June in France with 5 year old
Apr 6th, 2024, 01:38 PM
#41
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LAUREN
I'm curious. You have 17 days to spend in France. A week in Paris leaves 10 days for elsewhere. And you want some beach time, the Dordogne, and the Loire. Why is Lyon in the itinerary? I don't see how Lyon would appeal to a 5YO. And I personally never schedule two big cities back-to-back.
My suggestion:
- You could spend a week in Paris to start.
- Have breakfast or lunch at the Train Bleu at the Gare du Nord (train station) in Paris, and take the 3 1/4 TGV to either Marseille or the Aix TGV station. Pick up a car & drive the short distance to Cassis.
https://www.le-train-bleu.com/en/
- 2-3 nights in Cassis. See my itinerary for hotel.
- Depart Cassis around 2pm & drive 3 1/2 hrs to Carcassonne.
- One evening/night in Carcassonne (kid will love this). Too many people in Carcassonne mid-day. Arrive late afternoon & depart mid-morning. Stay inside the walled fortress. See my Languedoc itinerary.
- Drive 3 1/2 hrs to the Dordogne
- 4-5 nights in the Dordogne near Sarlat.
- Drive to Saumar & spend 2 nights there. (we've driven this twice)
- Drive the short distance to St Pierre des Corps, return the car, and take the short TGV to Paris or directly to CDG.
- 1 night in Paris or CDG before your flight home.
You could do this in reverse also.
Stu Dudley
I'm curious. You have 17 days to spend in France. A week in Paris leaves 10 days for elsewhere. And you want some beach time, the Dordogne, and the Loire. Why is Lyon in the itinerary? I don't see how Lyon would appeal to a 5YO. And I personally never schedule two big cities back-to-back.
My suggestion:
- You could spend a week in Paris to start.
- Have breakfast or lunch at the Train Bleu at the Gare du Nord (train station) in Paris, and take the 3 1/4 TGV to either Marseille or the Aix TGV station. Pick up a car & drive the short distance to Cassis.
https://www.le-train-bleu.com/en/
- 2-3 nights in Cassis. See my itinerary for hotel.
- Depart Cassis around 2pm & drive 3 1/2 hrs to Carcassonne.
- One evening/night in Carcassonne (kid will love this). Too many people in Carcassonne mid-day. Arrive late afternoon & depart mid-morning. Stay inside the walled fortress. See my Languedoc itinerary.
- Drive 3 1/2 hrs to the Dordogne
- 4-5 nights in the Dordogne near Sarlat.
- Drive to Saumar & spend 2 nights there. (we've driven this twice)
- Drive the short distance to St Pierre des Corps, return the car, and take the short TGV to Paris or directly to CDG.
- 1 night in Paris or CDG before your flight home.
You could do this in reverse also.
Stu Dudley
Last edited by StuDudley; Apr 6th, 2024 at 01:47 PM.
Apr 9th, 2024, 06:11 PM
#42
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I really really appreciate everyone’s feedback and I’ve written all of it down so that if I can’t get to it this time I’ll do it on a future trip. My hope is to spend a month abroad most summers..
After printing ALL of Stu’s itineraries (you have a book here Stu!) and reading about the Provence and Luberon (lavender blooming mostly in June and that crowds are not unbearable yet) we are inclined to spend more time in that area. There are beaches (Cassis looks amazing!!) caves and loads of flowers, all which will entertain my kid. I’m thinking we arrive for 5 nights in Paris, TGV to Lyon to appease my husband for two nights, then TGV to…Aix? Rent car and base for 5-6 nights (love the gite idea even if for a day visit because my kid loves animals)
or at least something with a pool to entertain her after a day of sights. With those days we can day trip to beaches, maybe some hilltop villages, lavender fields….
not as interested in Nice/Cote DAzur but maybe I just don’t know enough about it.
My husband reminded me that while we DO live in Tucson, we also go several times a year to San Diego and get plenty of beach time there. The point is to escape June in Tucson which can be as hot as 110.
