We are trying to find the best way to see Provence in a leisurely way. Checked out a few river cruises which sound wonderful, but they all seem to spend only a few hours in each city. Is there a better way to see the region for two couples who speak no French?

Thank you for your suggestions!

River cruises in Provence are going to severely limit what you can see - I'd guess Avignon, Arles, maybe Tarascon, and then maybe the Camargue.

Far and away the best thing to do would be to rent a car and then do some serious meandering !!

- Kevin

We were just there last month. We based in St. Remy and had 6 nights there. Our goal was to see it leisurely as well. Our first day we did a wine tasting tour with Oliver Hickman of Wine Uncovered. It was fabulous day visiting some wineries in chateaneuf de Pape and Gigondas. The next day we drove to Avignon and after our visit there went to Pont du Gard. The next day was market day in St. Remy so we stayed and explored there, then drove over to Les Baux. Next day it was market day in Aix, so we drove there and spent the day exploring that city. Next day we visited the Luberon villages of Gordes, Roussilon, Bonnieux, Lacoste and Menerbes. We were there in March when they weren't very crowded so that made it nice and easy to visit. Our last day we had booked a hotel near Marseilles airport since we had a very early flight the next morning. We did some last minute shopping in St. Remy had a leisurely lunch then drove to Marseilles and dropped off luggage at hotel, then continued on to Cassis for a lovely late afternoon and dinner.

Each day we would wake up and have a nice breakfast in our small hotel, have leisurely lunches, and were back in time in the afternoon to rest up before heading out to dinner. It was a perfect way to enjoy Provence!

A river cruise would of course hinder your ability to see much of anything in depth, though it's an interesting approach, I guess. Rent a car and go exploring!

Don't let the language barrier deter you. We have driven all over Provence & the Riviera and we don't speak French either. Bonjour, sil vous plait(sp?) and merci will get you far. The French people are warm & friendly and willing to help. In the tourist areas you will most likely find someone who speaks a little English. The roads are marked well and easy to follow.

I'm with StCirq----rent a car and go exploring. We have based ourselves in Aix, Avignon, and Antibes in the past and loved every moment of those trips.

Good luck!