Am I Utterly INSANE PART DEUX (revised!) ATTN: StuDudley!
 

Okay guys, I've revised the itinerary!!! Please feel free to weigh in (especially you, Stu!)

Day 1 Thursday
Train from Paris to Avignon
Pick up rental and stay in Avignon

Day 2 Friday
Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux
St-Remy for dinner if possible
Stay in Avignon

Day 3 Saturday
Drive to Aix-en-Provence
Farmer’s market in AM
MM Grotto and Saint Baume in PM (special request from my mother)
Stay in Aix

Day 4 Sunday
Drive to Cassis
Spend 4 hrs in Cassis
Post-lunch drive to Arles, stay there for the night

Day 5 Monday
Drive to Carcassonne and stay there.

Day 6 Tuesday
Leave early for Perpignan, return car by noon, train to BCN by 1 p.m.

Is this better, guys? Thanks again very much for your input (my mother especially thanks you)!

sounds fine to me. Just seems kind of a shame to drive to Arles only to stay there one night, but I guess you'll see something of the place that evening.

I posted my thoughts on your original post.

Stu Dudley

Day 1 works. The Papal Palace is open until 8 p.m.

Day 2: a lot of driving, but scenic roads. There is no need to dine in St. Remy. I would drive directly from Bonnieux to Aix - you are almost there and spend the night in Aix.

Day 3: will be quite relaxing, think about staying in Cassis in order to have a bit more time there.

Day 4: sounds okay. On the way you might see Les Baux, Les Antiques.

Day 5: In the morning, see something of Arles. Driving time to Carcassonne will be 2:30; so if you leave Arles at 2 p.m. you will be in Carcassonne early enough.

Day 6: Have a relaxed morning in Carcassonne. Driving time will be 1:30.

For my tast, it is still a lot of driving and little time in Cassis. But staying the second night in Aix will reduce driving a lot.

That sound much more reasonable, and it give you a reason to return for another trip to the Côte d'Azur in the future.

Not going to Baux?

I agree, I didn't fully notice the St Remy dinner thing. What's that all about, you are touriong three towns that day, staying in Avignon, and for some reason want to dine in St Remy? Why? That isn't going to be a pleasant drive back to Avignon in the dark late at night.

There's nothing that special in St Remy at all, there are plenty of restaurants in Avignon.

ok, I will weigh in.

Day 1 Thursday
TGV from Paris to Avignon
Pick up car at TGV train station and drive to central Avignon enclosed by medieval walls.There is underground parking. A short visit to see the old town, popes palace,the park,
and the nursery rhyme bridge.
Drive 1 hr to your B&B in the Luberon- Le Mas Perreal.
http://masperreal.com/index.html
Dinner in nearby hill town(Roussillon-10min, Gordes-15min).
Kevin, the owner of Le Mas Perreal will help you select a restaurant.

Day 2 Friday
After your gourmet breakfast Kevin will help you map out your day visiting Luberon hill towns such as Gordes, Roussillon, Lacoste, Ménerbes, Bonnieux,Saignon).
Dinner at a nearby hill town.
Sleep your 2nd night at Le Mas Perreal.

Day 3 Saturday
After your gourmet breakfast drive 1 hr to Aix-en-Provence for the outdoor Provençal market. Drive 1/2 hr to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume to visit the grotto. Return to Aix for dinner. An evening stroll in this beautiful town.
Sleep in Aix.

From here on your itinerary could work

Day 4 Sunday
Drive to Cassis
Spend 4 hrs in Cassis
Drive to Arles.

Day 5 Monday
Drive to Carcassonne.
Sleep in Carcassonne

Day 6 Tuesday
Leave early for Perpignan, return car by noon, train to BCN by 1 p.m.

Some hotel recommendations:

Arles
Hotel d'Arlatan
http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/d-ar...FWYbQgodMSkAMQ

Carcassonne
http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/chat...g_confem%20ail

Additional thoughts:
Le Mas Perreal will be a highlight of your trip. It was ours in 2011. If it were my trip I would spend night 3 at Le Mas Perreal. Make Aix and the grotto a day trip. Then I would skip Cassis and take in more of the 3 star sights- the market at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue,Roman and van Gogh Arles, Les Baux, Pont du Gard,Nimes.I would spend night 4 in either Arles or St Remy.