Piccolina

I will be spending 2 weeks in total in Toulouse and Dordogne and would appreciate some help on the logistics as I may be traveling by myself (woman). I will be arriving via a flight to Toulouse so that's why I've decided to make my base in Toulouse for the first few days (and to do day trips) and then move on to Sarlat

Day 1 - 5 : Base in Toulouse - 2 days Toulouse, 1 day Carcassonne and 1 day Albi. Leave for Sarlat on Day 5. Any other day trips idea? Is this too much time to make Toulouse a base?

Day 5 - 14 - Base in Sarlat with a rental car to drive around.

I have a few questions on logistics:

1. I'm not keen on driving from Toulouse to Sarlat - is there a direct train t to get from Toulouse to Sarlat (or a nearby town)? Do fellow fodorlites prefer driving or taking the train?

2. Depending on the answers to question 1 above, I will either have to pick up a car from Toulouse or Sarlat. I would much prefer to drive an automatic - is it difficult to secure an automatic car in Sarlat or another nearby town where I will get off the train from Toulouse? I presume it will be easier to reserve an automatic in Toulouse since it is a big city.

Many thanks in advance.

StCirq

Train connections to Sarlat are lousy. Drive. Pick up the car in Toulouse. It's an easy drive. An automatic will be expensive and companies will not be able to guarantee you one. I would learn to drive a stick before you leave. It's not hard.

No, it's not too much time to make Toulouse a base. There is much to see and do in the area. I think you've got it about right, though.

Carlux

Train connections to Sarlat virtually don't exist, but you can easily get there by train from Toulouse to Souillac, about 30 minutes from Sarlat. There is a coach that meets the train and takes you into Sarlat.

In Sarlat there is ONE car rental agency, Europcar. They are very small, and will have to bring a car in from another agency. I suspect the chances of getting an automatic are slight, since it will depend on someone else bringing one back to another agency.

If you don't want to drive from Toulouse - mostly not a big problem, especially if you've ever driven in Europe, you can compromise and get the train to Cahors, which will have more agencies, and you might have more chance at an automatic.

You mention day trips from Toulouse, and I'm not sure how you are going to do them without a car. This will then mean parking for the car,which can be an issue in Toulouse. If you have done these day trips by car, you should have no problem getting to Sarlat.

Piccolina

Carlux, thanks for your tips. For day trips from Toulouse, I was thinking of Carcassonne and Albi and possibly one more destination. Are Carcassonne and Albi do-able via train (eg: take the train there and wander around on foot)? Any other suggestions for day trips? I've read on this forum that carcasonne is only worth about 3 hours of visit.

I don't mind the driving (actually I love to drive), but I'm just intimidated with driving a manual on my own on a French highway!

ParisAmsterdam

There is no reason to feel intimidated by driving on French roads. I have driven all over Canada and the US and prefer driving in France any day.

St Cirq makes an excellent point... take a few hours and learn to drive a standard transmission before you go. Make it part of your trip preparations! Here are a few ideas:

- read up on using a standard transmission online so you understand the basics

- you moight have a friend with a manual transmission car who might help you out...

- some driver ed schools have a short course for people with licenses to learn standard transmissions.. they do in my area

- I've seen people advertise on Craigslist and Kijiji offering to teach manual transmission

- sometimes you can find a rental agency in N America with a standard... I'd taught one of my daughters in a 5 speed Passat one weekend but she wanted more practice. At the time she lived several hundred miles away. She found a Rent-a-Wreck location close to her with a manual
Ford Fusion for a low weekend price.

I love driving in France and hate to think of someone who also enjoys driving missing out due to misplaced apprehension or unfamiliarity with a stick shift... you can do it! ;^)

Rob

Piccolina

Rob, thank you for your encouragement! I've always wanted to learn how to drive stick and I think this is the time to learn it once and for all! I'm going to sign up for some lessons with a driving school.

I'm glad to hear that you prefer driving on french roads over Canada and US roads. I have no problem driving anywhere in Canada or the US so hearing this does boost my confidence level. Aside from the manual transmission issue, I'm worried that some road signs will be unfamiliar to me - did you have any problems with this?

I'm a bit confused with the highway naming convention in France (will do more research on google after this post). There are A routes, E routes, N routes, etc. A routes are the freeways right? What's really confusing is why does one route have an A number and an E number at the same time? For example, I see on google map the A62 is also called the E09.

Thanks again!

