour(s), heading south and west by the end of the day. On 10/5 we are booked into Aubagne, and the next day will see Cassis and a little of Marseilles. On 10/7 we head north towards Avignon, and have looked at Saint Remy as a possible stop for the night.

This is where we run into a time management problem as it clashes with the rest of our schedule. We have to choose what to see between Avignon and Perpignan, where we are scheduled to return our car on Saturday, 10/11. We would have preferred to return it on Sunday, but the rental location is not open. From Perpignan, we are taking the train into Spain and renting another car for a few days before catching a flight to Bilbao on 10/14, staying there for 2 nights, and then on to San Sebastian, before flying back to Barcelona on 10/19. We fly home from Barcelona on 10/24.

This is our first visit to this part of France and would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

We rented an apartment for a week in Arles and did day trips to Nîmes, Tarascon, and the Camargue. Parking is easy. We were in the very center of the old town (a stone's throw from the place du Forum) and found free parking just outside the city walls toward the train station. Coming through the city wall, the parking on the left is available even on market days.

To whet your appetite:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7624404539441/ and the subsequent pictures in the set.

Where are you picking up a car in Spain?

Only one night in Provence???? We've visited there for 20 weeks - and still find new things to do. The area around Grasse and Grasse itself is one of our least favorite regions/cities in Provence. We've visited it 3 times, including this past June. I think you can get a perfume tour in Eze near Nice???

I don't know how flexible your itinerary is or what is "cast in stone" - but if this was my trip, I would:

- Stay in St Remy or elsewhere in Provence for the entire time between Aubagne and Spain.

- Catch the TGV from Nimes to Perpignan or Spain. The TGV departs Nimes at 10:09 and hits Perpignan at 12:13, then also stops in Figures, Gerona, and Barcelona.

I don't know who you are renting a car through/from - but reservations are usually easy to change without any added costs. We've picked up a car in Nimes at the TGV station.

We've also spent 10 weeks in the area between Provence and Perpignan. IMO, the interesting stuff is inland - the Gorges du Tarn, Lot River, caves galore with stalactites & mites, amazing rock formations. However, traversing these sites involves a lot of time-consuming driving since there is not a fast road in the Gorges du Tarn/Lot River/Pyrenees area. I'm assuming you are looking for something that's a little different from Nice & Marseille - that's why I omitted Montpellier and Narbonne.

Stu Dudley

Oh my goodness, Stu, you might have just made our trip. I am excited to find that Fragonard has a factory in Eze, so we can incorporate that into the 5 nights we have in Nice, as we planned to have the rental car for at least part of the time we are there, and Eze was on the list.

Do you suggest we eliminate Cathar castles?

What is "cast in stone" are the 5 nights in Nice on, leaving there on 10/4, and catching a flight out of Barcelona to Bilbao on 10/14. We definitely want to have a few days in northern Spain, to see the Dali museum in Figueres, the beach town of Cadaques and whatever else we can find until our early morning flight out.

>>Do you suggest we eliminate Cathar castles?<<

Cathars castles are OK - it really depends on how much you are "into" Cathars stuff. The castles are really ruins, and Chateau de Peyrepertuse is a little difficult to walk to. I fell down a few times walking around the chateau - and I hardly ever fall down. We did not visit the interior of Chateau de Queribus - we were "Cathared out" by then. Unless you are VERY interested in the castles - I wouldn't drive all the way there just to visit them. I think the Gorges du Tarn, Lot River, and the area around Collioure/Ceret in the Pyrenees is more interesting - but it will consume a lot of time in driving there & driving around seeing things.

