Amalfi and Provence in one trip???
 

Hi everyone,
We are planning to spend a couple of weeks in Europe in June with our kids (ages 12 and 14) and can't decide between the Naples/Amalfi Coast area or Provence, France.

We all love Italy and have visited several times, although never south of Rome, AND we all love France but have only been to Paris and its surrounding areas. One kid is studying Latin and ancient Roman history this year, and the other is on his third year of immersion French.

Would it be crazy to do both areas in one trip?

Our thoughts are to fly into Naples and spend 5 or 6 days, then rent a car and drive up the coast of Italy stopping in Pisa or Lucca for a night or two. Then, heading over to Southern France for 5 or 6 days. Google maps says it is a 11 hour drive from Naples to Aix en Provence, and being from the western U.S., that doesn't sound too bad to us. But, our past experience driving in Italy, is that we spend a bit of time lost. Would this be as simple as it looks on the map, or a total mistake?

I don't think it's crazy, but consider that the drive time estimate does not account for comfort, lunch or sightseeing stops or traffic delays which I think you are sure to experience along the coast in the second half.

You might want to see what drop fee the car rental company would charge for pick-up in Italy and drop-off in France. You'll want a car that will comfortably hold four people and has a trunk large enough to hold all of the luggage.

First, plug in your car rental proposal into any of your favorite rental car web site to grasp the cost implication of your proposal. Come back here if you still want to pursue your driving plan.

It's doable, but you might also want to look into flights from Rome to Marseille, for example. One way flights can be quite reasonable price-wise, you'll save many hours of hassle on the drive and avoid drop-off charges, etc...

-Kevin

You may be better off dropping the car off in say, Pisa and catching the train or flying to Nice and then picking up another car. The costs of hiring in one country and dropping off in another are prohibitive. There are a couple of car hire places at the train station in Nice.

I agree with Kevin. Your most time saving and economic solution would be to drop off the car at Rome (or another airport in Italy that connects to Marseille), fly to Marseille and rent a car at the airport. Aix en Provence is about 30 mins(max)from Marseille airport. This link will show you which airports have regular flights to and from Marseille and which Airlines fly that route: http://www.marseille.aeroport.fr/fra/vols/vol_dr.jsp
Train connections from France to Italy are not great, especially on the coastal line.
If you would like a list of Roman sites in Provence, let me know - there are some wonderful examples of Roman Architecture and construction throughout Provence.
Bon Voyage,
Marianne

Thanks everyone. It sounds like a better idea to fly. I just found really good fares on easyjet.com. If fact, the rates are so low, it makes me wonder if it is legitimate. Has anyone flown easy jet before? Is it scary?

Easyjet is fine, have flown several times. Just know that your final fare will be higher based on various fees such as checked bags, seat reservations, etc. Still probably the best way to go regarding cost and time. Book through to see your final cost before you make purchase so you are not surprised.

Easyjet is wonderful! Some people will disagree with that statement but what they are complaining about is things like extra fees, etc. Easyjet gets you where you want to go and for a very reasonable price. I've flown easyjet a few times a year for the past 5 or more years and never had any problems. Nice big, modern jets. There are certain things to be aware of:

1) the earlier you book the cheaper. Book now for June (I have had my July flights booked for a month now). If you wait till May the price will be much higher.

2) Be aware that if you want to check a bag that costs more - but the price is right there on the website, it's still a good deal. If you can manage with carry on only be aware that it is ONE bag - not a 20" bag plus a handbag or computer, etc. ONE bag. I usually manage to stuff my pocketbook/tote bag into the 20" bag. There was thread here a few weeks ago about people stuffing their pockets and wearing layers of clothes so they could fit it all in one bag.It costs more if you decide to check the bag once you get to the airport than if you pay for it when you buy your ticket. About 15€. It's still cheap.

3) They don't have assigned seats. If you want to be sure to all sit together then you want to be in the early boarding group and you have to pay for that. About 10€

4) There's a fee to use a credit card (but you have to do that). That's just once though, not each ticket.

When you consider the cost of different country drop off fees for car rentals, plus gas, tolls, parking, etc. easyjet really is a good deal.

With two weeks I think you could have a fabulous trip to the Amalif Coast and Provence. Easyjet is showing flights from Naples to Nice for in the 20€ range for June.

I'd stay one week in Sorrento and do day trips to Amalfi, Positano, Capri, Naples and Pompeii. There are buses, boats and train (from Naples - Pompeii- Sorrento). We didn't rent a car and I'm glad, the 'getting there' on the buses and boats was half the fun. Maybe you'll get some ideas from my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rful-weeks.cfm

Then fly to Nice. You could do a few days on the Cote d'Azure and then rent a car and do Provence, or do the whole week in Provence. I think for Provence with four people you'd want a car.

If you spend a week in each place, and fly in between you will, IMHO, have the most perfect trip possible. Provence and the AC: a combination of the two most wonderful I've ever been.

Intended to say most wonderful "places" I've ever been.

Thanks everyone!