ParisAmsterdam

Good for you!

E roads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...E-road_network

Ignore the E signing and think of them as A (autoroute) roads. Most autoroutes have tolls.
Some people say US credit cards work, others say not. I never got around to trying my Canadian cards in 2008 as we always played it safe and used the manned booths and paid cash.

"N" roads are Routes National... precursors to autoroutes, busy national highways. "D" roads are the smaller usually quieter roads maintained the by individual departements. Try using Google Earth or Google Maps Streetview... France is very well covered and you can cover many of your proposed routes online.

Signs won't be a problem... just Google "European Road Signs" and you'll find all kinds of tips and info.

I have driven thousands of KM over the years in Europe and love maps... but I wouldn't drive without a GPS after using a TomTom in France in 2008. Espcially when you have nobody with you to read a map on the move. If you don't have one, get one. Either a TomTom or a Garmin. I'd avoid the smaller brands. You can get a brand new model with European maps these days for 150 dollars and less. Last year I upgraded to a used TomTom 920 complete with European maps for just 84 dollars and free shipping on eBay. It's important to know how to use one before a trip.

Let us know how the driving lessons go! ;^)

Rob

StuDudley

We have stayed at the Mermoz in Toulouse, which has parking and it is close to the train station - where you can pick up a car on about day 3. The day before you pick up the car, go to the train station to make sure that they have an automatic for you. If not, have them pull one in from the airport. If they refuse, call AutoEurope/Kemwel (or whatever agency you choose), and ask them to get involved.

IMO, Carcassonne is about a 3 hr visit - a tad longer if you have lunch there. Albi is not much longer either.

The area around Albi is laced with scenic roads, and cute & interesting villages to explore. On your Albi day, I would head out to Albi so you get there around 10. Explore Albi & have lunch. After lunch, drive back towards Toulouse a little, but get off the A68 at exit #9 & make your way on the A964 to Castelnau de Montmiral - one of my favorite Bastide towns. Then take the D992 to Cordes - a Michelin 2 star site. Then backtrack on the D922 to the D1 & head west - this is one of the scenic sections. When the D1 hits the D964, take the D964 northwest. This is another scenic section of road. Head to Bruniquel - another interesting village to explore. Now, head into the Gorges de l'Aveyron - more scenic countryside & vistas. Follow the driving itinerary in the Michelin Green Guide to the Languedoc. Visit St Antonin Noble Val.

On your "open" day, head north & visit Quercy Blanc - see the Michelin Green Guide for the Dordogne. This is more pretty countryside, and there are some nice Bastide towns in this region. My favorites are Lauzeret and Montpezat de Quercy.

I would leave Toulouse a day earlier and head north towards Cahors on the A20. Get off at exit # 57 & find your way to Pech Merle cave (reserve a week in advance). Next, visit St Cirq Lapopie, and then take the Cele River drive (scenic) to Figeac - one of my favorite villages in the area. Get a walking map from the tourist office & follow it (in English). Next, make your way to Rocamadour, and stay there for 1 night. If you have time left in the day, visit Rocamadour - perhaps have dinner there. Next morning visit Rocamadour (if you did not see it yesterday), "take in" the view at l'Hospitalet (best in the am), then the Gouffre de Padirac. Then head to the cute villages of Loubresac & Autoire for a quick walk-around. Then follow the Dordogne river to Carennac - my favorite in the area. Then hit Martel, and off to Sarlat.

Do not visit Toulouse, Albi, or Figeac on Sunday or Monday mornings when shops will be closed & the city/town won't be as interesting. Same for lunch breaks.

If you want more details - e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll send you my Dordogne & Languedoc itineraries.

Stu Dudley

RedStater

Planning to be in the same area in June, so bookmarking.

Michael

Day trip from Toulouse: Moissac and Montauban, the first for its abbey church, especially the portal, and the second for its Place Nationale and its Ingres Museum in the former bishop's palace.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4529065369/

Piccolina

Many thanks for the tips and the suggested itinerary, and especially the point on asking for an automatic the day before my pick-up date in Toulouse =)

Stu - you mentioned that Albi and Toulouse is not good on Sunday so I'm thinking of going to Carcasonne that day via the train. Givent hat Carcasonne is only a 3-hour affair, is there anything else to see around that area? I'll email you - would love to see your Dordogne itinerary

Thanks again everyone!

PS: Rob - will let you know how my driving goes! Gonna call the driving school this afternoon!

