Zunrise,

Here is a suggestion for staying in Honfleur overnight. http://www.giaglis.com/GB_tarifs.htm

Craig

Our favorite B&B in Provence is http://www.chambresdhotesprovence.com/accueil

It's central to all the sites you'll want to see, and dinner each evening is fabulous!!

Updated itinerary:
Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions, keep them coming please.
Stu I will email you for your Normandy/Brittany guide, I do have your Provence one.
I have also noted Sun/Mondays on the itinerary as I am aware the alot of 'things' are closed on those days, I have tried to keep them as mostly travelling days, but if you can rework the itinerary for greater advantage please do so.

Without further adeu:
Day 1 - Arrive Brussels. (jet lag recovery day).
Day 2 - Visit with friend, see more of Brussels (DH and I have been there before).
Day 3 - A.m. train to Brugge (1 hour).
Visit Brugge, walking tour perhaps.
Overnight Brugge.
Day 4 - (Sunday). Train from Brugge to ????. I need help here. Most routes go via Paris which makes for a long day. In a perfect world we'd like to train somewhere, collect car and end up im Honfluer for the night. Ideas?
Can one collect a car in Belguim and return to France without a huge drop fee?
If so..from where in Belgium would you collect it?
Day 5 - (Monday) Drive from Honfluer via Deauville (Lunch?) to Bayeux. Overnight Bayeux.
Day 6 - Full day tour D Day sites (battlebus). Is this the best way to go? Specific interest in Canadian Sites.
Day 7 - Drive early to Dinan. Visit.
Overnight Dinan.
Day 8 - Early drive to MSM, visit MSM, then on to Rennes, drop car. Overnight Rennes.
Day 9 - A.m. train Rennes to Avignon. Question on to stay in Avignon or continue to St. Remy as base?
Day 10 - Saturday - Market day in Avignon. Worth working in? I LOVE markets! Following days, in Provence, visit by car sites/places as per blh, Stu, Ann and others, supported with all others suggestions and Michellin Green Guide which is on order from Amazon.
Day 11 - (Sunday) visit surrounding area.
Day 12 - (Monday) Ditto
Day 13 - Ditto
Day 14 - Base out of Lourmarin? or?
Day 15 - visit surrounding area
Day 16 - Ditto
Day 17 - Ditto. (Saturday)
Day 18 - Sunday - fly home from Marseilles.

So questions:
1. Car rental/train from Brugge situation.
2. Sunday/Monday issues.
3. Fill in car touring itinerary for Provence.
Any hotel, sites to see, and moderate lunch(under 30 Euro pp) dining recommendations well received as well!

Because of Frequent flyer restrictions, last Aug. we flew into Brussels, spent 3 hrs there (that was enough for us) - then on to Paris on the TGV/THALYS.

What you could do is to fly into Brussels. Take the train from the airport to Brussels central station, stow the bags, visit Brussels main square (awsome) & have lunch with your friends. Then take the short train ride to the Brussels Midi station, and on to Brugge & get there around 3:30 so you can take the last canal trip of the day (departs at 5). Explore Brugge in the late afternoon/evening & stay overnight. Next day explore Brugge some more, take the 11:00 train to Brussels Midi (south), arrive at 11:55, then take the 12:20 TGV directly to Avignon - arrives at 5:15.

If you want a slower pace, stay 2 nights in Brugge & get there later in the day so you can spend more time in Brussels and leave when you've seen enough. IMO, Brugge is worth spending more time in than Brussels.

Visit Provence, Dordogne, and depart from Toulouse or Bordeaux. Toulouse is worth a visit - it's in my "top 5" - Bordeaux is not.

IMO, Brittany is completly different from Provence, which is different from the Dordogne, which is different from Brittany - you won't see much redundancy.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu. So to keep our options open, and investigate your suggestions, if we do indeed train from Brussels to Avignon by TVG, and depart from Tolouse or Bordeaux - how would you fill the approx. 14 days split between Provence and Dordogne? With some train and some driving.
Perhaps we might save Brittany/Normandy for a future visit and combine it with Britain and/or Paris. Want to keep all options open. Thanks.

>>Day 3 - A.m. train to Brugge (1 hour).
Visit Brugge, walking tour perhaps.
Overnight Brugge.<<

Take the canal boat ride - see the Green Guide for departure points


>Day 4 - (Sunday). Train from Brugge to ????. I need help here. Most routes go via Paris which makes for a long day. In a perfect world we'd like to train somewhere, collect car and end up im Honfluer for the night. Ideas?<<

Take the train to the Brussels Midi station, then the TGV to the Paris CDG airport, rent a car there, then drive to Honfleur. I suspect Honfleur will be "alive" on a Sunday


>>Can one collect a car in Belguim and return to France without a huge drop fee?<<

Nope

>>Day 5 - (Monday) Drive from Honfluer via Deauville (Lunch?) to Bayeux.<<

I found Deauville to be boring - too much like a coastal Palm Springs.

