Pernes is a nice town. Not tourist infected at all. Good central location. A few nice restaurants but not a lot of commerce. Famous for their many water fountains.

Stu Dudley

Thanks.....we have a lot to think about!

This is what happens when someone posts in 'pieces' and does not outline their entire plan. This poster has asked about staying in Antibes for 3 nights on another thread and in that thread has added that they would then move on to spend 4 nights in 'Provence.' It's all Provence!

WoinParis complains that mels does not acknowledge responses sometimes. I'd say that s/he does not provide enough information to get truly relevant input.

Mels, you may think you know what you are doing and that asking about each part of what you have planned makes sense. It does, but only AFTER you have outlined your entire plan and got input on that which may or may not affect that entire plan.

If for example you decided to take my advice and base yourself in Antibes OR Avignon for your entire 7 nights, most of the other responses to both of these threads would be a waste of people's time. The more background info you give people to work with, the more relevant responses will be. But you seem to just 'drop' things in as you go or have to have the info pulled out like pulling teeth. It was only after you later added on the other thread that you planned to move on to 'Provence', that it made sense to me to suggest perhaps staying in only 1 place in Provence instead of 2.

For example, you now add 'leave France for Barcelona by train'. If you had included that info to begin with, people might have given different suggestions based on having to incorporate the train into your plan.

Take a look at what it will do to your train travel to Barcelona if you stayed in Pernes les fontaines vs Avignon.

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid...ona+by+train&*

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid...ona+by+train&*

Depending on when you wanted to depart, you could turn a 9am departure from a 7.5 hour journey into a 19 hour journey. an 11-11.30am departure from a 6.5 hour journey to a 10.5 hour journey.

Learning how to ask questions is as important as someone trying to learn how to give relevant answers. But the second is dependent on the first. YOU must learn how to ask before you can expect to get relevant answers.

I for one would never suggest staying in Pernes les Fontaines if you plan to train to Barcelona. But first I would have to know you planned to train (your job to tell me that up front) and then I would have to know the difference it would make in travel time (my job to know if I'm going to suggest it is a reasonable alternative).

If you had asked to begin with, 'should I base in Antibes OR Avignon OR split my time between both in Provence? I will arrive from Italy by train and will depart from France by train to Barcelona.' You would no doubt have got very different answers to that question mels.

Sorry, but we are still in the planning process. Looking for good locations for a nice trip to the South of France. We have looked into planes, trains and auto, we will plan accordingly. There are so many beautiful spots in this area, enjoy hearing about different places and trip experiences. In 2014, I planned a trip to Italy with help from Fodors.....down to my driver in Positano to a great restaurant we ate at the last night in Milan.

I thought this was about shared travel experiences with quite a few savvy travelers....thanks to all that have helped.

Dogeared

Give Mels a little more slack. I would not have changed any of my recommendations based on the issues you have brought up.

Also, give Mels credit for some intelligence. For example, it is very easy & fast to get to Barcelona from almost anywhere in the Provence area.

>>I for one would never suggest staying in Pernes les Fontaines if you plan to train to Barcelona......Take a look at what it will do to your train travel to Barcelona if you stayed in Pernes les fontaines vs Avignon.<<

You presented scenarios that most people would not consider. With a car, Mels would probably drive 1 1/4 hrs from Pernes to Nimes to catch one of the many 3 1/2 TGVs to Barcelona. A 5 1/2 door-to-door trip - not your 10 to 20 hr trip.

A perfect itinerary for me would be Nice (second choice Antibes), Pernes, then drive to Nimes & take the TGV to Barcelona.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu. Getting all the information has helped me narrow it down as well as getting more familiar with the map of Provence and distances between each location. You're right we know how and where to get a train to Barcelona. My husband works with me as I give him the locations, hotels, want we want to see etc. We would like a car the entire time and will see what works best, now that we have narrowed it down.

Hey, have you been to Barcelona? That's my next chapter.....only one hotel and fly back from Barcelona to JFK.

We've visited Barcelona several times. We're big Gaudi fans. I don't have anything written up about it, however.

Purchase most of your Gaudi tickets online ahead of your trip. Get early entrance times to avoid big crowds inside the houses. We were the first people in Casa Batallo, and we photographed it with no people in the pictures. It was really crowded 1 1/2 hrs later.

Here is my Wife's Shutterfly Book of our visit to Barcelona & other places in Spain. I'll also include our most recent Cote d'Azur & Provence trip:
https://stududley.shutterfly.com/29
https://stududley.shutterfly.com/28

Click "Full screen"
Because of Shutterfly software problems, some captions & titles are missing or truncated.

Stu Dudley

I just saw this post thanks again!!

Pernes les Fontaines is my favorite place to stay in that area, the location could not be more convenient for touring. I very highly recommend the inn I stay at, l'Hermitage, although you may have booked already. if not, I love this place

http://www.hotel-lhermitage.com/

I took the train from Avignon TGV at the end of my stay, that's where I turned in my car.

We've decided to stay in Gordes at - Hotel Le Petit Palais de' Algae. Its somewhat new but has good reviews 1 mile from the center. After a lot of advice we decided on the Luberon Region. This is our Itinerary:

September 5 - 22 - 2017

Milan airport to Torino 2 nights

Santa Margerita 3 nights

Train to France - Villefranche sur mer 3 nights

Rent car in Nice drive to Gordes 4 nights

Train from Avignon to Barcelona 4 nights

Barcelona - JFK

Avignon is where we are turning the car in as well, then fast train to Barcelona.

We've decided to stay in Gordes at - Hotel Le Petit Palais de' Algae. Its somewhat new but has good reviews 1 mile from the center. After a lot of advice we decided on the Luberon Region. This is our Itinerary:

September 5 - 22 - 2017

Milan airport to Torino 2 nights

Santa Margerita 3 nights

Train to France - Villefranche sur mer 3 nights

Rent car in Nice drive to Gordes 4 nights

Train from Avignon to Barcelona 4 nights

Barcelona - JFK

Oops posted twice