bro840

I' in the early planning stages of a trip to France next September. Already feeling overwhelmed. My firsts as considering using Home thought was to do a week in Paris, then take the train to Avignon and stay somewhere there for a week renting a car to tour the countryside. I thought maybe make a base in Isle de la Soeur and then take the train back to Paris for the flight home. I know from reading that people try and do too much so I was wondering if that sounds doable. I did think we should see Normandy and maybe Mont St. Michel but not sure either of those are day trips from Paris. Maybe better to take two days to do that and spend the other days solely in Paris doing maybe Versailles or something close. I was considering using Home Away to find accommodations having had good luck with that in the States but maybe a small hotel would be better? I'm not much of a museum person, more of a foodie and think I would enjoy just getting the feel of the country as best as one can in two weeks. Any advice appreciated.

bilboburgler

The food of Normandy is very different from that of Avignon as is the drink.

Your timings make sense though maybe Paris is only needed as a pass through

bro840

I was thinking 2 days in Normandy and 4 in Paris - do you think I should reverse this and go to Provence first? I did read that the train trip after the flight is relaxing. Then we could go back to Paris for that leg and be there to fly out without the train part. Is that too lon in Provence? It would work out to six days ther not counting the travel days.

Kathie

For me, 4 days in Paris (that would mean 5 nights) would not be enough for a first trip, but you might be satisfied with that much time. What is it you want to do/see/experience in France on this trip? That should determine your time in each place.

As far as accommodations are concerned, I tend to think you are better off in a hotel for a first trip, as you then have the assistance of hotel staff in how to get places, making reservation, etc. Also, no matter how early your flight arrives, the hotel will hold your luggage until your room is ready. With an apartment rented from someone, one of the issues people struggle with is check-in time and what to do with their luggage once they get there.

bilboburgler

You need to look at flight times, if you stay in Paris the first night, then you may also stay in Paris the last night and moving hotels wastes your holiday. So, the usual option is only stay in a town once.

However, you can end up jetlagged and gritty before a train journey, which gets you to feel worse. You can shower at CDG for instance. jetlag is helped if you get out in the sunshine

PalenQ

2 days in Normandy would be better than two longish day trips there from Paris. Take the train to Bayeux - stay there in that lovely town with sweet cathedral and handy mini-bus tours to all the main D-day spots - then take the train to Pontorson-Mont Saint Michel station and stay in Pontorson or near Mont-Saint-Michel then take the bus to Rennes and TGV train back to Paris.

For trains www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com has all the schedules and fares (same ones but different booking engines) - discounted tickets are available but often need to book weeks early to get the limited in number discounted ducats which also can't be changed nor refunded I believe - this applies mainly to TGV lines like from Rennes to Paris and Paris to Avignon - Paris to Bayeux is by non-TGV trains where discounts are minimal and walk-up fare fairly cheap - Bayeux to MSMichel is regional train - just buy tickets there at Bayeux.

for lots of great info on French trains check www.seat61.com - good info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. Pick up your Provence rental car at the Avignon-TGV station a few miles outside of Avignon.

topeater

First thought was why fly in and out of the same city? When we went to Provence last year, we flew into Paris for a few days and then left from Marseille.

Of course, I understand there are reasons for flying in and out of the same city. In March we had to fly in and out of the same city (Rome) cause we were using a companion ticket and that's all there was. Several people on this forum suggested flying into Rome and then taking a train to Florence rather than breaking up our time in Rome. I was hesitant to do this as I am always so tired and fuzzy with jet lag, but we decided to follow the advice and I'm so glad we did. It was great being on the train, listening to the sounds and watching the scenery. I dozed slightly, read and just relaxed. I had the easiest time I've ever had getting over jet lag and the next day, I woke up refreshed and ready to go.

Sometimes I find the energy of Paris a little overwhelming, in part because I have so much to do before leaving on the flight that I need someplace a bit more low keyed to get into vacation mode. I think a week in Provence would be a great introduction to France and finish with a few days in Paris when you are ready to be hit with a lot of energy.

I thought L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue was a charming town and I loved the great Sunday market. Most of the towns are very close. We also canoed Pont du Gard which was magical rounding the corner and seeing it. We took a lunch and a bottle of wine and stopped by the shore to picnic. Highly suggest doing this if the weather permits.

bro840

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I did think if flying into somewhere other than Paris but wasn't sure where.

PalenQ

Yes taking a train after being jet-lagged is not so bad - you can snooze but driving try snoozing.

kja

Kudos on your planning so far! You have mostly skipped the cram-too-much-in trap of many first-time travelers! Of course, you might still find that there's more to do than you want, but you're off to a very good start with your planning IMO.

The one hiccup, IMO, is trying to fit Normandy and Mont St. Michel in -- not really great day-trip options, and if you are going to try to visit them (and I thought them worth seeing!), then you might want to see some of the other places nearby.... You might want to consider waiting to see this part of France until your next trip. Either than, or decide on a chunk of things to cut from your current plan. JMO -- YMMV.

I agree with the advice to fly open jaw if at all possible, and to put all of your time in the city from which you will depart at the end of that trip.

If you haven't done so, I recommend that you pull out a calendar and plot things that interest you on it. Using some good guidebooks as a starting point, identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together.

Should be a great first trip!

bro840

OK, people, I've been giving this a lot of thought and this is what I've come up with:

Fly into CDG, take the train to Bayeux and stay there two nights (Hotel Churchill) do a D-Day beach tour and Mont St. Michel. (Sat to Tue AM)

Take the Train to (Avignon?) from Bayeux Tue AM, rent a car and stay somewhere down there for 4 nights - not sure where?

Train back to Paris Sat and stay until the following Sat. and fly out from there. I looked into flying either into or out of Marseilles - way too complicated from Boston.

I really only have two weeks. Leaving from Paris makes more sense to me because otherwise I would have to waste one whole day traveling (or go one day early) just to make sure we get to the airport on time (which is apparently a horror show) - so I think I would like to avoid that kind of stress.

any comments or suggestions appreciated. I think people who take the time to reply to these questions are the best!

kja

Much better! Should be a great trip.

Don't miss the Bayeux Tapestry.

bro840

thank you! now I just have to make it really happen!!!!

Kathie

Sounds good. I think you will be glad to have a week in Paris!

PalenQ

Take the Train to (Avignon?) from Bayeux Tue AM, rent a car and stay somewhere down there for 4 nights - not sure where?>

That means going back to Paris for the much quicker rail link - into Saint-Lazare and out of Gare du Lyon - French trains pretty much do a spoke and hub thing - cross-country lines are slow so best to go back to Paris - maybe from Rennes after MSMichel.