Help - first time in France, we need a good itinerary for driving from Paris to Nice. We have one week and would like to see the best of the regions. Thanks

Great question, but before we start to answer, could you clarify? Do you mean you have a full week between the two cities? Or will some of the week need to include Paris and/or Nice? Hopefully you have a full 6 or 7 nights to spend not counting Paris or Nice.

Gary,<BR>Driving from Paris to Nice in 7 days is unrealistic. The drive itself is about 600 miles and would take you about 10 hours non-stop.<BR>You would certainly not have enough time to see Paris and Nice while lesiurely driving from one to the other visiting the small towns. One or two days in Paris is definitely not enough time.<BR>If you are intent on seeing both Paris and Nice, then I suggest you spend 3-4 nites in Paris and then fly to Nice for the other 3 nites.<BR>If you would like to see the small towns of France, then I suggest you leave out Paris on this trip and rent a car in Nice. You could then enjoy driving anywhere in the areas of Provence and the hill towns around Nice for a week and do it at a relaxed pace.<BR>If you want to do Paris, then do it for the entire week and use it as a base to visit surronding areas of Paris

Hi Gary & Irene,<BR>I agree with Gary.<BR>The most important is to drive alonf and through the Provence and Coast, as well as to stay in Nice.<BR>If you want to give it a relaxed touch, take a train along the coastline first, and than later on in Marseille/Lyon switch the train to TGV. Both are quiete exciting. Or just fly to Paris.<BR>More questioning, send email<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf

Sorry Patrick i should have been more clear. We will be spending a week in Paris first and then another week to Nice where we will be spending another week. sorry about the confusion. Gary

Gary,<BR>Are you saying that you are staying one week in Paris and then another week driving to Nice before spending another week in Nice? 3 weeks total?

Sounds like Patrick had it right the first time: a week in between. Glorious luxury! Even though it could also fill a month! The route is not really the question - - it's the Autoroute du Soleil, all the way. The question is - - how often to stop and where?<BR><BR>Here's just a tiny fraction of the possibilities.<BR><BR>Stop for lunch the first day in Nitry - - La Beursaudiere - - more info about it here on this forum. I remember this place as fondly as if it were yesterday.<BR><BR>Dijon and Beaune - - others who know them better than me will rave. I have never been to either, but I know better than to omit them.<BR><BR>Chateau de Longsard - - in the heart of the Beaujolais. I have often written about this place here on the forum also.<BR><BR>Lyon - - another place too little visited by Americans. No shortage of reasons to go there. Big mystery who more people don't.<BR><BR>Orange-Avignon-Nimes/Pont du Gard-Arles/Aix-en-Provence - - ahh!! here's a month for you! Check out www.campagne-jeanne.com for a place to stay (though I've never actually stayed there).<BR><BR>Corniche de l'Esterel - - the magnificent coastline from Frejus/St. Raphael to Cannes - - behind that "big red rock". Drive it - - you'll see what I mean.<BR><BR>Montauroux and Tourettes - - between Draguignan and Grasse. For a little escape up into them thar hills.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Rex - thanks for the help. sounds like we can really work with your ideas. Maybe we can share our experience with others when we return. Thanks again.<BR>Gary

Thanks for responding. We have 7 days in which to get to Nice from Paris. Do you have any suggestions of where to stay and possibly the route in which to take?

Note to Gary:<BR><BR>just as you did in your initial posting, you put YOUR name in the boxes labeled Name and E-mail Address - - not a person to which you wish to direct the message.<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

So many possibilities, but I think I'd spend the first night in Dijon -- not a major drive for the first day and a very interesting town to start in.<BR>From there I'd probably go to Annecy, a pretty lake front town near the edge of the Alps -- possibly for two nights so you could spend one day driving a bit of a circle- perhaps to see Chamonix and Mount Blanc, possibly looping to the south slightly coming back to Annecy by visiting Albertville briefly -- specatacular views. From there I'd probably head to Avignon to spend two more nights. Then to Aix-en-provence for the final two nights. (Well, to be honest I'd probably spend the full four nights in Aix and just drive daily to the other places in Provence), but everybody else seems so crazy about Avignon, I may be missing something about it. <BR>As much as I love Lyon, I think because of your time in Paris and Nice, I'd concentrate on the smaller towns instead of Lyon. And you will also be able to visit Cannes, Vence, Eze, Monte Carlo, etc. during your week in Nice, so I wouldn't cover those with your middle "bonus" week.

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