So we are meeting with our financial guy on Friday and if he doesn't mention that our financial situation will require us to eat cat food in our dotage, I may be able to talk DH into a trip to France. We have only been to Paris and Rennes, so I would like to go to Provence. If a person was going for the first time, and had about a week, where would the experts recommend going? Base town/city? Which sights/highlights? We would likely fly into Paris and TGV to ? and then rent a car. Sorry if this sounds like a REALLY basic, newby, dumb question, but I value the Fodor's expertise! Fodorites recommended basing ourselves in Val d'Orcia in Tuscany and they were spot on. Thanks! Oh, this would be in mid-June.

I'm not Stu or Ted but I suggest St Renmy as a base if you want to visit the Alpilles and the Vaucluse, Aix if you you want to see the coast and the Haute Alps.

For St-Rémy, a good choice, take the TGV to Avignon and then pick up a car. From St-Rémy you can see the Alpilles, including the ruins of the once-great Les Baux; the Pont du Gard; Arles; Uzès; Avignon itself; and the Lubéron villages of Gordes/Bonnieux/Oppède-le-Vieux/Ménerbes (Peter Mayle country), Roussillon, and finally Isle sur la Sorgue. That would make for a very good week.

Get a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Provence and start making your lists of sights to see.

Bookmarking.

Great advice so far! I will take a look at the Green Guide. Or better yet, Stu or anyone else, what is your idea itinerary for a week for first timers?

You might want to check out flying to Avignon, Marseille, or Aix rather than CDG and taking TGV.

I would either fly to Marseille, or to Paris & take the TGV from CDG to Avignon. For 7 days, I would base in 2 locations.

1.St Remy to experience the small village feel where you can walk to restaurants & cafes, and easy access to the Pont du Gard, Uzes, Arles, Alpilles, les Baux. etc

2. In the Luberon (Gordes, Bonnieux, Roussillon) so you can experience more "out in the country" and explore the beautiful villages & countryside in the Luberon, lavender fields around Sault, market in l'Isle sur la Sorgue, Dentelles around Vaison, and the Rhone winegrowing region.

Both locations have easy access to Avignon.

I assume you have my 28 page Provence Itinerary. If not, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail.

Stu Dudley

Stu - you rock. AND thanks for the guide to Provence!