trying to work something out here... I've driven/trained in France several times, even end to end, I've lost track of how many times actually, but I'm trying to help a friend on a first (and maybe only?) trip around France. they leave in a month.

they're going to have a Saturday to Saturday, 2 weeks later, time frame.

They want to see Paris, Normandy, Provence, and the Riviera, primarily. Flying in to Paris, home from Nice.

So far, what they/we have come up with is this:

Sat: arrive Paris
Sun-Wed: Paris and environs. they want to hit up as many museums as they can, and visit Versailles. based on everything else they want to fit in elsewhere, I am wondering if they should try to hit the road Wednesday rather than Thursday...

Thurs: Giverny, on the way to Normandy. That night, stay in Bayeux. if possible, visit at least Pegasus Bridge on the way there, if not, straight to Bayeux.

Fri: Normandy beaches - not all, just Arromanches, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc and the cemetery.

Sat morn: head to Mont St. Michel. depending on time spent, by end of day start heading south.

Sun: potentially spend time in the Loire Valley, or, keep heading straight south to Provence. unclear yet.

Mon: by Monday evening at minimum, be in Provence. if they bypass the Loire Valley, this could be a lot earlier.

Tues-Wed: Provence

Thurs-Fri: Riviera & environs.

Sat: fly home.

the challenges: they may wish to have reservations in advance. I've tried to talk them into winging it/B&Bs, but I am not sure if they will agree. they also want to cover A LOT of ground, and I am trying to figure out how to maximize what they want to see without tiring them out.

what I see as a problem is that they want to see two completely opposite parts of France, in only two weeks, and spend a large chunk of their trip in Paris. I have my doubts. It can surely be done but will they remember it.

would it make sense to visit Normandy by car, drop the car there, and is there a place to pick up the TGV there and get yourself to Avignon in a hurry? they would then pick up another car, and they could feasibly be in Provence say Saturday night instead of Monday night. then they can relax a little.

or, is there a way to visit Giverny and then Normandy by say 3 day bus tour for instance, then get back to Paris and pick up the TGV and head south?

thanks everyone. I am just starting this research for them and am open to any suggestions.

Hi fly,

I respectfully suggest:

1 Have your friends register and ask their own questions.

2 A first-time trip to a foreign country by car is not a good idea.

3 Paris needs a week

4 After Paris, tour Normandy by car.

Or

4a Train to Provence and tour by car.

5 Go home

now that I am thinking about it, I wonder if they should drop Mont St. Michel and once they see what they want to see in Normandy, head back to Paris and get the TGV south - bypass everything else. that way it's a neat:

Paris - 5 days
Normandy - 2+ days
Provence 4 days
Riviera - 3 days

trip. with of course the time lost in between, due to traveling...

I think my big question is, if they pick up the car to go to Normandy and choose to keep it the whole way, and wend their way to Provence - is this going to be as much time as if they went dropped the car somewhere, waited for the train, got the TGV to Avignon, then had to pick up a car again? my gut tells me to keep the car and tough it out in driving, it'll be the same difference at the end with all the waiting times and etc, but I don't know for sure.

Hi Ira!

thanks!

I know, but they are internet averse and I thought I would try to help them out.

they have driven overseas before, just not France. personally I think France is very easy, and I am encouraging them to drive. they don't travel very lightly...

I think they should extend their trip, but they won't - even an extra day would help some.

flygirl

Your friends can take the TGV from Rouen to Avignon or Aix-en-Provence. Getting to the Côte d'Azur--Nice area--would be about a 2-hour drive by the autoroute from Aix, longer from Avignon. I think they'd end up spending a lot of time in the train and a car for just a short period on the coast.

They're trying to fit a lot of time into just 2 weeks. However, next September we're flying to Paris, heading to Normandy for 4 days, driving to Provence and spending 5 days there, then flying back to Paris and staying 3 nights. So it's doable.

I'm all in favor of having hotels reserved in advance; I like to know where I'm going to lay my head at night.

You basically have two circular tours separated by quite distance. I'm surprised that people suggest spending 5 days of a two-week itinerary in Paris. Yes, I adore Paris but it is still a city and busy and often congested - not always relaxing. Reading between the lines it looks like your friend would like to relax but wants to see everything on their wish list. Alas, the US curse of minimal vacation time and lack of appreciation for a lifestyle that includes enjoying and appreciating life and diversities. Thud! That was me stepping off my soapbox.

I'd follow suggestions about looping through Normandy starting with Giverny. If not a weekend in summer then head to a small town on the coast at the mouth of the Seine called Honfleur. It's just south across the bay from Le Havre. The Paris crowd head down there for weekend getaways so book ahead.

