If we're visiting the Riviera, Provence and Paris is it better to fly into Nice and make our way into Paris or is it better to fly into Paris and then go south. Probably doesn't make a difference but thought I'd ask anyways. Just wondering if one is easier than the other.

I flew into Paris and made my way to Nice, or Cannes in my case. I chose this route because I wanted to get that first WOW factor when I arrived in Paris...and we did. Then we drove over to the champagne region and on through burgandy and provence to see the country side and wineries. I thought the relaxing time on the beach in the French Riviera area was a nice way to end all the touring around in France....that is before we headed to Venice and most of Italy though.

I think ending at the beach would help to bring you home from your vacation relaxed and rested.

Hi Loves2sing- we are making that same trek at the end of september. Do you happen to have your itinerary? any recommendations?

I'm not sure you can go wrong with something like that. Last year we flew into CDG, then grabbed the TGV to Avignon from there and biked Provence for a week before coming back to Paris. Thinking about what we'll do next year, I'm still inclined to end in Paris, though when I try to make a case one way or another I come back to "either way, we'll be in France!"

When we left Paris, we drove over to Reims and visited some champagne houses. I think we stayed only one night in a not too interesting hotel, giving us one full day to sightsee which was plenty to get a taste of it. Then we drove through the burgandy region, stopping at wineries along the way and stayed in a castle just outside of Beaune. From there we drove to St. Remy in Provence staying in a nice clean quiet little hotel in a rural town before ending our France leg of the trip in Cannes for a week in the French Riviera in one of the typical beach side hotels. It was expensive, but nothing fancy. Kind of dated for what I was expecting. While there we spent our days at the beaches, drove over and spent a day at St. Tropez beach. We drove up to Grasse-the perfume town (lovely day, the whole area smelled like perfume), and over to Monaco as well. While I do plan my destinations and hotels, I don't plan my days, rather just go with what I'm in the mood for once I'm there.

The castle B&B we stayed in was an old restored castle that is now their home and small inn and it was amazing! It wasn't too pricey either, although our dinner in a nearby town was but that's because it was very high end....memorable. It wasn't a huge castle like you might find in Germany, but more like some place that someone rich would have owned, with staff quarters underground and everything. The owners were very nice, and kept to themselves most of the time
The name of the place was Chateau d'Ecutigny, in Ecutigny. I think they have about 6 rooms but try to get the one at the end of the hall because you're bathroom is in the turret of the castle with a big old claw foot tub. They had a website but apparently it's no longer in use but I think they now list through various booking agencies. If you google the name you should find a number of links to it. Also, if you're interested, you can go to this link and see some pictures that my husband and I took.

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q...es2sing/Beaune

Hi S,

I suggest that you save the best, Paris, for last.