hopingtotravel

OK, I just paid for the plane tickets; no turning back! I dithered for weeks weighing possibilities of fog in San Francisco, snow in Alaska, the recent foiled terrorist plot at Heathrow and the 'oldest planes in the sky' out of Seattle. (opted for Seattle) So far I have 6 nights booked in Provence. Underhill, if you're reading this, I booked Rm #2 one night at Le Hameau. After the first of January, I'll worry about the Paris, Loire and Dordogne parts of the trip. In the meantime, I'm still getting great ideas from this board.

elle

Oooh, I'm jealous. I can't imagine that we'll get to travel any sooner than June.

Congratulations on taking the plunge!

JeanneB

Provence,Paris, Loire and Dordogne...WOW! How long are you going for? Need someone to schlepp your luggage?

cigalechanta

Hopingtotravel, that's wonderful. Be sure to visit the Maeght Foundation and the art at the Colombe D'Or. There's so much to see in that area. I wish we could have stayed longer.

hopingtotravel

Cigalechanta, if I haven't run out of money by the time I get that far (grin) I hope to at least have drinks and appetizers there. I began ripping out magazine articles, etc, for this trip 6 or 7 years ago. I recently went through the file and there was a picture of Colombe d'Or which looked wonderful. Jeanne, about 21 days but coming from where I live that's around 2.5 full days of travel just getting from home to Paris and back.

cigalechanta

Before I stayed there, I bought the book, "The Colombe D'Or of St Paul-de-Vence, A Taste of Provence." The photographs showing the artists and stars who stayed there are wonderful. Pictures of Simone Signoret and Yves Montands wedding there. Upstairs in the tourist office, you'll see some of the photographs that are in the book.One of Yves playing boules in the boules court that is almost opposite the Colombe D'Or.

Gretchen

If you can pay any part of your trip now in USD you may reap the benefit of the exchange rate.

ira

Or the dollar might strengthen against the euro.

hopingtotravel

Topping in case Underhill is around.

Underhill

Well done, hopingtotravel! I think you'll enjoy Le Hameau; probably too cold for the pool, with luck the weather will be okay for breakfast in the garden. Say hello to room #2 for us, and please report on the new ownership on your return.

hopingtotravel

Thanks, I'm looking forward to it. Now, I need to begin concentrating on booking my 3 nights in Paris, 2 in the Loire and 2 or 3 in the Dordogne. I know, sounds like a lot of driving but who knows if my husband will ever let me go back! At least he's had experience with my driving itineraries! The strong dollar may either curtail some of my planned bookings or else I have to decide to be in debt until I'm 80.

P_M

Ira wrote, "Or the dollar might strengthen against the euro."

Ira, I would so love to believe you are right, but I've been saying that for 2 years and it hasn't come true.

hopingtotravel

Yes, I'm watching shopping options dwindling before my eyes--but must go. Who knows what roadblocks there would be if I waited a year!

mamc

It sounds wonderful! Have you been to Paris before? If not, I can't recommend strongly enough that you spend more than 3 nights there. After 8 trips, I still can't get enough of this incredible city.