>>Overnight Bayeux.
Day 6 - Full day tour D Day sites (battlebus). Is this the best way to go? Specific interest in Canadian Sites.
Day 7 - Drive early to Dinan. Visit.
Overnight Dinan.
Day 8 - Early drive to MSM, visit MSM, then on to Rennes, drop car. Overnight Rennes.<<

You need a new map - you passed MSM on the way from Bayeux to Dinan.

>>Day 9 - A.m. train Rennes to Avignon. Question on to stay in Avignon or continue to St. Remy as base?<<

Either is fine. St Remy is "cuter", and much easier to get in & out. I think most peole would prefer St Remy. The Avignon TGV station is between Avignon & St Remy (it's not actually in Avignon)

>>Day 10 - Saturday - Market day in Avignon. Worth working in? I LOVE markets!<<

Wait till Sunday & visit the excellent market in l'Isle sur la Sorgue. Food, crafts, antiques, Provence fabric, soap - read my description in the itinerary that you have. Get there at 8:00, have a cafe creme & croissants next to the church, and watch the vendors set-up for the market. Leave the market by 10:30 unless you like large crowds. I didn't find the market in Avignon to be that interesting - certainly not as much as the l'Isle sur la Sorgue market.

>>Following days, in Provence, visit by car sites/places as per blh, Stu, Ann and others, supported with all others suggestions and Michellin Green Guide which is on order from Amazon.
Day 11 - (Sunday) visit surrounding area.<<

l'Isle sur la Sorgue market

Many shops will be open on Sunday in St Remy. Many will be closed on Monday morning.

>>Day 12 - (Monday) Ditto
Day 13 - Ditto
Day 14 - Base out of Lourmarin? or?<<

Somewhere a little more central in the Luberon - near Gordes, Roussillon, etc. If you want a shorter drive on Sunday morning, stay in the Luberon first, then in St Remy. If you'll be in Provence for 10 days, definately stay in 2 different areas. St Remy for the village feel, and in the Luberon for more "countryside". I would consider Kevin's (frequent Fodors poster) B&B in the Luberon.
http://www.masperreal.com/index.html

Stu Dudley

If you have 14 days, I would split it evenly between Provence & the Dordogne. You will need a car for this portion of the trip. Stop in Pezenas and/or carcassone on the way from Provence to the Dordogne.

I also have a 35 page Languedoc itinerary if you want to take a few days getting from Provence to the Dordogne. Gorge du Tarn, Lot River, Conques would be great places to visit if you have 2 nights/3 days to spare.

Stu Dudley

I can see many more trips to France in my future. I would imagine that on this site, there is more discussion on France than any other country! So much to see and do. Will take a real hard look at the itinerary with DH, my better maps and Michelin Green guide and will repost with final itinerary.

great info! bkmk

Back again!
Revised plans, after consulting with DH and our friend in Belgium we are going to skip Normandy (leave for another time).
The thought is now to fly to Brussels, and catch a train from the airport to Brugge on arrival. Overnight Brugge (2- 3* or B & B suggestions? w/easy access from train station?). Has anyone experience with Contrast B and B in Brugge?
Day 2 - our friend will arrive and help show us around.
Day 3 - train back to Brussels and then
connect to TGV to Avignon.
That leaves 14 days to split between Provence and the Dordogne.
Would you split it 1/2 - 1/2 or more time in Provence?..or could we zip down to Coulliere (we've been there before and loved it) for a 2 night rest stop in between (Prov/Dordogne)or can any of you suggest any other 'beachy' type small town?
Keep in mind, we like the 'getting there', rushing about part of travel and also have access to very inexpensive rail passes(family member in the business)..so will take advantage of that, plus use a car for 3 - 4 day in both Provence and the Dordogne.
We are thinking about basing in St. Remy (need suggestions here please) and
then at either the Belle Etoile in La Roque Gageac or Residences Versailles in Beynac. Thoughts on the days in between and/or hotel suggestions?
Awaiting your expert replies!

zunrise

You need a better map of France - Collioure is not between Provence & the Dordogne. It's somewhat out-of-the-way. If you've already been there, why go again? It's pretty small and I'm sure you saw everything there is to see. You could easily stay 2 weeks in that region (we did), and see lots of other things, but there is just as good stuff between Provence & the Dordogne which won't consume as much travel time.

Like I posted earlier, for 14 days I would spend 6 nights in Provence, 1 night in the Gorges du Tarn (Ste Enimie, La Malene/Caze (castle)), 1 night in Conques, 2 nights in the eastern Dordogne near St Cere, and 4 nights in central Dordogne near Sarlat or Beynac.

If you really want to do a "beachy" thing (Provence will seem "beachy" if you get a place with a pool), then I would stay 2 nights in Cassis. It's a tad out of the way - but not as much as Collioure, and it would be a "new" place for you.

We were in Brugge last month and stayed at a fantastic B&B - got it from the Rick Steves book.
Absoluut Verhulst www.b-bverhulst.com It's extremly well located. I would not stay near the train station - it's a little too far from the main stuff. Take a taxi to the B&B from the train station (currently lots of construcion at the station). Our best meal in Brugge was at Le Couvert (see www.viamichelin.com for restaurant details)

Have you e-mailed me for my 20+ page Dordogne itinerary and my 35 page Languedoc itinerary?? (Tarn, Conques, Collioure, etc).

