Hello Europe Board
I'm usually on the Asia Board as we travel to Thailand often, and though a Brit by birth (living in Chicago) we go to Europe quite often but I have only visited France once in my life.

We are scheduled to vitit France In Septemebr and orginally (when we booked the flight) planned on staying a week in Paris - which is all set ( a free week at the Hotel Le Parc Trocadero -Marriott points) and then the original plan , and reason for the trip was to join a celebration of a close friend at her relative's villa (near Nice) for a week. The villa part of the trip has been cancelled due to her upcoming surgery so we now are looking at visiting the same area and even after searching the search part of this board cannot find recommendations regarding charming B & B's or pensions in the S. of France. We are still trying to decide if to drive there (I've always wanted to see the lavender fields - will they still be blooming in early Sept?) Our plan is not set so any recommendations of where to visit stay etc are welcome.

We are looking to see beautiful countryside, maybe wineries, eat very well, drink good wine, stay in smaller not chain (but charming) hotels, Inns, that do not cost a great deal. (say $150 a night) Any suggestions of the drive, where to stop for hours or the night(s) where to eat, and stay would be very very welcome. After leaving Paris we have from 10th Sept -18th before we return home. Oh and thanks for all the good tips and info you have given for Paris.
Sue

Am replying to my own message . Just did find a great archive here re South of France and have written to Stu who appears to be the Guru for this region. Hope his itinerary will be helpful and, am still looking for suggestions of nice places to stay and good eating establishments.
Thanks again/
Sue

Also, check out the Logis de France hotel site. Small, personally owned hotels with charm and decent to good restaurants.

Hi Sue -

my husband and I will be going to Paris on marriott points in Sept 2009 and we are trying to decide on the hotel and Hotel Le Parc is one of our choices - please give feedback on your return about the hotel and surrounding neighborhood - looks nice but you never know....

>> the lavender fields - will they still be blooming in early Sept? <<

Sorry, the answer's NO. That'd be late June-early July.

Instead of searching "South of France", try "Provence".

Some lavender fields are still blooming in August, but I'd forget that for September, it has to be harvested and is not just for looks.

I think the problem is that the question is so general -- planning a trip to the south of France -- that it's hard to give good advice or concise advice. There are zillions of posts on Fodors about trips to Provence with recommendations of places to stay, wineries, etc. if one narrows down the ideas to an area. Perhaps reading a guidebook would be a good start to at least narrow down some potential places you think you want to go.

What is not harvested in September will have lost its dazzling color.
Check out www.provencebeyond.com
for some B&bs and googling is a gold mine for that.