I know, we are crazy (certifiable). last year we did a 9 day road trip which was an astounding success mostly due to comments on this board that helped us map our itinerary, hotels etc. In case you are wondering, yes we did the last trip with the kids as well - had a really great time. So please, please comment tell me what you think (it's my 10 year anniversary Nov 21

So, I just booked an open jaws ticket flying into Barcelona on November 12th and flying out of Venice November 30th. I have never been to any of these places so all the information that I have to go on is what you guys recommend plus the various readings I have done.

Basically driving around the meditteranean (1260 km or so). we have 17 nights to space out the drives (the kids start going crazy after more than 2 0r 3 hours of driving). They are 1 1/2 and 4 1/2 (did I mention I was crazy?)

Barcelona 2 nights
figueres 1 night
beziers 1 night
avingnon 1 night
aix en provence 1 night
st tropez 2 nights
menton 1 night
finale ligure 1 night
cinque terre 2 nights
pisa 1 night
florence 2 nights
venice 2 nights

Obviously everthing is interchangeable with the exception of barcelona at the beginning and venice at the end (although we could do less or more nights in any one place). Which of these cities (other than the big ones) are not worth spending a night in. Which of the cities on my route would you definitely stopover in or replace with my itinerary?

Please give me your comments - any cute bed and breakfasts along the way in any of the towns on route - any suggestions welcome and appreciated.

Thanks

Lex

I don't think you're crazy, sounds like a dream trip to me. The itineray sounds great too. I have a couple suggestions. Aix and Avignon are very close together and since you have a night in each you'll have time to see some of the small towns in the area. We did St Remy and Les Baux on the day we drove from Aix to Avignon and had plenty of time to spend a couple hours in each. Also, when you get back down to the coast, there are some great hill towns near Nice. Vence and St Paul de Vence are about a half hour from Nice. Vence is one of my favorite places so I suggest to anyone going to the area to stop there. Personally I would stay there instead of St Tropez but you could also just visit them.

In Italy I would skip Pisa and add a night to Venice (or Florence). Most people I've talked to say Pisa is "not worth it". Based on that, I did skip it and went straight from Florence area to Cinque Terra. But they are so close you could stop for a couple hours to see the leaning tower. In the Cinque Terra area we stayed in Camogli, about an hour train ride north. I actually liked Camogli as well as any of the five towns in the Cinque Terra itself. It was quite easy to take the train to southern most town and work our way back north (with little kids I'm assuming you won't do much hiking).

Other than that I'd follow your itineray. Now I want to do it.

isabel,
Thanks for the input. I will definitely skip pisa good point florence or venice will offer much more. Is 2 nights in cinque terra enough? I will read up on camogli.

Any experience with the coast from Spain into France?

Lex

based on the comments on this board, I think I am going to modify the stopover places a little
Barcelona 2 nights
figueres 1 night (switch to cadaques or colioure)
beziers 1 night(switch to sete)
avingnon 1 night(switch to arles)
aix en provence 2nights (add a night)
st tropez 2 nights(change to frejus or st raphael)
menton 1 night
finale ligure 1 night
cinque terre 2 nights
pisa 1 night(eliminate)
florence 2 nights
venice 2 nights

In the smaller towns (cadaques, sete, menton,finale ligure (not sure about this stopover) cinque terra - looking for hotels 3 star around E120 per night close to the water if possible. At the time of the year that we are travelling, a lot of things will be closed at night so the liveliest of the little towns would be better than a completely quiet place.

How does the itinerary sound?

It is a long, hectic road trip for sure. Too many stops for too short a time. Slow down and relax so you can enjoy the trip. Looks like your goal is to cover lots of ground and the stops are based on the short attention span of the kids.

Does this all have to be done by car?

Do you really think you will see very much in Barcelona with just two nights and being jetlagged and taking care of two young kids? Same goes for Florence and Venice.

You don't know anything about these places, time is short and the logistics is a huge factor. The weather at that time of year will be cool if not cold and rain will be a factor.

Sorry to be so negative but you need to factor all that in your planning.

Lexluther,

I love your screenname, and admire your sense of adventure, but I think this itinerary will drive you nucking futs as Dickie Roberts says.

I think you have about three trips in one here, and I would really try to simplify it. What I'd recommend, just to take over your life for a second here, is:

Barcelona- 5 days
FLY from Barcelona to NICE on EASYJET

Nice- 5 days
Rent a car to explore hilltowns ( St. Paul de Vence, Eze, Monaco)Could also drive to Aix ( 2 and a half hours) for a long daytrip.

FLY NICE to FLORENCE ( this is the part I'm unsure of, although I think there are flights between these cities)

FLORENCE- 3 nights

TRAIN from FLORENCE to VENICE ( 4 hours)

VENICE- 4 nights, fly home

Good luck, lex!

weadles and degas. Thanks for the input, I will definitely take it into consideration. Last year I did a trip by car from Paris to St Goar (Germany) and back. The total trip distance was 630 miles (about 1000 km). We did this in 9 days (8 nights). (3 days paris) 1night luxembourg 3 nights st goar, 1 night reims and back to paris.

What we learnt from that trip was that driving 3 or 4 hours in 1 day was too much - also the trip was too short.

SO this time we did an open jaws ticket. The total distance is 1263 km we have 17 nights to cover this distance so the pace seems quite bearable no more than 2 hours of driving (point to point - not including detouring). Doesn't seem that hectic. After all back home we drive from Los Angeles to Vegas (with the kids) in 6 hours and then back 2 days later! This seems much slower pace, leave in the morning stop somewhere for coffee, somewhere else for lunch (have a whole day to cover 1 or 2 hours of driving).

lexluther

I wish you the best. I wouldn't find this trip at all relaxing, especially with kids and given the variables of foreign roads and possible weather conditions. Too, I think kids often prefer trains over cars because they're not as confined. This was true for my kids anyway, when they were much younger. All I can add is best of luck, and let us know what you decide!

Bon voyage!

Took Rex's advice on the rental car. Barcelona 3 nights train to perpignan pick up rental in perpignan. 1 night in coullioure, followed by a night in sete (is there anything to do there at night?). Then drive to Aix en Provence 2 nights in Aix (is that too long?). From there drive to the Riviera. Not sure where to stay - want to do 3 nights or four if I cut out a night in AIx. thought of staying 2 nights in St Raphael and then a night in Villefrance or Menton but St Raphael doesn't sound so interesting - is nice a better base? Even with all the negative comments i have heard surrounding nice - maybe it really is a good base - cheap!.

After Riviera, either drive straight through to Levanto for 2 nights (or somewhere around the cinque terre) or stopover in finale ligure (is this a worthwile stopover? How about other stopovers to break up this 4 hour drive?

After Cinque Terre 2 nights Florence, 2 nights Venice and home.

Hotel Recommendations in Barcelona, Florence, Venice, Coullioure, Sete, Levanto, Any recommendations for where to base in the riviera? Also hotel for Aix?

Would appreciate some suggestions

Thanks