Dordogne looks MAGICAL but I feel we won’t have time for two regions this trip so we must choose (and like Stu said, soon!) between Dordogne or Provence.
if we drive to Saumur we could maybe pass through Sarlat for a night just to see the market and get some truffles.
Saumur is not 100% necessary but since I have a high school pal who lives there and he’s got a kiddo my kid’s age I think it will be a nice way to spend 2-3 days drinking some Sancerre en route back to Paris.
Then Brittany will be the next trip!
After printing ALL of Stu’s itineraries (you have a book here Stu!) and reading about the Provence and Luberon (lavender blooming mostly in June and that crowds are not unbearable yet) we are inclined to spend more time in that area. There are beaches (Cassis looks amazing!!) caves and loads of flowers, all which will entertain my kid. I’m thinking we arrive for 5 nights in Paris, TGV to Lyon to appease my husband for two nights, then TGV to…Aix? Rent car and base for 5-6 nights (love the gite idea even if for a day visit because my kid loves animals)
or at least something with a pool to entertain her after a day of sights. With those days we can day trip to beaches, maybe some hilltop villages, lavender fields….
not as interested in Nice/Cote DAzur but maybe I just don’t know enough about it.
My husband reminded me that while we DO live in Tucson, we also go several times a year to San Diego and get plenty of beach time there. The point is to escape June in Tucson which can be as hot as 110.
Dordogne looks MAGICAL but I feel we won’t have time for two regions this trip so we must choose (and like Stu said, soon!) between Dordogne or Provence.
if we drive to Saumur we could maybe pass through Sarlat for a night just to see the market and get some truffles.
Saumur is not 100% necessary but since I have a high school pal who lives there and he’s got a kiddo my kid’s age I think it will be a nice way to spend 2-3 days drinking some Sancerre en route back to Paris.
Then Brittany will be the next trip!
Apr 9th, 2024, 08:11 PM
#43
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""if we drive to Saumur we could maybe pass through Sarlat for a night just to see the market and get some truffles."
Nope. Just one night is a wast of time. Seems that Saumur is controlling everything. It's close to the Dordogne, but not close to Provence. Are you traveling all the was from Tucson to France to visit friends, or to visit France??
Stu Dudley
Nope. Just one night is a wast of time. Seems that Saumur is controlling everything. It's close to the Dordogne, but not close to Provence. Are you traveling all the was from Tucson to France to visit friends, or to visit France??
Stu Dudley
Apr 10th, 2024, 07:04 AM
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""if we drive to Saumur we could maybe pass through Sarlat for a night just to see the market and get some truffles."
Nope. Just one night is a wast of time. Seems that Saumur is controlling everything. It's close to the Dordogne, but not close to Provence. Are you traveling all the was from Tucson to France to visit friends, or to visit France??
Stu Dudley
Nope. Just one night is a wast of time. Seems that Saumur is controlling everything. It's close to the Dordogne, but not close to Provence. Are you traveling all the was from Tucson to France to visit friends, or to visit France??
Stu Dudley
what stinks is that I really want to go there and my hubby really wants to go to Lyon. Two completely opposite areas! We’re both in total agreement on Paris and I’ll be booking the apartment this week.
we’re both totally flexible, open and really torn on the rest…Provence, Dordogne, and Britany all look amazing to both of us! Just after reading your info on Provence and the timing just seemed perfect for the flowers. I’m stressed about crowds and it sounds like that won’t be an issue which tempted me
Apr 10th, 2024, 08:39 AM
#45
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A tip, if you plan to travel by car in Provence, don’t stay in Aix but rather a gîte in a smaller place where parking and traffic will be less challenging. Anywhere in the Bouches du Rhone departement.
on your way north, if travelling by car, make time for the Chauvet cave or perhaps the Aven d’Orgnac. Not as far off your path as Dordogne and quite as interesting.
on your way north, if travelling by car, make time for the Chauvet cave or perhaps the Aven d’Orgnac. Not as far off your path as Dordogne and quite as interesting.
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