Barcelona to Provence trip planning help
 

Hi all. I'm planning a trip with a friend from Barcelona to Provence to Nice. After staying in Barcelona for 4 days the next part of the trip is where I need some help. We're staying 3 nights in Provence. Here's what I'm thinking.

Day 1: Train from Barcelona to Montpellier. Lunch there. Rental car to Arles. Dinner and sleep there.

Day 2: Explore Les Baux, St Remy, Pont du Gard (and maybe Avignon). Return to Arles, sleep there.

Day 3: Leave Arles. Explore the Luberon area: Roussillon, l'Isle sur la Sorgue, Bonnieux. Sleep in Gordes.

Day 4: Drive to Nice. Drop car off and fly out.

Our interests are art, history, museums, cafes and good provencal food. Please comment/critique our itinerary. We're leaving in 2 weeks!

Thanks!

bump

Since you are interested in art, I suggest you spend at least one full day and night in Nice. Outside of Paris, Nice and the surrounding area have the best art museums in France. Matisse and Chagall museums in Nice. Picasso museum in Antibes (currently closed for renovation). Chateau Musee de Vallauris houses three museums: Musee National Picasso, Musee Magnelli, and Musee de la Ceramique. Musee National Fernand Leger in Biot. Musee Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Fondation Maeght in St-Paul de Vence.

>>Day 2: Explore Les Baux, St Remy, Pont du Gard (and maybe Avignon). Return to Arles, sleep there.<<

That's a lot for one day. Doubt very much if you'll fit in Avignon. Perhaps visit Uzes instead, if you have time at the end of the day.

>>Day 3: Leave Arles. Explore the Luberon area: Roussillon, l'Isle sur la Sorgue, Bonnieux. Sleep in Gordes.<<

That's fine

>>Day 4: Drive to Nice. Drop car off and fly out.<<

Why are you driving to Nice?? It's about a 2 1/2 to 3 hr drive (door to door), and the car drop-off & flight departure will consume 2 hrs - for a total of at least 4 1/2 to 5 hrs of "non-productive" time. The flight will consume another 1 1/2 hrs. (6 hrs total) If you are flying to Paris, take the TGV from Avignon - (probably 4 1/2 hrs total). If you are flying elsewhere, leave from Marseille if you can (save 1 1/2 hrs driving time & perhaps 30 mins car check-in time).

Stu Dudley

My flight is out of Milan and there is no direct flight out of Marseille to Milan. I was thinking drive to Nice, spend a night there, explore the area, then take a train to Milan. Is that wise, considering the circumstances?

Hi

Worth checking on the drop off charges. Even collecting in Montpellier with drop off in Nimes is quite expensive with Avis.

Peter

Spending a night in Nice, exploring a bit, and taking the train to Milan is certainly workable.

There is usually no drop off charge for picking up a car in one French city and dropping it off in another. Check prices with Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com), a consolidator that find you the best rate from among several companies. If you find a better rate by contacting a company directly, AE promises to either match or beat it. Whomever you go with, book from home NOW. You'll pay a lot more if you wait until you get to France.