Stu Dudley

PS - for the 6 nights in Provence, I would spend 3 in St Remy, and 3 in the Luberon near Gordes/Roussillon/Bonnieux, etc.

Stu Dudley

hi, zunrise,

your new plan looks much better.

having read Stu's recommendations for route and lodgings, I feel it would be impossible to improve upon it. so I won't.

really, it would be very hard to improve upon what he has said.

regards, ann

Thanks Stu for the plug on Rennes. If I ever get the time I might indeed check it out. Truth is, however, I generally don't enjoy cities as much as smaller towns and villages, and they take so much more of your time than a smaller place does. Such a shame to be so time-limited, but regrettably that's the reality for people travelling from my part of the world!

Thanks to all who have replied and special thanks to Stu for his guidance. I think it is coming together now. As I am new to this board, if I repost later with more specific questions about more specific areas, should I start a new thread?

Thanks to all your help we have come up with a workable plan (I think). What we will have is 5 full days (with car) in both Provence and the Dordogne. Now how to arrange the day trips. I have scoured the boards but just end up confused. Assistance please and thanks!

Provence: Day one pick up car in the a.m. from Avignon train station. The following 3 nights we will be based and returning to St. Remy. Where to go on those 3 days without too much backtracking? Note the car pick up date will be a tuesday, I notice there is a market in Arles? Worth working in?
After the 3 days/nights we will head to Bonnieux and spend 2 nights. Again where to go as day trips. On the 3rd day will return car to train station in Marseille.

Dordogne. Pick up car in Sarlat in the a.m. We'll have that day and 4 full days from there. Retun to Sarlat on Day 6 and take train to Toulouse. Again how to arrange the days so not too much backtracking and see a little of everthing. We would like to take in one or 2 castles, one or 2 Caves (keep in mind I am a bit claustrophobic!), a river boat day and visit some of the cute towns. We can certainly stay overnight in a new location each night if that is the best. Note the car will be picked up on a Wed. and returned to Sarlat on a Monday..so any weekend markets we can work in? Thank you all again for your very informative and helpful advice. Best regards to all of us travelers!

zunrise

Let me introduce you to two helpful tools for planning your trip:

http://www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Where you can find out train schedules

www.viamichelin.com
where you can determine driving times

For example, if you drive from Bonnieux to Sarlat la Caneda (note full name), it will take you 5 3/4 hrs. If you take the train from Marseille, it will take you about 1 1/2 hrs to get to Marseille & return the car, then either 8 hrs by train (3 train changes), or 10 hrs (1 train change). I know which way I would go (drive). I would stop in Carcassonne along the way - or better yet the Gorge du Tarne & Conques like I suggested earlier (that would take 2 nights/3 days). I've done this drive many times.

From Sarlat to Toulouse it's a 2 hr drive (done this many times also - you can make this a very scenic drive). By bus it's a 4 1/2 hr trip (1 bus change), and by train it's a 6 1/2 hr trip with 2 train changes.

For things to do there. My Provence itinerary has scads of things to suggest - scenic drives, markets, lavender fields, Provence fabric, cute villages, etc. Also my Dordogne one has the same - even Provence fabric (but no lavender fields), but lots of caves & castles. We've spent about 16 weeks vacationing in Provence, and 8 weeks in the Dordogne, and 7 weeks in between in the Languedoc.

Stu Dudley

Market Days to help your planning:

Arles - Saaturday
St-Rémy - Wednesday
Maussane - Thursday
Sarlat - big market Saturday, small one Wednesday
St-Cyprien - Sunday
Le Bugue - big market Tuesday, small one Saturday
Lalinde - Thursday
Montignac - Friday

I think I'm getting it! KEEP THE CAR!.
Thanks for the handy tools, I do use the german rail one, it is the best.
So in that case - if we drive from say, Cassis to Carcassonne, spend 2 nights there? Considering we'll take our time to get there on day one?

Two nights where??? - Carcassonne, or the Gorge du Tarn/Conques 2 night/3 days excursion that I suggested?

Carcassonne is a 3 hr visit at best (IMO). If you plan to spend 1 or 2 nights in Cassis, then I would go from Cassis to Sarlat in 1 day (0 nights), and stop in Carcassonne along the way to break up the trip. It's right off the freeway. I would not do the 2 nights/3 day Gorge/Conques "backcountry" route if you're going to spend any time in Cassis - you're starting to break up the trip into too many places & not enough time in each place again. 5 full days in Provence and 5 full days in the Dordogne is the minimum, IMO - more time is much better.

You kinda need a good map of southern France to see the two different routes I'm suggesting or getting from Provence to Sarlat. The Carcassonne way is all boring freeway to the Dordogne, and the Gorge/Conques is mostly small winding & very scenic roads with lots of intersting stuff for about 2/3 of the trip.

Stu Dudley