My wife and I have tickets to France next week. We'll have 2 weeks: Oct 18th to Nov 2nd. We've been to Paris previously so we want to visit the countryside. We don't mind driving, but don't want to spend days at end in the car. I think we've bit off a little too much... but we would like to get the flavor of many different areas.... <BR><BR>The itinerary follows: <BR>

19th: Drive to St Malo, <BR>20th: Mont St Michel, Dinan, Drive to Amboise. <BR>21st: Loire Chateaus<BR>22nd: Loire Chateaus<BR>23rd: Loire... Drive to Sarlat<BR>24th: Sarlat<BR>25th: Sarlat.. Drive to Carcossone<BR>26th: Carcossone to Avignon<BR>27th: Avignon<BR>28th: Avignon Drive to Nice Area<BR>29th: Nice Area<BR>30th: Nice Area<BR>31st: Drive to Burgundy (Beaune?)<BR>1st: Beaune....<BR>2nd: Drive to CDG<BR><BR>Well, what do you think? Any thought on Hotels...$75 to $150. We'd like something with atmosphere... <BR><BR>Thanks so much!!

That is a LOT of driving. Will you have time to see and enjoy the areas? We are spending 6 days driving around Normandy next week and then back to Paris for a while doing a couple of day trips.<BR>I assume you are going north specifically to see MT. St. Michel. Have you already been to Normandy?<BR>Personally I would drop Nice and stop in Provence for a number of days, doing little day trips from Avignon or St. Remy.<BR>And then there is just so little time for Burgundy.<BR>If you leave out Burgundy also I would consider leaving the car in Avignon and taking the train back to Paris.

Thanks for the reply. <BR>- Yes we are going to normandy specifically for Mont St Michel. We have been told so much about it. <BR><BR>Is there a town instead of Nice? WHat about Cassis? <BR><BR>- SHould we stay an extra day in Avignon, then skip nice, allowing for an extra day in Burgundy... <BR><BR>Appreciate the advice, we're just trying to get some thoughts...

WAY too much driving - - and this is coming from someone who does WAY too much driving.<BR><BR>The best (fastest) roads in france are very "Paris-centric", and these distances are going to consume much more time than you think.<BR><BR>Part of "seeing the countryside" is going off exploring towns that get minimal name recognition. Not that there's anything wrong with mixing in some "well-known" destinations, out in the "province". Mont St. Michel IS amazing (I didn't expect it to make much an impression on me after 9 prior times to France) - - but there are tons of other stuff to like throughout Normandy, or the Loire or Bourgogne or the Cotes du Rhone.<BR><BR>I would recommend cutting down to three main areas - - either eliminate the Loire, or anything south of Burgundy.<BR><BR>I feel a little awkward saying that you should substantially re-think your whole itinerary when it is only 6 days from now. But I am hoping you get to se more of France, and less of the inside of your car.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

topping<BR>

Rex, <BR><BR>Thanks for the comments. No need to feel awkward. Our plans are pretty flexible. Other than the tickets and the car we haven't made a single reservations. We do expect to travel where life takes us. We are simply trying to get a feel for a general outline... <BR><BR>What would you think if we dropped Normandy and Nice. That would leave the Loire, Dordogne, Avignon, and Burgundy. does that sound more manageable? <BR><BR>Part of the reason for heading south is the weather. Thought it might be warmer the further south we get. <BR><BR>Thoughts?<BR><BR>

Mike: This is the trip from hell. You are trying to capture WAY too much of France in one swoop. Forget the Dordogne, for one thing - you need at least a week to appreciate that area. You are going to be trapped inside a car witnessing France from the windshield.<BR><BR>Take a day-or-two trip from Paris to le Mont St-Michel, then take the TVG to Avignon and rent a car and explore the area for a few days. Then take the train to Lyon and do Burgundy for a few days. Then go back to Paris. Leave the Dordogne and Carcassonne for a later trip. Honestly - you can't do it all and enjoy yourselves in one trip.

