Here's my first sketch:

Fly into Brussels
Bruges - 2 nights
train to Paris - 3 nights
train to Chenonceaux - 1 or 2 nights
train to Brive - pick up car
drive to Domme, home base, 5 nights
drive to area in Lot (thinking of staying at Domaine de la Rhue)- 3 nights
return car to Brive - train to Toulouse - 1 night
Fly back to Los Angeles

I would enjoy your feedback.

Hello, forgot to mention I won't be traveling until next June, but plan to buy my plane ticket next month, so need to firm up dates.

I'm curious if 2 nights will be enough for Bruges. I've been to Paris before: main attractions this time will be Hemingway walks, and visits to Chopin places.

Domme is lovely, but it is very, very quiet at night and there are few restaurant choices. This isn't a problem if you don't mind driving into Sarlat or neighboring towns for dinner, or your meals aren't that important to you. For us, it was limiting - I would have preferred Sarlat as a base.

Thanks, Vonse. I considered Sarlat, but based on some comments I read, was a little afraid that traffic going to and from might be a problem (as well as parking). I'll reconsider. I've also read the La Roque Gageac has a couple of the best restaurants in the region. So I've considered it as a base, as well.

One option, if you stay in Domme, is to visit the restaurants in neighborhood villages for lunch....maybe having a late 2 or 3 course lunch. You may then just want a snack at dinnertime. As I recall, the area surrounding the hotel in Domme is very pretty. Sitting out enjoying that view with some wine, cheese and fruit would be very pleasant.

Judy, sounds great to me. I actually prefer having a late lunch, and then a snack in the evening. Sitting on the veranda with some wine and those views sounds heavenly.

Also, I may stay in one hotel the entire time (and not move over to Lot) as someone commented that it's not too far to day trip in that direction.

> train to Toulouse - 1 night

I loved Toulouse and wish I'd had 2 or 3 days there.

> I'm curious if 2 nights will be enough for Bruges.

Bruges is small, so a full day is probably enough. Having 1.5 or 2 days might be better, depending on what you want to see and experience.

> Sitting on the veranda [in Domme] with some wine and those views sounds heavenly

It was! Definitely recommended.

Hi kja,

Thanks for the recommendations. There's nothing in particular I want to see in Bruges, other than wandering by the canals and enjoying the ambience. I may rent a bike there.

I typically don't like big cities and that's why I wasn't planning to stay in Toulouse, but maybe I'll stay two nights there. Anything in particular you would recommend seeing there?

I just decided I'm going to try to see George Sand's country home in Nohant, just south of Loire Valley. I'll need a car, no doubt. Do any of you have any ideas about the best place to rent a car? Chopin wrote some major works in that house. I've decided I should go while I'm in the area.

Good choices!
Henry Miller, who fell in love with this part of the world, described it thus: "France may one day no longer exist, but Dordogne will live on, just like the dreams that fuel the human soul"

Some comments:
If you need a car to see George Sand's country home in Nohant you should take the train from Paris to Tours ( which you would to see Chenonceaux ), rent a car in Tours, drive to Chenonceaux. After your 1-2 nights stay, continue driving 2 hours to Nohant-vic. You may want to spend the night. Continue driving to Domme (3 hours 45 min).No need to take the train to Brive.

I assume you are staying at the Esplanade in Domme. I stayed there 12 years ago and enjoyed it and had 2 great meals there. Ask for a room with a view. There is an open air restaurant right next to the Esplanade for a light meal.

I stayed at the Domaine de la Rhue last year(for the second time).I will go back again. Having said that I would split the time- 6 nights at the Esplanade, 2 nights at the Domaine de la Rhue.

There is no reason to return the car to Brive. Brive is 1 hr north, and Toulouse is 2 hrs south.

Last year we flew LAX to Toulouse. The rental car choices are many, because it is a large city.If you require an automatic and a GPS you should look at reversing the order of your itinerary. I brought my own GPS and pre programed many tourist locations before I left Los Angeles including hotels, airports, etc.

dugi_otok, thanks so much for the recommendations. Yes, I was thinking of doing a split with L'Esplanade & Domaine de la Rhue (thanks for recommending) until someone on another thread suggested I stay in one hotel. I think getting closer to the Lot destinations makes sense. I'm thinking 5 nights in Domme; 3 nights at Domaine.

Yes, I've thought of the reverse order. Not sure I want to fly from Brussels to Washington DC, and then on to LAX (couldn't find any direct flights). I'll consider this, though, as I may have more choices in Toulouse than in Tours. Thanks for suggesting the nearest place for car rentals for the Sand house.

dugi - I may split the hotels 6 and 2 nights, as you suggest.

susan001, we've picked up cars at St-Pierre-des-Corps (stop before Tours from Paris). We've used AutoEurope and I believe the vendor there was Euopcar. You may want to see what you can get before looking at changing flights, etc.

Toulouse has some wonderful churches and museums and plenty of interesting architecture, making it a delight to walk around. For my tastes, St. Sernin, Les Jacobins, the Musee des Augustins, and the Foundation Bemberg were particular standouts. Enjoy!

Thanks so much, kja. I may stay a couple nights in Toulouse.