My husband and I will be traveling open-jaw into Nice for a family wedding and out of Paris (two weeks later) in early - mid September. We have about 5 "free" days inbetween our French Riviera & Paris travels. Since this is our first time in Europe - we want to see everything (obviously - that will not happen), and it has been very difficult to decide on where to go.

We are planning to travel on night trains to fully maximize our days.

We are interested in small towns, engineering wonders, and mountain views. I thought of Northern Italy, the Alps, and even faraway Munich & the Romantic road. However, each itinerary has been scratched due to limited time.

My plea is to all of the experienced travelers out there - what do you recommend? Thanks.

I hope this isn't too obvious, but there's a small town in southern France that has an engineering wonder with a mountain view.

<b>http://www.viaducdemillaueiffage.com/</b>

I'd spend the five days in Provence. Take the train from Nice to Avignon, pick p a car, and wander around the Bouches-du-Rh&ocirc;ne for five days.

Two comments, with particular reference to the reply by Robespierre...

First - - and <u>not</u> to accuse R of failing to have an original thought... but as an accompaniment to the official website, it just so happens that the Grey Lady ran this story in the Sunday travel edition (&quot;tomorrow&quot;, actually)...

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/07/1.../17millau.html (as always, registration required to read, but it's free).

But secondly... while the nytimes article is good, it pales in comparison to how cool is the movie on the website cited by R, and for bringing it to the attention of all of us... my hat goes <i>way off</i>!!

Specifically, go to http://www.leviaducdemillau.com/accu...N/rub/23.html# and click on &quot;Portfolio&quot; and watch! Truly amazing!

Best wishes,

Rex

Wouldn't you want to spend a few nights in Paris? Isn't the Eiffel Tower an engineering wonder? Or do you want only small towns? IMHO, to skip Paris on this first visit to Europe would be a mistake. Personally, I'd allow at least two nights in Paris.

I appreciate all of your responses! I will checkout those articles.

However, I guess I was not very clear in my first message. We plan to spend ~5 days (not including arrival day etc.) in Nice. We plan to make day excursions, such as Avignon (is this possible??). See a few Roman structures - aquaduct, temples, etc in the Provence area.
We plan on spending 2 full days in Paris, flying out on the 3rd day in Paris.
What I really need help is with the time in the middle. We have 5 days inbetween these two areas.
My first itinerary had us going all the way to Munich on train (or airplane) and then see the area by car and then take a night train to Paris.
We decided that this was far to much traveling and unneeded stress.

I thought the Alps or northern Italy would be easier to see due to proximity, but I am very unsure and open to suggestions. I was interested if anyone in the forum could give suggestions/advice for those 5 free days and places to go. Thanks again!

If you've never been to Paris, 2 days is not NEARLY enough. I'd find a town on the way in to spend a couple of days in, then spend 3 extra days in Paris. It's by far the most splended (in my opinion) of the European cities...and despite my reservations about whether I'd like it, it was fantastic. I'd say 5 days there is a minimum to scratch the surface.

Happy travels,

Jules

Great animation of the bridge building process! I am sure it is more awe inspiring in person.
I have read a few articles about this bridge &amp; its completion awhile ago. Thanks for the suggestion!

I would spend the five days in the Provence area, also, such as the area around Avignon. No, you can't do a day trip from Nice to Avignon and back, it's too far. If you want Roman ruins, there are some in Arles and Nimes (and other places, like Lyon and St-Remy). I don't know about mountain views, exactly, there are mountains in that general area, but not Alps-type mountains. You'd kind of need a car for that, though.

I'm not a fan of overnight nights, but nowadays with fast TGV trains, you aren't maximizing your time that way, you are spending more time as you can get a fast train between Avignon and Paris that is only a few hours, but there are hardly any more night trains between Provence and Paris due to that, and if you get one, you are tying up your time for many more hours.

If you have two weeks and will be in Nice for 5 days, I would suggest spending 4 days in Provence with a car, exploring the Luberon area and then go to Paris for 5 days. If you have not been to Paris, it is worth at least 5 days. We try to spend that much time every year. Paris and Provence make an ideal combination.

I'll just repeat what all the other experienced travelers have already said,

Don't travel farther than Provence, and then extend your time in Paris.

We vacation 2 months in France every year, in several different regions. W've spent 23 weeks in the Riveria &amp; Provence region.

Avignon is too far away from Nice for a good day trip - you will spend to much of the time driving.

If this was my trip, I would rent a car the second day in Nice, and spend about 3 of your 5 days exploring the area around Nice - St Paul, Peillon, Gorbio, Cannes, etc. and the fantastic Nice Hinterland. Then I would take a slow drive to the Luberon (Provence) - visiting some of the small villages inland from the Riveria along the way.

Spend the remainder of your time in Provence - visiting the many wonderful villages, and Roman Ruins. Then take the 3 hr TGV to Paris.

I have a 20+ page intinerary that describes this route in much more detail. e-mail me at [email protected] if you want a copy. I've sent it to over 300 people on this and the aol travel board.

Don't even consider Munich, Romantic road, or anything else beyone the Riveria, Provence, and Paris for your short trip. Like I said, we've spent 23 weeks in that area, and there are still some very interesting things we have not seen yet. You want to experience Europe - not spend the entire vacation inside your car, like I did on my first couple of trips to Europe.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley - I really appreciate your detailed response. I am discussing your suggestions with my husband right now! I will email you later for your generous offer to send me your itinerary. Thanks again.

I have just one thought that might be helpful. Have you traveled on overnight trains before? While I love them, I would never do them more than say once a week on a trip. Most people really can't sleep very well and you arrive somewhat disoriented to your next stop. My point is it's not something you'd want to do every (or even every other night).

Try www.viaducdemillau.com

I think art_lover's trip was in September 2005, as this is a July 2005 thread when first posted.

What Stu said---no reason to travel farther.

I completely agree with the writer who suggested doing the Riviera/Provence area for 4 days or so--then take the TGV from Avignon to Paris (or Lyon to Paris if you really explore Provence)...and spend another day or two in Paris. Avignon is worth a night or two, and a good jumping off point for other places in Provence. Nice is on the Riviera--it's not Provence...so I wouldn't spend 5 nights there, unless you're only focused on that area.

Remember that most European roads were not built for automobile traffic, and September is still a popular time for travel. (They don't all vacation in July or August.) In addition to Avignon (Palace of the Popes), visit Aix en Provence (Cezanne) and Arles (Van Gogh). You'll get more out of seeing FEWER places in greater depth. Have fun!

DO NOT TAKE A NIGHT TRAIN! You will not be able to sleep as the train screeches into stations all night long. You will be a wreck the next day. Jan

Honest folks, art_lover started this thread July 16,2005 and I am sure the questions regarding the trip was for September 2005.

LoveItaly, thanks for noticing. It's easy to make that mistake without the OP date visible!