So - you have 10 nights between Nice & your flight to Bilbao. I think I would do your Cassis/Marseille thing for 1 night, then stay in St Remy or elsewhere in Provence (we like the Luberon - near Gordes/Roussillon) for 5-6 nights & explore Provence. Then drive to Nimes in the AM, return the car, and take the TGV from Nimes to Figueres. Rent a car, and stay 2-3 nights in Spain. You did not mention visiting Barcelona - it's one of our favorite cities - but it deserves at least 2 nights. I like the Costa Brava - but you'll be visiting Cassis & perhaps the Calaques - which has a bit of the same look/feel as Cadaques. I'm not a Dali fan - but we visited Figueres and give it a C+. Gerona is very nice.

Do you have my new 31 page Provence/Cote d'Azur itinerary? I've sent it to over 3,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail. I also have a Languedoc itinerary if you still want to spend some time there.

Stu Dudley

As our best flight home was out of Barcelona, we elected to see Bilbao and San Sebastian first, and then a quick flight back to Barcelona where we will have 4 full days (no car) before going home. I have been in Barcelona once before but only for a day, so that doesn't count, and my husband has never been there. We are looking forward to it, and any suggestions would be welcome.

I am glad to hear what you have to say about the Cathars castles. My husband can't do any hiking and tires easily after walking, and I really didn't want to just go there, drive around and not get out of the car.

I just sent request for your itinerary. I'm sure it will be most helpful.

We were in Barcelona last year for 4 nights (our first visit in '04 was a one-nighter). Saw all the Gaudi stuff (except the park). We're big building architecture fans. We bought all of our Gaudi tickets ahead of time. I think there is one of his buildings that doesn't have on-line ticketing.

If you pick up a car in Figueres, drive back into France & start your Costa Brava exploring from Collioure.

Stu Dudley

Stu,
If you don't hear from me for a while, it is your own fault. I have your itinerary, and it will keep me busy for quite some time

We are renting a car in Figueres, and will now also look at Collioure. Thank you again.

I'll send you my Languedoc itinerary which covers some stuff around Collioure.

Stu Dudley

Hi all. Still trying to plan this Provence portion of our trip. What about Salon-de-Provence instead of St. Remy as a base for exploring the region.

Also, how difficult would it be if we went without making hotel reservations? This is usually how we have traveled in the past, leaving our options open to stay and enjoy if an area appeals.

We've only visited Salon once. I think there are many more towns that are more interesting and more centrally located.

For early October, I think you would be OK without making reservations - if you have good info about accommodations in the area, get a place secured by 3:00pm, and don't mind driving around a bit trying to find a place. If you venture into the inland portion of the Languedoc, there are fewer places to stay than in Provence.

Stu Dudley

Stu, do you have any information about the zone bleue disque - availability and usage?

Was there a particular reason you picked Aubagne in which to stay overnight? Because there are many more picturesque locations along the coast. (Caveat: the streets were torn up when we were there. May have affected my view of the place.)

As for the "zone bleue disque," here is info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_parking. Usually the rental car comes with a disk. I think you buy them otherwise.

We've rented around 25 cars in the past 10 years, and none of them came with a disque. I recall purchasing one - but we lost it.

Stu Dudley

Mimar -
We are driving in from Grasse where we made the mistake of hotel reservation that does not allow cancellation which is something we have never done in the past and won't do again. We will arrive later in the day. We thought driving a little inland would give different views since we just spent 5 days along the coast around Nice. We thought to stay outside of Marseilles, with access there and to Cassis and wherever else, before heading north. If you suggest the towns along the coast are more pleasant, please advise.

As for the parking disque, seems like it would be useful.

Why not stay in Cassis itself??? That's what I would do. Aubagne is kinda grungy - with some grungy people hanging around. Grasse is somewhat grungy also - and if you read my itinerary you'll know that I'm not a fan of the Grasse area compared to other areas inland from the coast. We've visited Grasse 3 times in past years, and did a drive-around through the area this June.

Stu Dudley

I will certainly look at hotels in Cassis. As for Grasse, we do have that non-refundable hotel, so might as well go and take the Fragonard tour there. Expectations will not be high.

We picked the Hotel Les Cigales outside of Aubagne as it received great reviews. Does anyone know of it?