Underhill

The Drôme Provençale is one of our favorite places anywhere, and we really love Le Poët-Laval (and the hotel Les Hospitaliers). It's near the charming small town of Dieulefit, known for the reginal yellow pottery. There are any number of perched villages to visit in the area. The olive town of Nyons, with its own appellation-controlee, is a bit farther south; the old part of the town is quite interesting to explore, and there's a fine local market. Be sure to visit the olive cooperative, where you fill find an interesting array of olive products as well as the superb oil--and wine sold en vrac.

frenchaucoeur

Just some additional thoughts. If you do choose to base yourself in the Vaucluse, it's completely feasible to work in time in the Alps. We've done it two different ways. One year, we flew to Geneva, drove to Annecy and spent five or six days. Then we drove down to Sablet, in the Vaucluse. Even with getting lost (which was serendipitous--we ended up passing through a spectacular gorge and stumbling onto the gorgeous little village of Pont en Royans, with its famous suspended houses), it took only three hours or so.

On another trip, also based in Sablet, we did an overnight up to Villard de Lans, in the Isere, passing through Nyons, Dieulefit, Crest, and I forget where else, but ending up going through the Col de Rousset, which was quite beautiful, into Villard. We had a wonderful couple of days.

And I second L'Hospitaliers,in Le Poet-Laval. We had a wonderful lunch on the terrace in beautiful surroundings.

I couldn't weigh Provence against the Dordorgne or the Lot. They're both magnificent, but very different. What a decision!

Gardyloo

Well, it's pretty hard to go wrong in France in September, pretty much anywhere.

If it was me, I'd start in Brittany, particularly in Finistère (the south and west) and then move across to Annecy and Haute Savoie. A few years ago we spent some time based in Pont-Aven in the south, from which you can take excursions to Belon, famous for oysters, or Carnac for very dead Celtic residents. The landscape is lovely, the food terrific, the villages picturesque and the weather ideal. Pont-Aven is drop-dead gorgeous.



Annecy is too, and convenient for day trips around Lac d'Annecy, up to Geneva or Lausanne, over to Chamonix... More great food and great views.

frenchaucoeur

I love that you posted a picture of Menthon St Bernard. That's where we stayed during our time in Annecy, in a lovely b&b just up the hill on the way to the chateau. Bons souvenirs!

StuDudley

>> start in Brittany, particularly in Finistère (the south and west) and then move across to Annecy and Haute Savoie. <<

Note that it is a 12 hr drive from Quimper in western Brittany to Annecy. If you take the train, there is a 7:24 am departure that arrives in Annecy at 16:32 - with a 1 1/2 hr station change in Paris.

Stu Dudley

Gardyloo

You could also fly from Nantes to Geneva (plane change at CDG) in 3h 15m at a cost of €88.

jpie

Yep I totally agree about not wanting to book Norwegian too far ahead. We always hold our breath and cross our fingers a bit when we book! But we have gotten totally spoiled with the dreamliner and Premium class. Also, don't know if you have already read this on another thread I posted on but last year we saved about $300 on two round trip tickets Seattle-Gatwick by booking on the Norwegian airlines UK site. And on the web, lots of people mention that many time the Norwegian airlines site in Norway has cheaper rates, so that is something to check out as you get closer. It was a bit of a hassle to book on the UK (mostly because they use the verify by Visa system) but we managed to work our way through it and were happy about saving the $300! I am really hoping Norwegian can stay in business because if not, then our next best option from Seattle has been Iceland air and we didn't think they were that great. Otherwise, we will have to go back to the Air France/Delta etc. type carriers...

Definitely check out the Open Europe lease options-you will be totally spoiled once you start using them-so much simpler than straight car rentals-but really only make sense economically for folks who stay a minimum of a month even though you are allowed to use the program for a minimum of 21 days. The longer you rent, the cheaper the daily rate of course, and it is relatively easy to extend or shorten the lease length if you need to. I know you are still out in in your trip planning, but if you decide to use one of those programs feel free to send me a private message-I would be happy to answer any questions.

And yes if you live in the Santa Cruz mountains then it is similar in driving in Annecy-just more miles of it! I will be interested to hear as you get closer where you decide to go-you have had lots of great suggestions!

StuDudley

>> you could also fly from Nantes to Geneva (plane change at CDG) in 3h 15m at a cost of €88. <<

Or take Easyjet on a direct flight to Geneva

Depart Quimper at 8:30 & arrive at the Nantes Airport at 11:15
Depart Nantes at 12:50 & arrive in Geneva at 2:10
Retrieve bags & secure car by 3:30
Drive to Annecy & arrive at 4:15.