Piccolina

Sorry, just want to clarify my above post. I see that Stu mentioned to visit Quercy Blanc on my open day and the itinerary suggests to leave a day early to head up to Cadors on the 5th day. But I'm not sure how to include the Quercy Blanc bit.

Day 1 Saturday - Arrival in Toulouse via flight by noon / Visit Toulouse

Day 2 Sunday - Carcasonne via train / and then ??

Day 3 Monday - Toulouse

Day 4 Tues - pick up rental car in the morning and do Albi and surrounding area

Day 5 - Head to Cadors and Rocamadour

Where to slot in Quercy Blanc? Am I dedicating too much time by spending the whole Monday in Toulouse? Thanks again =)

StuDudley

Usually if I am basing in a town that is also worthy of a extended visit - I'll explore it early in the morning or late in the afternoon before and after visiting other places. Don't visit any museums in Toulouse on Saturday - visit them on Sunday after returning from Carcassonne. You may have some time after Day 4 too. The architecture in Toulouse is quite interesting - just walking to dinner & wandering around after dinner will add to your enjoyment. Also, Sat nights are quite lively in Toulouse - plan to spend time before/after dinner just strolling through town. Use Monday for Quercy Blanc - you may have time for Toulouse then also.

Getting to some other site along with Carcassonne on Sunday by bus or train might be a little difficult. Have a leisurely lunch in Carcassonne and return to Toulouse for museums & to catch up from jet-lag.

Stu Dudley

Piccolina

I called Kemwel and found out that they are able to guarantee an automatic vehicle for me at the Toulouse airport if I pay for an automatic (no automatic at the train station). YAY! So my inclination now is to leave Toulouse immediately from the airport without seeing Toulouse - what do you think of this? I would much rather spend the time in quaint villages and the country (I live in a big city so I'm ok with skipping Toulouse) So now I need to decide where I want to be based for the first 4 nights, before heading to Sarlat for my 10 day stay there.

Since I'm spending 10 days in Sarlat, I think Rocamadour can be done as a long day trip. So I'm thinking of basing in Albi for 2 nights and maybe 2 nights elsewhere? Any suggestions?? Merci beaucoup =)

StuDudley

There are a lot of sites to visit around the Rocamadour area. I mentioned some earlier - plus several more are in my itinerary, that I don't think you have requested yet. I would stay 2 nights in Albi, 2 near Rocamadour at the Domaine de la Rhue www.domainedelarhue.com . Then the remaining in Sarlat.

Here are a few other places to visit near Rocamadour:

Chateau Montal
Chateau Castelnau Bretenoux
St Cere
Grottes de Lacave
Chateau de la Treyne
Collognes la Rouge - farther north
Turenne close to Collognes
Gouffre de la Fage

Far too many to hit on a day trip from Sarlat.

Stu Dudley

Michael

Castelnau Bretenoux, while impressive from the outside, offers only a late 19th century reconstruction in part of the inside. Behind the Renaissance windows that one sees going up there is nothing but a near ruin. If someone is touring the Dordogne and <i>alentours</i>, there are better castles that will surely have been seen.

Michael

An addendum: Fénelon, fairly close to that area, is a more interesting castle, with period rooms from the Renaissance to the First Empire.

ekscrunchy

Just a note to let you know that I could not agree more with the recommendation to explore the area around Albi that Stu mentioned above. I have done quite a bit of traveling in France over the years and this area is right up there with the best in terms of scenery.

I think you would do well with even three days in Albi. There is a weekend antiques/brocante market in Albi that was quite good, if you are interested in that sort of thing.

We also enjoyed our visit to Gailliac, and to a couple of wineries in the surroundings of the town.

You can easily see Rocamadour on a day trip from Sarlat.

On two different trips to the area, once based in Sarlat and once in Domme, I had lunch at the walnut oil mill outside Martel which was quite a treat. If you want more info on that, let me know..

I found the driving in these areas to be quite easy and I am a fairly squeamish driver.

ParisAmsterdam

Good that you can have an automatic guaranteed but... few would recommend jumping into a car after a long flight and driving off. It can be a recipe for disaster.

Tempting as it may seem, spend one night at least in Toulouse and pick up the car the next day...

StuDudley

Blagnac (where the airport is located) to Albi is only 1 hr - and all freeway. I would not have any trouble with that - and we arrive from the west coast of the US.

Stu Dudley