France-Paris to Beaune to Nice in May
 

Travelling this May to Paris, Beaune and Nice then to Italy for our honeymoon. It is our first time in France and would love any tips or must sees! In Beaune we have booked a cycling tour through wine country but other than that we are open. We are pretty active and want a mix of adventure and cultural aspects.

Here's Beaune and vicinity for some familiarization ideas whenever in town. Congratulations on you coming marriage!

My wife & I have spent 16 weeks exploring the Cote d'Azur. I've developed a 27 page itinerary that describes our favorite cities, villages, scenic drives, markets in the Cote d'Azur & Provence. I've sent it to over 3,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail.

We've also spent 2 weeks in Burgundy near Beaune. I don't have a formal itinerary, but I have detailed descriptions of our favorite restaurants in that area. If you e-mail me, ask for the Burgundy restaurants too - if you want it.

Happy honeymoon

Stu Dudley

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...eBurgundy2009#

Melissa...pick up Stu Dudley's material (above)

Very impressed that you are doing a cycling tour from Beaune. I'm assuming you will catch the train down from Paris but you may decide to drive. If you do, stop off at Auxerre on the way just to see a very beautiful town right in the north of Burgundy, there is a walking tour of the town (free) you can pick up from the TI.

Beaune itself is a little touristy but perfectly nice for all that. One thing I've noticed over the years is that new restaurants start up in Burgundy all the time, so I'd also ask both your hotel and wine tour people where to eat and where is new to eat. Given the high level of tourist eating some of the older restaurants get a bit lazy. I've lost my temper at two in the last few years where staff just couldn't careless and yet gone back two nights in a row to eat in a "Tabac" that had been converted that week.

First time in france. I don't know where you are from but you will find France a little more formal than say America. First names are not used on first aquitance except amongst the young and you need to say hello and goodbye in shops, if meeting for the first time that day you shake hands and or kiss cheeks. (don't worry whatever you do in terms of kissing cheeks just do what others do as this varies by number and which side of the face you start all over the country). You may even be expected to shake hands with everyone in a bar (people do) so smile and enjoy, you are abroad.

Gems of Burgundy and surroundings:
Dijon
Vezelay
Salines Royales d'Arc-et-Senans
Beaune
Tournus
Macon
Cluny
Moidon Caves http://poligny-tourisme.com/en/decou...es-des-moidons
Fortresses of Besancon (Citadelle) and Pontarlier (Larmont and Joux)
Perouges
Lyon
Vienne and Saint Romain en Gal

Melissa--Which cycling company have you booked with?