But it pretty much consumes the entire day. I would try to find an itinerary where that much travel time is not needed.

Stu Dudley

zebec

Gardyloo, your first foto was so transportative! I could smell the river, the flowers, feel the breeze, wave away the fly. Lets go see if Jean-Guy's cafe is open yet.
I am done. The visual stimulation.

scdreamer

Thank you to all for so much wonderful information - I have a lot to work with. I'm thinking the hard part is going to be having to eliminate places due to time constrictions. Oh, if only we could stay for three months or more! But, alas, my husband, the chauffeur, is usually "done" after about four weeks, so I always keep our trips to five weeks, and baby him along for that final week.

One more question - I (the navigator) am planning to buy a good road map - I used the Michelin spiral atlas in Spain on our last trip about a month ago. It was pretty good for mapping out routes and getting off the main roads. Is there a consensus that the Michelins are the best for route planning? A difference between the "3" and the "4" ? We always get a car with a GPS, but I like to look at a hard copy map to figure out what might be a more scenic route, or if there are interesting places off the beaten path because that "beaten path" is the one the GPS always seems to prefer.

StuDudley

You don't have to squint as much to see the roads on a 3 series map as you do with a 4 series. I have over 100 three series maps (many duplicates) and 0 four series map.

Stu Dudley

MadelineShields

We also are flying Norwegian Air to Gatwick from Seattle. Another airline to mention is La Compagnie(business class only airline), we are flying with them on the way back, direct flights between CDG and EWR that can be quite cheap around. Purchased ours very late and paid $700/p one way. They also fly into Nice.

StCirq

$700 /p one way is cheap?

joannyc

For Business class, yes.

jpie

Thanks for the reminder of La Compagnie-I am going to check them out for our next trip next spring.

kerouac

Sarlat repels me more and more as the years go by. It is not just a question of being contrary but due to the fact that certain places can only absorb a certain number of tourists before things begin to get ugly. Of course Sarlat in the winter would be perfectly fine, but not in "tourist season."

Good places for September: Sète, Soorts-Hossegor, La Rochelle, Gex, Le Puy-en-Velay, Annecy.

Obviously, I could list more, but I don't want you to go completely crazy looking for options.

StCirq

I totally agree, kerouac, and it's "my" market hub, so I should presumably appreciate it. We absolutely HATE going to Sarlat unless it's January. Would not set foot in the markets there on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April to late October. MIGHT go to the truffle markets there in winter, but they are corrupt and overblown also. Classic example of a town that's gotten too much publicity. People swoon over their stays there, but I don't think they realize they are just a cog in a huge marketing wheel. Sorry to say that, because Sarlat is beautiful and full of history, but it's getting too big for its britches. It's a bit sad. It was a fairly sleepy place 27 years ago when I landed here - you didn't have to worry about finding a parking space or brushing up against people in the market. Nobody was serving a "burger." The burger concept hadn't even evolved. The most evolved food was a pizza at Pizza Roma, which I think is still there.

That said, I will continue to promote certain accommodations and restaurants and vendors in Sarlat because I would hope that people can appreciate the beauty of the place and the thought that has gone into restoring it. It really was a monumental effort, and you cannot fail to note that the town is one of the prettiest in all the world.

My personal hope is that people coming to the region will visit Sarlat for all its treasures but realize that within 20 kilometers there are gorgeous villages with great accommodations and good restaurants and maybe decide not to fight the crowds in Sarlat.

BUT, let's face it, you can't visit the Périgord without tasting Sarlat.

If you want to talk about places that "repel," kerouac, I would add La Rochelle in July and August. Every bit as obnoxious as Sarlat in high season. Another place I'd leave alone until late fall or winter or early spring.

t

kja

You'e already gotten lots of great advice! Although my travel style is quite different than yours, I spent close to a month in western France in 2011 and got some great advice:
Seeking Diverse Experiences in Western France – Please Critique Itinerary!

And I'm just back from a month in SE France, again having benefitted from many helpful comments:
Seeking diverse experiences in SE France
Please help me plan a month in SE France

Hope that helps! My best tip: Get the Michelin Green Guides!

kerouac

Absolutely, but since the trip is taking place in September, it should be acceptable. One of the most important elements is for school to be back in session across most of the continient.