Elle25

Hi. A friend and I, both female and 30, are traveling to Italy and France for 16 days in July. Neither of us has ever been to these countries. Our tentative itinerary is Rome, Florence and Cinque Terre for week 1 and Paris and the Riviera for week 2. We plan to do more sightseeing in Rome and Paris and relax a little more in the other cities. We would especially like any information on Cinque Terre and the Riveria...ie - where to stay, what to do. We were thinking of staying in Vernazza or Monterosso in Cinque Terre. In the Riveria we are leaning towards staying in St. Tropez as we would like to spend the last 4 days of our trip going to the beach and during the day and going out at night...although we would like to take day trips to Nice and possibly Cannes as well. I've been reading posts and am thrilled with all of the great info on this site! Any advice or itinerary suggestions would be very helpful.

4totravel

You'll love the beaches in St. Tropez area - they are beuatiful!

4totravel

Sorry - spelled wrong - should be beautiful! I believe there is a wter shuttle to Cannes from Nice - if you do a seach here it has been mentioned before. Drving time from Nice to St. Tropez is an easy (without traffic) 1 1/2 hours. Nice is very easy to navigate as is St. Tropez - the whole area for that matter. Enjoy the water, beaches, food, local rose wine ...aaahhh!

ninetta

I cannot help you with France, never been there.
Cinque terre: is uggest Hotel Villa Steno - Monteroso al mare
In 2002 I used a travel consultant for accommodation and info on various amenities, restaurants....secret-tuscany.com
Wish you a memorable trip.
Keep us posted with your France trip please.

tedgale

I used to live in Florence and travel yearly to France, so here is frank advice from an old hand:

1. Think carefully about how much you want to see and do. Both countries are very hot in summer and bustling around among the crowds will wear you out, esp. in Rome and Florence.

2. I was on the Cote d'Azur last June (Riviera is only the final few miles of coast around Cannes and Nice) near St Tropez. The vistas above St Trop are spectacular but it is simply too over-run, for my money (and we were there in the mid-June "semaine creuse" -- a dead week; later it's worse)

3. You cannot beat the more northern parts of Provence, especially the Drome and the Luberon (Peter-Mayle-year-in-Provence area). Both fast (TGV) and local trains will connect you but a pre-booked car is the ideal.

4. For places to stay anywhere in France, I suggest the "Guide de charme" series, published in several languages by Rivage and widely available -- separate books for small hotels and for really "French" and often exceptional B&Bs.

Perhaps this is not quite the advice you were looking for -- it's your trip, so take this as well-intentioned but possibly off-base counsel.