IzabellaBella

I believe I have figured out how we would like to map out our trip to France(this trip is more difficult to plan than Italy, sheesh!)

July 10 - Depart US for Paris
July 11 - Arrive in Paris at 9:30am, take it easy just walking around, dinner
July 12 - Paris(exploring, Eiffel Tower, museum, markets)
July 13 - Day trip to Loire Valley (should we drive or take a guided tour??) If you suggest driving, please provide some recommendations.
July 14 - Train to Bordeaux early in the morning - spend the rest of the day exploring
July 15th - Day trip to St. Emilion - I found a bike tour on Viator.com
July 16th - Train back to Paris in the afternoon. Dinner in Paris
July 17th - Paris - Versailles
July 18th - Day trip to Bruges or Brussels
July 19th - Paris - relax, explore
***July 20th - Train to an area in Provence - I am still unsure since I would like to rent a car. If I have to take a train to 1 destination, rent a car there and continue on to our base(still unknown), I'm fine with doing that. Where is the best/easiest place to rent a car?
July 21 - Explore Provence
July 22 - Explore Provence
July 23 - Drive to Nice
July 24 - Nice
July 25 - Nice
July 26 - Nice
July 27 - Depart Nice for US

In Nice, we will just take a few day trips, most likely by train to other towns/villages. We will rent an exotic car on one day to cruise around the coastline. Any recommendations for day trips from Nice?

***Am I complicating my trip by my July 20th plan?

We are not big fans of going to many museums in Paris. We are interested in going to the Louvre, and that's probably it. If we do visit a Museum, we are more interested in Science, a place of residence, or Historical architecture vs. Art. We are more of a couple that likes to take in the architecture, mini street, hidden gems, and experience all the food & Markets Paris has to offer.

If you think I should take away a day somewhere to add a day elsewhere, please let me know and why?

I appreciate all opinions, but giving support behind your opinion will help me to reassess and re-plan.

IzabellaBella

I looked at responses on another topic I posted. I was considering of dropping Bordeaux. The plan devised above in this post, do you think I'm still spreading myself too thin?

StCirq

Yes, there is no reason at all to go to Bordeaux, just to hop over to overhyped St-Emilion, then back to Paris the next day. That's a ridiculous amount of traveling for very little reward.

Michael

As for the Loire valley, it might be time to look at guidebooks to find out what there is to see and to pare down the list according to what catches your interests. Driving from Paris gives you the opportunity to visit the Chartres cathedral.

Sassafrass

Since you have thrown Bruges into the mix, (and given that you are departing from Nice) this is what I suggest.
July 10, depart US
July 11, arrive Paris, catch train to Bruges, relax on train, dinner and evening walk around Bruges
July 12, Bruges to enjoy and relax
July 13, day trip to Ghent, only a few minutes by train, pretty city, nice restaurants.
July 14, take early train to Paris
July, 15, 16, 17, 18, Paris and environs
July 19, take train to Avignon, rent car
July 20, 21, 22, 23 Provence
July 24, drive to Nice
July 25, 26 Nice
July 27, depart Nice for home

You could always skip Ghent and add that day to Paris or Nice, but you are close, it is interesting and would give you another easy to get to place to see. Also, though Bruges is lovely, it is too far, IMHO for a decent day trip and, if you are making the trip, might as well see a bit more or the area.

IzabellaBella

StCirq, great advice. I was thinking that as well, that it might not be worth the time nor money for a quick turn around. If when in Paris and I really want to go visit Bordeaux, I can find a day trip from Paris. Although that might not even be needed with all the. Vineyard awaiting in Provence.

I will look at guidebooks for Loire.

Sassafrass- great alternative. This is definitely doable since I will take Bordeaux out of the mix.

StCirq

NO, you can't find a "daytrip" to Bordeaux from Paris. Who told you that? Rick Steves? That's absurd.

IzabellaBella

Viator.com

IzabellaBella

Sassafrass, your advice to Bruges was a wonderful idea. However, it won't work because our flight gets in at 9:25am and the last train to Bruges is 10:46am

StCirq

Well, Viator is an overpriced reseller and that's still completely unrealistic. But go for it if you like. I have had a house in the Dordogne for 21 years, have taken probably 100 trains into and out of Bordeaux, and know my way around that part of the world blindfolded, and it's a really dumb idea. Six plus hours on a train for a daytrip?

I have no idea where you're getting your train information, but you can get a train to Bruges from CDG at 9:16, 110:07, 13:07, 13:37, 15:07, and many more. And more if you don't leave from CDG but go into Paris.

adrienne

<< However, it won't work because our flight gets in at 9:25am and the last train to Bruges is 10:46am >>

You have some really bad information on the trains to Bruges. I see trains from Roissy to Bruges at 10:54, 11:46, 12:09, 12:54, 13:39, and many more. The last train is at 21:55.

Underhill

Nice is situated in the eastern part of Provence.

IzabellaBella

I was looking for tickets on rail Europe. Maybe I plugged in the wrong station. I ended up going on http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/ and found many more.

adrienne

RailEurope doesn't show all the trains so you should be looking on the French train web site(s).

There aren't any Viator day trips from Paris to Bordeaux. All the Bordeaux tours originate in Bordeaux.