We're planing to visit Paris, then on to Dijon for 2 days, Lyon for 2 days, and then base ourselves in Provence for 4 days. <BR> Would appreciate your advice on hotels in Dijon & Lyon and any comments on the towns. <BR> Also, we've used St Remy as a base in Provence before, and want to try somewhere else. Thinking of Arles or Nimes - what are your thoughts ? <BR> Thanks, <BR> Tom

I haven't been there for a number of years, but I loved Arles, though very crowded with tourists in the summer, like most places I guess <BR>Again, it has been a while, but my hotel was the D'Arlatan, central location, absolutely charming.

In Lyon, we've twice stayed at the Hotal Royal, right on Place Bellecour. It is a 4-star hotel, but participates in the "Bon Weekend" promotions in Lyon, with 2 nights for the price of 1 on Fri, Sat, and Sun, nites. (Boat tours of the Rhone and Saone around the city are also two-fers.) If your schedule can work with this, by all means, do it; it's a great location. <BR>Just my opinion, but I'd think about staying further south than Dijon (perhaps at the wonderful Chateau de Chorey les Beaune, just outside Beaune and about a km or so from the A6 exit after your Paris drive). You could daytrip up the Route des Vins thru the Cote d'Or to Dijon if you really want to visit and also visit Beaune. We actually were disappointed in Dijon (I'm sure there are others who might disagree) and found mainly a BIG crowded city. After Paris, I'd want more of the Burgundy countryside. <BR>What time of year are you planning this for? (Don't drive the A7 south from Lyon to Provence on a summer Saturday!) <BR>I'd suggest Aix-en-Provence as a base in Provence; I think there's much more there than in Arles. And you can daytrip around Mte. Ste. Victoire, to the Luberon, etc. Feel free to email me if you wish.

Tom, <BR> <BR>We love and stay in St. Remy each year. If I was to pick another place in Provence to stay I would choose Aix en Provence. Anywhere in Provence is great.

Hi Tom, <BR> <BR>I'd say, don't forget the Beaujolais. I went to a wedding in this forgotten region, and it's steeped in history, tradition, and well away from the Great Unwashed (well off the tourist trail)! <BR> <BR>The wines are light and totally quaffable, and we had such a blast touring wineries and getting the history/doing a tasting at the Maison du Beaujolais (get an English tour) . . . <BR>http://www.beaujolais-wines.com/ <BR> <BR>Have fun & let us know how you go!

Thanks for all your advice. We're still debating whether to stay in Dijon or Beaune. We're going with friends, so we prefer to stay in a town rather than the countryside in case we want to shop or explore separately once in a while. <BR> Is Beaune just small and touristy like Portofino? We ususally prefer towns like Siena or Santa Margherita size, which are easy to explore without too much traffic. ( sorry about all the Italian references, but we usually take our vacations there, but we're looking forward to France.) <BR> Thanks again Fodorites, <BR>Tom

Having stayed in both Arles and Nimes, I enjoyed both, and they are both suitable centers from which to explore the area. You wouldn't regret either one. I haven't visited St. Remy yet, but on my next trip, I plan not to miss it; judging by comments on this forum, it sounds wonderful.

Hi Tom, <BR>Not having been yet I can't tell you whether you should stay in Dijon or Beaune. We're leaving in 3 weeks (yippee!!) and we're spending 3 nites outside of Beaune at Chateau Chorey Les Beaune (thanks Karen!!!), which is just north of Beaune which will be our base to explore Beaune and south to Santenay, 1 nite in Gevrey Chambertin so we can explore that region, and 1 nite in Dijon basically so we can get up the next morning and get the TGV to Paris. Dijon does look to be a city with all the city features - noise, crowds, traffic etc - but there is a pedestrian area in the old city. Beaune looks lovely as well - but with 4 nites in Paris, I have to agree with Karen that it may be too much 'city'. good luck!!!

Dear Tom, <BR>My husband and I stayed at a very nice hotel in Gevrey-Chambertin a couple weeks ago, Arts et Terroirs. It had the biggest bathroom of our whole trip! They have a wine bar and a dining room for breakfast. The woman at the front desk was extremely helpful and very nice, especially when we had car trouble and had to have it towed to Dijon! The town itself is cute with several shops, restaurants and "degustations" (free tastings of the wonderful burgundies). I highly recommend it.

Tom: We also have made our French trips with friends - what a great way to have fun and share the costs of rental car, gas and tolls! (Plus, more different meals on the table from which to sample all that wonderful food!) You could stay IN Beaune and walk to everything - shops to explore (I particularly remember one with exquisite fabrics, pillows, tapestries, ornamental tassels), charcuteries, patisseries, restaurants, and wines to taste. It feels like a lovely little city without any modern-industry-business bustle at all in the Centre Ville old town, and manageable traffic around it outside the ring road where the old ramparts were. We actually ducked back into the city to puchase more wine on our way back to Paris from Provence! Have visited twice; one shopkeeper fixed my glasses and wouldn't hear of receiving any francs for it. We loved the place. I can't compare with any Italian towns - have never been there. <BR>Lori, have a great time! - I'm daydreaming, thinking of your 3 nights at the Chateau and several days in the Cote d'Or!