Flying into NIce and spending 6 nights in Provence then getting train to Paris for 4 nights.
This is happening late Sept 2014. THis is our first European trip. WE are in our late 50's and like walking, hiking, biking. We will rent a car. Please can we have suggestions for an itinery.
Should we look at 2 areas to be based in PRovence. Suggestions for accommodation? ALso in Paris what area would be recommended to stay. We would appreciate any comments.

if your stay in Provence is Sat. to Sat., google gites de france and look for a property to your liking. It is a state-sanctioned and long-established system of apartment and house rentals, usually Sat. to Sat., and mostly outside of cities. Could be ideal for your stated plans - being based in a peaceful small town and having local advice at your fingertips.

Re. Paris - what are your plans while there? What is your budget? There are lots and lots of ways to do it and areas to stay in - tell us more and we can tell you more.

You need a guidebook to read what there is to see and then to whittle down your choices. The Michelin Green Guide or Fodors' is a good starting point.

thanks michelhuebeli for your reply. Paris budget for accommodation up to 125 -150 euro. Like to see the mayor site seeing highlights and go to a show.

I don't think that you have enough time for a weekly rental. With all you are trying to cover on a first trip to Europe, you will be busy. Here is a suggested itinerary:

2/3 nights in a hotel in Nice (recover from jet lag and explore this large but interesting city). Taxi back to the airport and rent a car for the drive inland.
3/4 nights in a hotel or B and B in Aix en Provence or one of the perched villages, such as Gordes or Bonnieux. Day trip to Luberon destinations from this base. Drive back to airport and drop car. Taxi to train station in Nice for trip to Paris.
4 nights in Paris

I think TripAdvisor works best for well reviewed hotels and B&Bs.

Leave plenty of time for travel between destinations...research everything ahead of time to minimize confusion when you get to France. Transitions between locations take more time than you think, so don't be in a hurry. Traveling by car in France is relatively easy if you have Michelin maps of the areas you are covering...they show rest stops, which is helpful.

This is a full but realistic schedule for your 10 nights. If you provide more information about your interests, you will probably get additional referrals.

Bon voyage!

voyager, I like your plan, but wouldn't it make more sense to drop the car in Aix-en-Provence, seeing as the OP would be there already, and catch the TGV ther, rather than backtracking to Nice?

I have arrived from edinburgh after 12 days touring the UK. The flight takes only a few hours and will be in Nice at 10am. my idea is to pick up a rental but drop it off at Avigon where we will travel to Paris on the high speed train.

I think dropping off car in Avignon makes a lot more sense than driving all the way back to Nice. Luberon villages are less than an hour away from Avignon.

Avignon is a sensible TGV point for your trip to Paris. I would suggest you investigate staying in St Remy de Provence for a few nights, as it's close to many great places to visit and is less than half an hour drive to the TGV station on departure day. Get your hands on a Rough Guide or similar and have a good read to identify the places you'd like to visit. In Paris, we have stayed a couple of times at the Hotel du Champ de Mars in the 7th (easy walk to Eiffel Tower & many attractions). It's neat, clean, friendly and within your budget. But you need to send them an email direct and book ASAP - they are a small family-run hotel and very busy, even at this early stage.

Thanks for your replies, getting some good ideas. Flying into Nice we would like to see Monaco etc then travel across to St Remy de Provence and from reading other forums too spend the rest of the time in that general area. Would a 1/2 night 4 night split be the best way to do this. Would we stay in Nice or outside Nice. Ideas appreciated.

I spent 4 nights in Paris about the same time last year and then took TGV to Avignon for 3 nights then picked up car from TGV and drove around and stayed at the Luberon villages,,,so amazing....2 nights Bonnieux, 3 nights Aix de Provence, 2 nights St Remy. 3 nights too long in Aix, a busier city and not as pretty as I would have expected, do not base yourself there!! Too hard to get in and out of. Avignon is divine, stay in the old city. No need for car, a huge nuisance and parking problem there. Le Clos Du Buis is a magnificent B&B in Bonnieux with a 5 star restaurant 2 steps across the cobble stoned street, amazing food, art on a plate and so cheap...you can visit all the hilltop villages from there, Gordes and Roullison. The Latin Quarter the absolute best place to stay in Paris, I stayed at Hotel Degres Notre Dame, a stones throw from that magnificent icon and so many cafes and resturants, great atmosphere. It is a little family run hotel, small winding staircase, quentisentially Paris....sigh. Comes with breakfast!!! What a bargain, with freshly squeezed orange juice. Never got to Nice or Tropez, took a day trip to Cassis from Aix and wish I'd stayed the night there, picture perfect seaside village, with cafes galore and fabulous market...

I would skip Monaco and Cannes as there are much nicer places to visit as day trips from Nice, unless you like to look at very wealthy people shopping in luxury stores. There are about a million possible itineraries you could consider, some that would require a car and others that wouldn't. If you spent all your time in Nice you don't need a car. If you split time between Nice and Avignon the same would be true. However, if you want to visit the countryside and see small charming villages you would need a car. I don't care for Nice at all but I know some people love it. Perhaps you might consider two nights in Nice and then rent a car for your remaining time in Provence so you can explore some countryside and villages. If you have a car then I wouldn't base in Avignon but would base in a charming town or village.

www.voyages-sncf.com has all the schedules for TGVs and other trains and if you book early - way early you can score some nifty discounted tickets but those are non-changeable non-refundable so be certain of your date and time - for lots of good info on French trains check out these superb sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Another vote against Monaco. Why not just go to Avignon and see Provence based from St. Remy?
What kind of "show" in Paris?

Thanks for all the comments.
Show in Paris - Moulin Rouge
I get the idea most of the time should be in Avignon based in St Remy -say 5 nights. Maybe 1 night in the Nice area so to visit Grass / Cannes??
Should we stay 5 nights in St Remy or split that with Luberon?

Skip Monaco. visit Antibes, Cap Ferrat much nicer, better experiences.

from the comments so far we will skip Monaco.

The show can be "interesting", and it is expensive. I'd rather spend the money on a special dinner, myself.

I'd skip both Monaco and the Moulin Rouge if for no other reason than you'd probably end up saving a few hundred dollars you could spend on something that's actually French and worthwhile.

okay will not go to Moulin Rouge any shows recommended