Gilda

Just returned from 5 days in Paris and 6 days in Nice. Any questions?

Ess

Did you take any side trips from Paris? I'll be in Paris soon and looking for something different to do for a day (not Versailles or Chartres).

Gilda

Ess: Sorry, we didn't have time to take side trips. Wanted to catch as much of Paris as we could. Did all the "tourist" things and walked 100 miles at least! Just too much to see and not enough time! Personally, I think Versailles is definitely worth a look-see.

joe

How were the crowds? Long lines at museums etc?

Gilda

Joe: Lines weren't too bad. We had a Museum Pass which allowed us to enter all with no fee. Well worth it. It pays to arrive as early in the day as possible to all. As for crowds on Paris streets, definitely, but it IS a huge city! Metros are a little intimidating until you use them a few times and then quite simple to navigate. Everyone uses them, however, and again, crowds abound!

Cynthia

Yes, I have several questions. I hope you can help with some of them! <BR> <BR>We are planning on staying in the Provence/Cote D’Azur region for about 6 days. Our initial thoughts on an itinerary are: 1 day each in Avignon, Aix, Marseille, and Nice. One day for small towns around Avignon (St Remy, Nimes, Les Baux, Pont du Gard) and one day for small towns around Nice (suggestions?). Do you have any recommendations on that itinerary? Are we trying to do too much? Are we missing any ‘must-see sites’? <BR> <BR>Can you recommend any good hotels? Are we better off staying in Nice or in a town near Nice? What about for the Avignon side? <BR> <BR>How did you get to Nice from Paris? We are considering an Air France flight or the TGV. Does the high-speed train run from Paris to Nice? <BR> <BR>Thanks for any ideas!

Gilda

Cynthia: Sounds like you have much more of an itinerary than we did! We went straight to Nice from Paris via Air Liberte. Got a great rate and we wanted to make it a short trip rather than "sight-see" on the way. The train does run between Paris and Nice but from what I understand, can still take a while, so we opted for a flight. Suggestions for places around Nice would be a small town called Eze, north of Nice. Be sure to look for the signs to the VILLAGE of Eze which will take you straight UP but it's well worth it! Beautiful little town with small shops literally cut into the side of a mountain! I would also recommend a trip to Monaco. Only about a half hour from Nice and SO beautiful. We visited the palace as well as spending several hours in harbor area just people watching. We stayed at the West End hotel right on the "main drag" in Nice. Location great because it faces the water and the hotel itself is very nice (4-star, Best Western). Traffic was brutal but sound-proof windows helped. Didn't see any off the beaten path, but I'm sure there are many. Right up the street from us was the Negresco (sp?) which is beautiful...worth a look even if you don't stay just for their lobby. Weather was rain for two days, but once the sun broke out, it was a completely different place! About 70 and breathtaking scenery. Have a great time!

Christina

The TGV does go from Paris to Nice, and I think they just completed more of the high-speed line so it is quicker than before, but it is still basically an all-day trip. France is a big country. Given your short time there (Cynthia) I would suggest you fly as that only takes about an hour. It might make sense to take the TGV to Avignon since you plan on being there, then work you way to Nice, but fly back from Nice. If you instead on picking out only one of those places for a day trip from Avignon, that's fine, but you can't see all four of those in one day. Perhaps you could see two (Les Baux and Pont du Gard), but that's it. From Nice, you could see Antibes, Grasse, Monaco or St Paul/Vence, as well as the train thing, I think those would be the main possibilities. Or Cannes. I think your itinerary is too hectic by far, but you know your own traveling habits. I think you have a good list of things to do, except I would think Arles a must-see, more so than Nimes, but you probably had a reason for choosing Nimes.

Kathy

Hi Gilda, <BR> <BR>I was wondering if you bought your museum pass upon arrival in Paris or before you left for Paris? <BR> <BR>Thanks!

Gilda

Kathy: We bought our passes prior to departure with our travel agent's assistance, as part of a hotel package.

Suzie

Gilda, I'm leaving for Paris in a week. Last time I was there in October, the museums were on strike, different ones open at different times, and you never knew ahead of time. Frustrating - I never got to go to D'Orsay. You didn't mention this, so hopefully they're not still striking! How was the weather? <BR>I hope still cool. I'm from South Florida and would love that. Also, I had trouble booking a hotel , they all seem to be full- I like the 3-stars on the Left Bank - and am worried that it will be overrun with tourists in May. I finally found a hotel in St. Germain near Montparnasse, but that wasn't my first choice. I hope this one won't be too far off the track.

Linda

Cynthia: Took the TGV from Paris to Cannes...about 7 hours, but a great way to see a lot of the country. Cannes is a great base from which to see the CoteD'Azur...side trips to Grasse, Gourdon, Antibes, Juan Les Pins. Be sure to see Eze and Monaco. We rented a car...on the super highway Monaco was only a 45 min. drive. Also went west to St. Tropez. A great place to stay in Cannes is the Hotel Splendid, right on the waterfront near the Cannes Film Festival. Spacious rooms and very reasonable prices.

PB

Cynthia,<BR>&lt;&lt;. Our initial thoughts on an itinerary are: 1 day each in Avignon, Aix, Marseille, and Nice. One day for small towns around Avignon (St Remy, Nimes, Les Baux, Pont du Gard) &gt;&gt;<BR><BR>You won't get a chance to see much at all with this itinerary. I suggest skipping both Aix (STILL undergoing construction on the Cours Mirabeau)and Marseille.<BR>Stay in Avignon (if you like cities) or in a village in that area. I recommend either Villeneuve lez Avignon or St. Remy as a base.<BR>In day trips you can comfortably see the following:<BR><BR>Day one - Pont du Gard and the town of Uzes (definitely worth visiting) <BR>Day two - St. Remy, Les Baux and Arles<BR>Day three - villages of the Luberon -Roussillon, l'Isle sur la Sorgue, Gordes, Lacoste,etc.<BR><BR>You might stop or stay in Cassis, the small port town east of Marseille on your way to Nice, if you're driving. (Avignon - Nice takes about 2.5 hours by car)<BR><BR>PB

Anna

Yes, how was the weather? We will be going at the ending of May - was it in the 50's or 60's?

Dave

Wilda,<BR>Thanks for the opinions of the Cote de A'zur itinerary. We are leaving for Paris and Nice next week. Any "highly recommended" restaraunts in the general area of Nice? We are planning to rent a car to get around the coast.

Ron

One thing you could do would be to drive up to St Paul-de-Vence and have lunch on the terrace of the hotel Le Saint-Paul. I can't tell you what the parking situation would be, but this is a charming place to visit.