France
 

We have lodging for 1-2 weeks in any of 3 cities in France and need to decide soon which we'd like to see. We'll use this for "home base" to travel from. We're doing home exchanges, which is why we need to pick one of these three cities. Strasbourgh, St. Tropez or Nice. Suggestions? We enjoy exploring small quaint villages, some history, wine, markets, just seeing new places. Any advice on the necessity of having a car in any of these three places also welcome

My wife & I have spent a considerable amount of time in all 3 of these locations - perhaps 3 weeks in Alsace (Strasbourg), and 12 weeks split between St Tropez and Nice (or very close to Nice).

I would choose Nice, to give you the most opportunities to visit small villages, history, markets, and also see a lot of local stuff within walking distance or a short train ride. You'll need a car for several days if you want to visit the many quaint villages & Alps/Nice Hinterland. St Tropez is fine - but you'll need a car the entire time you will be there to get out and visit all the villages, beaches, etc. There are probably more "quaint villages" around Nice than around St Tropez if you get back into the Nice Hinterland. Alsace is filled with quaint villages (which have a tendency to look the same after visiting several of them), and of course, wine and markets. One week would be fine in Alsace, but 2 might get a little boring.

If you would like more info on Nice, St Tropez & the Cote d'Azur e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll send you my 27 page itinerary which describes things to do & see in the area. I've sent it to over 3,000 people on Fodors. I have a shorter one on Alsace - let me know if you would like that one also.

Stu Dudley

Ditto Nice. But you don't need a car. Nice is a very good center for public transportation by bus or train along the coast. Also there's the cute little Train des Pignes, which takes you back into the hills/mountains and small towns north of Nice: www.provencebeyond.com/travel/railpignes.html. Entrevaux is the usual turn-around point for daytrippers.

And, depending on the time of year, there are boat trips and excursions along the Riviera. Plus you could also dip into northern Italy.

There's lots to see in and around Nice. Plenty to fill up 2 weeks.

I agree with Stu and Mimar on Nice. We like to drive. From Nice, in addition to all there is in the vicinity, there is an easy drive to some great Medieval towns in Italy. First the town of Dolceacqua and then a bit further north, Apricale. From there we went cross country back into France, passing interesting hill towns, finally ending in Luceram for dinner. Nice about ten miles away, if that. We took the full day for this driving tour, that included dinner. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolceacqua You can click on Apricale from this site. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luceram

I would also pick Nice, with a car. I'd drop St-Tropez from the list right off the bat. But I wouldn't discount Strasbourg - with two weeks you could really do justice to the entire Route des Vins, Route des Crêtes, the Vosges Mountains, and the Black Forest of Germany. A completely different sort of trip from the one you'd have based in Nice, but fascinating all the same.

Here are some non-coastal "quaint villages" that you could access by public transportation - but much better by car.

St Paul
Eze
Vence

Sospel
Breil
Saorge
Tende
you can get to these four on a train - but due to schedules, you may only be able to visit 2 on a single day - and the views from the train will be hindered by tunnels and the fact that the view is on the "other" side of the train

Entrevaux
Touet sur Var
Villars sur Var - with a long walk from the station
Same situation for these three as the prior four

Here are the villages you probably can't easily get to by public transportation

Gorbio
Peille
Peillon
Ste Agnes
Tourrettes
Gourdon
Cabris
Carros Village
le Broc
Luceram (a gem)
Lantosque
St Martin Vesubie
Clans
Bairols
Lantosque
Roubion
Annot
Mons
St Cezaire sur Siagne
Rigaud


Plus the remarkable Gorges du Cians, Gorges de Daluis, and the Gorges de Vesubie.

Stu Dudley

Stu rminded me that crosing back into France from Italy, we visited Sospel,Luceram and then had dinner in Peillon. We had a wonderful day. Six of us in two cars. Going to dinner in Peillon was not easy, as the two way road was very interesting. Only wide enough for one car, but there were turnouts to get by. Dinner was excellent. W

Cont; Well worth driving up to this village.

Stu, I am going to send you my email address as I would love your itinerary for Alsace. I am spending two weeks there beginning May 22. Thank you. Kathy