We will be a week in France, and do not have a clue where to start. This is our first time to europe. we will be coming in from italy. So if you had a week to spend what region or regions would you pick?

Paris with side trips to Fontainebleau, Versailles, Giverny and Chartres--you will have to choose among them.

Do you recommend avignon for couple of nights then up to burgundy then up to paris area?

I think I have to ask whether you are country vacation or city vacation kind of folk?

I have only been to Paris with a side trip to Chenencoux... but I originally planned a day trip to Rheims.

In this visit I am clearly a city person who likes a day trip. But, if my husband had been on this trip I would have stayed outside the city and done a day trip there.

You have to give us more info, then we will be able to give you information better suited for your trip.

My first tips are to learn some French. Speaking a bit of the language will make you visit much more enjoyable.

Bon Voyage!

For a little more info on our trip, this is our first time to europe. we will be arriving in southhampton england aboard queen mary, then train to assisi for 1 wk the 2nts rome, 2 nts florence then 2 nights venice, then take train to france for the week, but we have no clue where to stay, we want to see the best parts of france, then train to london for 2 nts then train to wales for a week then back to southampton for return voyage.
long trip, with lots we want to see. france is my main problem.
thanks,
sandra

"the best parts of France" have taken me 25+ years and more than 70 trips to discover, and I'd wager I've only seen 1/100th of what there is to see.

If you've not been to France before, head to Paris and if you must take a day trip or two outside the city to get the flavor of a small town or a château or something besides the big city. But trust me, Paris should be your initiation point.

Since you are coming in by train from Italy, I'd at least see a little of the French Riviera (Cote d'Azur) before you head north. I made the same trip in the other direction - from France to Italy. You'll want to see Monaco, Cannes, and Eze. The charms of Monaco and Cannes are obvious but Eze is a little gem perched on a mountainside that shouldn't be missed. Then head up to Paris and do Versailles. Have fun!

If you have never been to France before, I would head straight to Paris to see it first, then perhaps plan a day trip or two out of the city. Paris is a very grand old city with lots to see. You can see other highlights on another trip.

I'm astounded at your itinerary. That's a lot to cover in a relatively short time.

Hi S,

With only 1 week, Paris.

A good second choice would be Paris.

If that won't work for you, go to Paris.

Hi SJ,

>france is my main problem.

No it's not.

> train to assisi for 1 wk the 2nts rome, 2 nts florence then 2 nights venice, then take train to france for the week, ....then train to london for 2 nts then train to wales for a week then back to southampton for return voyage.
long trip, ....<

I strongly urge you to reconsider this expedition.

If you had already been to Italy and seen Rome, Florence and Venice your plan would be a good one, but I think that for a 1st visit you are shorting yourself on the most important places to visit in favor of a week in the country.

Ditto for your London and Wales.

>Do you recommend avignon for couple of nights then up to burgundy then up to paris area?<

Same response as above.

How will you be getting from place to place? Keep in mind that you will lose about 1/2 day each time you change hotels.

How much luggage will you have?

Have you checked the train schedules from Southampton to Assisi?
www.bahn.de says it takes about 36 hr.

So that you won't think that I am negative about your visit, I'd like to say that RT on the QM2 is real class.

Paris, Paris and Paris!

IRA, THANKS FOR THE RETURN NOTE. THE TIME IN ASSISI IS JUST HOME BASE, WE ARE GOING TO DO DAY TRIPS TO SOUTHERN AREAS. ALL OF OUR TRAVELS IN EUROPE WILL BE RAIL, WE WILL DEPART LONDON FOR ASSISI WITH CHANGE IN PARIS, THEN OVERMIGHT TO FLORENCE THEN ASSISI. I QUESS PARIS WILL BE OUR HOMEBASE IN FRANCE,,,,,,,,,,,,,
THANKS,
SANDRA

I don't think you relaize how much territory you're trying to cover in a very limited amont of time. Each time you say 2 nights wherever you really mean 1 day there - since you will be raveling in before the first night and leaving right after the second night.

Seriously suggest that you reconsider so many different places - since you will spend 50% of your time on trains, finding train stations, getting from train stations to hotels, from hotels back to train stations etc.

And if you're coming by boat what are you going to do with all your luggage? There's no way you can travel all over the continent by train with a pack of luggage. You should each have one smallish rollie bag and a shoulder sack - no more - or you'll never manage to get it on and off the trains.

As to your original question - stay in Paris (fly from your previous stop) and do 1 or 2 day trips if you want.

Hi S,

>WE WILL DEPART LONDON FOR ASSISI WITH CHANGE IN PARIS, THEN OVERMIGHT TO FLORENCE THEN ASSISI.<

Am I correct that you will be visiting Paris for a while and then going on to Italy?

IRA
THE CRUISE LINE WILL TAKE US TO WATERLOO STATION, WE WILL BOARD EUROSTAR FOR TRIP TO PARIS JUST TO CHANGE TRAIN FOR OVERNITE TRIP TO FLORENCE/ASSISI. WE WILL SEE PARIS ON THE RETURN, AFTER 2 WEEKS IN ITALY.
I DO NOT FLY, SO I THOUGHT START AT THE FURTHEST POINT AND WORK BACKWARDS.
IS THIS WRONG???
THANKS,
SANDRA

I strongly urge you to re-consider your itinerary. You are trying to cover waaay too much ground in not a lot of time.

I don't know about the OP, but I find it very difficult to get a decent night's sleep on a train. That, with a plan containing way too much time in just getting from one place to another, could leave one in a permanent state of fatigue and unable to fully enjoy the really limited time that is left to actually see and do things.

Hi S,

> I THOUGHT START AT THE FURTHEST POINT AND WORK BACKWARDS.<

Always a good idea.

>WE WILL BOARD EUROSTAR FOR TRIP TO PARIS JUST TO CHANGE TRAIN FOR OVERNITE TRIP TO FLORENCE/ASSISI.

The Eurostar brings you into Paris Nord. Your train to Italy leaves from Paris Bercy. I think that you'll want to take a cab between stations.

Enjoy your visit.



Please turn off your Caps Lock. It is difficult to read your notes.

If you're coming form Italy, you should be close to Southern France. Are you driving or taking the train? I would spend a couple of nights in Antibes, which is close to Nice, on the water but smaller than Nice, then drive or take the train to Avignon, about 2 hours away, spend 3 nights there, visit St Remy de provence, Les Beaux de Provence , all within 10 miles of Avignon and beautiful sights. Avignon is small enough that you can walk everywhere. From Avignon, you are 3 hours away from Paris by TGV; so I would end the trip with a couple of nights in Paris, and that week should give you a taste for Southern France and Provence. Then, you can go back, rent a house in your favorite village and do daytrips from there.
Tucker3