I agree, this is far too much distance to cover in the time that you have. I would suggest that you choose either the south or the north and give yourself time to see the country. As you want to include Mont St Michel, I suggest that you stay in the north west and see some of Normandy, Brittany, and the Loire. You could start with Monet's garden at Giverny, and follw the Seine to Rouen, then across to Honfleur, Caen, and D-Day beaches, then on to the Mont. From there you could travel down to Vannes, in Britany and see some of the coast, then head for the Loire. Maybe a couple of days at/around Angers then a couple at near Amboise - you can easily spend 3-4 days looking at Loire chateaux etc You could return to Paris via Chartres and maybe go across to Fontainebleau. We have previously spent a full week based in Rouen and still run out of time seeing the surrounding area, and another timespent 3 weeks covering an itinerary similar to what I outlined above. Whatever you choose - have agreat time

&lt;&lt;That would leave the Loire, Dordogne, Avignon, and Burgundy&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>Big improvement.<BR><BR>And you leave yourselves some opportunities for chance discoveries. Between the Dordogne and Avignon is "le Midi", an area little visited by a lot of tourists (and I have never been there myself).<BR><BR>Find something interesting and report back to us.<BR><BR>Search for info on "Longsard" here on this forum also - - for a good place to stay between Avignon and Burgundy.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Mike,<BR><BR>2 things:<BR><BR>1) do anything but spend that much time in or near nice. There are plenty of other places nto far but far enough away to actually be worthwhile then spending it there, including (as you asked) the avignon area.<BR><BR>2) TOLLS. Its not too much driving (despite the critics) if you use the fastest routes where, although the limit is 130km/h, everyone drives over 150km/h. BUT the cost of tolls are amazing so your other option is to use roads that actually are more interesting and have no tolls, but this takes mroe time. So ahve a think about it. Once you delete the most of the time in nice then you may find interesting ways to enjoy France like you want to.

Agree with prior suggestions about limiting your areas, especially Normandy, Mt. St. Michel and the Loire (and I loved the Burgundy region around Beaune)<BR><BR>We just came back from 10 days of driving in those areas and included Burgundy. Wonderful! The weather was milder than I expected, but you will need jackets. Lots of favorites<BR><BR>The beauty of driving is taking your time to see the countryside and to focus on selected areas, so allowing at least 2-3 days in each area is best. I particulary enjoyed the small towns west of Mt. St. Michel, so be sure to follow roads for the "cote" (along the coastline). <BR><BR>

Just a quick not of Thanks to all who have provided feedback. It is much appreciated. We're still up in the air as to a specific agenda. We can't give up on MSM. So we'll shoot for MSM, Loire, Avignon and Burgundy. <BR><BR>We do appreciate the thoughts... I guess we'll see how far we get. <BR><BR>Mike

Just returned from five days of driving in France (flew home yesterday). Our route was:<BR><BR>Day One CDG to Amboise (visit Chambord and Chenenceaux)<BR><BR>Day Two Loire Valley <BR><BR>Day Three Angers to Mt. St. Michel (take motorway from Angers to Laval to Rennes and motorway from Rennes toward Caen in around 2.5 hours)<BR><BR>Day Four Mt. St. Michel to Giverny (via Normandy beaches)<BR><BR>Day Five Giverny to Auvers Sur Oise to CDG (excellent road from Cergy Pontoise direct to CDG in less than one hour). <BR><BR>In two weeks you can easily do this and more. Arise early, plan your visits to attractions so that you avoid the 12:00 to 2:00 closings, and use the motorways for long distances.<BR><BR>Have a great time!

I see that you're flip-flopping on Normandy - - first you said you might drop it, but then decided that MSM is a must.<BR><BR>I just came back from Normandy and it's an excellent idea to put it back in. You could spend the whole two weeks in Normandy. Burgundy also would make an excellent complementary destination.<BR>

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