From there, yes, visit the Normandy beaches but there is not much to see. Do not pass up on le Mont St. Michel. Spend the nigh there. You can take in Bayeux and Omaha Beach on the way. Circle back round towards Paris with a stop in Chartres for it's magnificent Cathedral and view of a town forged in the Middle Ages that's not Paris.

Here's my real contribution. While the TGV is good and provides scenery en route there is also nothing like a view of the Alps from the air. Help your friend by booking a flight from Paris (CDG) to Nice (NCE) via EeasyJet www.easyjet.com. I just checked their website for a sample fare in July and it ranged from 16 euros to 30 euros one way excluding tax. I don't think the TGV can beat that.

Once in Côte d' Azur, don't dally. Enjou the sights but again get away from the tourist traps - I'd head up towards Avignon taking in Aix on the way. Perhaps circle back to Nice through the edge of the Alps - the Canyon du Verdon.

Take the time to relax and enjoy. The memorable anecdotes that will capture the attention of friends and acquaintances are not the sites of the Louvre or Notre Dame but of sitting in a small cafe and watching how the locals go about their daily business. It's starting to feel yourself become immersed in the foreign culture. That is difficult to do if you have an itinerary in one hand and a clock in the other.

>I'm surprised that people suggest spending 5 days of a two-week itinerary in Paris.<

MD you are so jaded.

This is their first trip. They ought to spend some of it doing as you suggest, "Take the time to relax and enjoy".

As currently configured, they will spend almost all of their time on the road.

Why not have them arrive at CDG, pick up a car or jump on a train and go immediately to Normandy?

I've found that the smaller towns outside of Paris always provide a friendlier welcome to first-timers than Paris. Then they can return to Paris for a few days- with just a reservation for the first two nights- this way, they'll know if they prefer Paris to countryside, and they can reserve more nights in Paris or head out to Provence.

Have they thought about a couchette from Paris to Nice overnight? Then they won't lose a day.

I second the idea that they may not want to spend 5 days in Paris (though I adore it and could spend years there). It depends if they like museums and restaurants vs countryside and views. If they are going to be in France next month, the weather and foliage in the country should be wonderful! For a winter trip I would say stay in Paris for at least 5 days, but in spring...

The key is that they will be in France and should just enjoy it. My philosophy is that if I miss a particular sight, I will just have to go back another year!

thanks everyone! I am going to try to sell the Normandy first option. I really think they are trying to squeeze too much in to too short of a time, but, it's their vacation, all I can do is tell them they are crazy.

I think I am going to advise them to drop Mont St. Michel, for as beautiful as it is, it's too much time invested for what may be a less than amazing experience (compared to all the much easier things they can see and enjoy). too many tourists, the tide may be out, etc etc.

thus far I am hoping to convince them:

pick up car immediately upon arrival.

Giverny first on Saturday, then on to the beaches. by Monday morning they should be heading back to Paris. (would Paris Vision trips to Giverny then Normandy beaches be another day trip option, and bypass the car for 2 days entirely?)

Paris through Saturday morning.

Saturday TGV to Avignon. Night in St. Remy. Stay in St. Remy through Wednesday mid day, taking in little day trips here and there to wineries and other sights - Roman ruins, and so forth. I've been here a few times so I know where to send them.

Wednesday drive on to Nice. base in Nice, and spend Thurs-Fri visiting coast, Monaco, Eze, etc.

they may wish to spend more time on the coast than Provence, but that is up to them.

this is rushed but doable.

any holes?

thank you again!!

we met tonight and I lent her my books and atlas...

here is the plan! thanks to all!

Arr Paris Saturday. stay in same hotel through the following Saturday morning.

two day trips, one to Giverny/Versailles, one to Normandy beaches, on Paris Vision. otherwise, it's all Paris.

TGV to Avignon Saturday morning. pick up car.

Sat night through Tues night/Wed morning- stay in St. Remy. visit all they can in Provence during this time. I gave them a list.

Wednes morning drive to Nice. Nice hotel Wed/Thurs/Fri night. see as much as they can on the Riviera in basically 2 days.

Saturday morning fly home.

so only 3 hotels, and only one week of driving. I think we did good!!

thanks again!!

Much, much better, flygirl.

Good job.

thanks Ira! I love being travel agent for my friends. It's so cool that all my travels have come to some good use! You oughta see my library - I have an entire bookshelf of only travel books, guidebooks, travel stories, etc. I could start a business! ;-)