StCirq

Yes, there is plenty to see in the area. I just wouldn't choose St-Malo as my base. Like Stu, I'd stay in Dinard, or even Avranches, though it's farther afield.

Dinan is another treasure.

tostaky

Once again thanks to all for all those answers. They give a lot to us to think about and it's appreciated.

We still have some questions/comments
I said St-Malo because of the fact that Jacques Cartier (the navigator who discover Canada) started is trip at St-Malo and there's a strong connection between that place and the Québec. It's not mandatory to sleep there but we want to do some sightseeing.

5 nights minimum...we will see. Everyone frome every region of France would say the same about her/his region, but we have to make some,(tough) choices !

We have think to Stay In Sarlat, do we have to be in the town itself or anything around it would be fine ? Any other ideas ?

Why crowd and weather would be better in reverse order ? Weather is very unpredictable, France got 2 massive heat waves at different time of the summer this year. Driving a car in an unknow place fter an 7 hours flight while being jetlagged is not something we would do. We are not against doing it in reverse order, but we cant see the real advantage here.

Do you think we can have good look of some parts of Britanny in 5 days ? That would mean to skip all the western part, We would concentrate our trip around St -Malo before going south ine the Vannes area.

AJPeabody

My recent trip included 3 places in Brittany, Vannes, Ploumanac'h, and St-Malo. It may give you a few ideas.

The Peabody Papers 2019, Paris and Brittany, Unmapped

tostaky

AJPeabody: Page not found !

StCirq

If you stay IN Sarlat in July, you will be facing crowds all the time - getting in and out of town, and once you are there, particularly on market days (Wednesdays and Saturdays). But there are literally dozens of nearby villages that make wonderful bases from which you can visit Sarlat and everywhere else around.

There is a very strong connection between Honfleur and Québec also. Samuel de Champlain sailed from Honfleur in 1608 to found Québec. Possibly of more import than Chartier for a Québecois.

I must have missed that you were planning on a long drive after landing. Don't do it.

tostaky

Hi StCirq !

Do you have a recommendation for a village or two ? Is The region arpound Sarlat the good one for Dordogne ?

You are right about Champlain, we also have planned to go in Honfleur.

And we are NOT thinking about driving after our flight, I wa answering to dugi_otok who was proposing to do it.

StCirq

Ah, OK, sorry.

Some villages to investigate include St-Cyprien, Meyrals, Marquay, St-Géniès, Beynac, La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud, Vitrac, Domme, Le Bugue, Le Coux-et-Bigaroque, and farther out Montignac, Rouffignac, Monpazier, St-Léon-sur-Vézère, Plazac, Paunat, Cadouin....basically, draw a circle around Sarlat with a 30-km radius and stay within the western half of it.

AJPeabody

Tested link, works for me. Try again or click my name for list of trip reports.

StuDudley

>> Like Stu, I'd stay in Dinard, <<

Oops - I meant Dinan. Although Dinard is preferable over St Malo.

Stu Dudley

bilboburgler

Although Dinard is preferable over St Malo

Not sure if I agree

StuDudley

There are close, IMO. The beach is very nice in Dinard. The walk along the coast west of the beach, and then up on top of the bluffs above this walk is fantastic. Beautiful villas on this bluff.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

Dinan and Dinard, which I always confuse, are both preferable to me to St-Malo.

Maribel

tostaky,
Yes, I think you can have a very good look of some parts of Brittany in 5 days. We did 16-nights only because we're slow travelers and that's our MO (15 Normandy, 15 Provence, 7 Dordogne and could have used more), but that's us and certainly not you or your family.

I was torn as to whether to chose Dinan on the Rance or Dinard vs St-Malo on the coast. It's one of the most FAQs on the TA Brittany forum and often asked here. My husband had stayed intramuros in St-Malo and recalled parking/driving issues, so we chose St-Servan outside of the walls for easier car access & free parking at our villa chambre d'hôtes. And "coastal" Brittany was our theme.
After visiting both medieval Dinan and Edwardian Dinard, we could have been happy in either. We also could have been happy in Cancale to the east. We found the scenery, however, more dramatic to the west of Dinard/St-Malo than to the east towards Mont-St-Michel. Just our personal preference.

And we loved Vannes, Trinité-sur-Mer (the yacht racing town) and the boat ride to Ile aux Moines.

On our Normandy trip we loved Bayeux, the chalk cliffs of Etretat, the Pays d'Auge (where we rented a renovated stable/gîte outside of Deauville on the route du cidre) and Honfleur.

dugi_otok

For Dordogne accommodation
I have stayed in several villages/towns in and around Sarlat. I would still recommend staying at the La Villa des Consuls in Sarlat
La Villa des Consuls ? Appartements et chambres de charme au c?ur de la cité médiévale de Sarlat
Large free parking lot nearby or you can rent a garage from La Villa. Walk to a variety of restaurants, bakeries, shops, etc. Large apartments for your family.
Handouts for day trips covering all the tourist destinations.

En route to Sarlat you may stop at the very, very popular Gouffre de Padirac.
https://www.gouffre-de-padirac.com/fr/
You could even add a night to your itinerary, stay in Rocamadour at Domaine de la Rhue
Domaine de la rhue - Rocamadour
then visit Padirac the next morning before the herds arrive and then proceed to Sarlat.

StCirq

In July, nice as Villa des Consuls is, I would NOT stay in town (I live 24 kms away and we don't even go near Sarlat in July). This is an even nicer place: https://www.google.com/search?client...4dUDCAk&uact=5

The Domaine de la Rhue is a lovely property, but Rocamadour and the Gouffre de Padirac are eminently skippable, IMO, if your time is short in the area.

dugi_otok

As far as reverse order for your trip.
You will enjoy Provence July 5-10 more than in August 1-5.
I understand your not wanting to drive after a long flight.

So I will suggest this.
After arriving at Marseille airport take a bus to Aix-en-Provence for 1 night. Buses link Marseille's airport with the bus station in Aix (2/hour, 35 minutes).
Aix would be a good introduction to your France vacation. Then the next day rent a car and drive to your Provence accommodations.

dugi_otok

StCirq is correct. Sarlat is so crowded in July that nobody goes there!
Actually StCirq gave me some good advice the time I took my grandchildren to the Dordogne.
We even had a great time at the Bastille Day celebration in July at Sarlat with probably the largest crowd of the year.

StuDudley

>> We found the scenery, however, more dramatic to the west of Dinard/St-Malo than to the east towards Mont-St-Michel. Just our personal preference. <<

Agree!!!!! We thought both the inland area and along the coast (Cap Frehel) was much more interesting. Too much commerce, trailer parks, & mass tourist places along the coast between St Malo & Pointe du Grouin.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

It's true that if there are celebrations in Sarlat they are worth visiting, even if there are crowds. Sarlat does a really good job of festivals.

tostaky

Why July would be much better than august ? It would be to be in Britanny and Paris in August, in fact we have to be somewhere in august !

Taking an almost 3 hours bus after a long fight is no fun ! Why not stay in Marseille for one night and take the car from there ?

So must we go or not in Sarlat in July ? Still wondering what to do with 5 days in Dordogne if many place should be avoided in summer. . Maybe we could put those days elsewhere.