Please help me decide: Aubagne, France, or Amsterdam for August of 2012?
 

OK, this home exchange planning has been quite a roller coaster ride. We are traveling with a 5 year old boy. We are currently considering two offers: one is in the center of Amsterdam, solid dates that work for us; the other one is in Aubagne, France, the dates are a bit difficult for us to accommodate (3 weeks). Both offers include cars.

We can probably do it or work around it but it is a bit of a stretch. Aubagne seems quite remote, although lovely. We need to make a decision soon, so your advice is welcome and appreciated!

Anyone?

Aubagne would put you in Provence when the lavender is in bloom, which would appeal to me. In the summer, for some reason, we tend to prefer rural to city vacations. Somehow cities seem hotter mid-summer.

I'm certain you have many variables to consider and probably both would be great!

Judy, thank you so much for chiming in. We do have many variables to consider, but my heart is really with you. I have always wanted to travel to Provence when the lavender is in bloom. It sounds like a very relaxing vacation, while in France, so there is the cultural aspect to it too. I am just wondering if we would be able to see much from Aubagne.

Sure, with a car, you have many options to head north to Aix, the Luberon and even Mt Ventoux. You would also be quite close to the coast so Cassis and Marseille would be great day trips. We stayed in Gemenos once after a week in Saignon and could have spent a few more days in the area.

Google a map of the lavender fields and you may find many within a reasonably short drive.

IS there still lavender blooms in August? I thought it was more of a June event. In any case, you are right, there is a lot to see. I think it is just so unexpected.

Amsterdam for its culture. I would not even bother with the car. Traveling by train to many areas (The Hague, Alkmaar, Enkhuizen, Haarlem, etc.) in the Netherlands is quick and convenient.

Michael, thank you for contributing. I should also add that both my husband and I have been to Amsterdam before, although it has been 17 years for me. The convenience of walking everywhere and taking public transportation with a 5 year old who loves trains is very appealing. This is Indecision 2012 for me.

I thought Aubagne a bit of a hole. You'd have to drive a ways to see anything of interest. Well, it's not so far to Cassis. And the weather's good there.

Whereas you could do all those daytrips by train from Amsterdam.

Just a thought.

Thanks, Mimar. That's exactly the kind of feedback I was seeking. I knew someone here on Fodors has been to Aubagne. It sounds like we would have access to a car but we would rather not have to rely on a car all the time. Why was it a bit of a hole? Is it in the middle of nowhere?

Amsterdam also offers a zoo, some very child friendly museums, seaside not too far away should we get a great August, and some good days out by car too - maybe to the Batavia http://www.bataviawerf.nl/startpage.html so you 5 year old can explore a ship, or to Muiderslot. Plus with a car you can get out to the Hoge Veluwe and Kroller Muller easily. You can reserve a "bakfiets" so your son can sit in the front if he can't yet ride, and go for a bike ride through the woods. You need to do that at http://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en/14.

Where in Amsterdam in the house?

Amsterdam for me sunfrance.com would be fine in some areas
not yours odds are it will not be too great home exchange
pictures photoshopped a lot.Be very careful with insurance
issues in someone elses car and careful exchanging with
smokers partiers unless you want your home trashed stunk up
from past personal experience.Beware many scammers.But
Amsterdam center is awesome in August would be my choice.
Will not be crowded folks will be in France at the beach.

Well, perhaps I am prejudiced. They were tearing up the streets in Aubagne when we were there. And it felt a bit in the middle of nowhere -- near but not on or even close to the Mediterranean.

There is a train station in Aubagne. From there you could go to Cassis to see the calanques, to Marseilles and Toulon, and with changes to Aix-en-Provence and Hyeres, both the latter 2 well-worth seeing.

The car might be better for Hyeres and points beyond. And for the nearer beaches. Others more familiar with the area could tell you where are the good beaches.

But in August this area will be very busy. It's the traditional summer vacation month for the French. And this is a popular vacation area.

Living in the Netherlands I'd choose Aubagne, but I had to put the case for Amsterdam ;).
The weather will be more certain in France than Amsterdam that's for sure, but half of Holland and a good chunk of Britain and France will be there too!

qwovadis, are you saying we should not be doing home exchanges? I am not sure I understand.

@hetismij2, the house is here: http://maps.google.nl/maps?f=q&sourc....019119&ie=UTF

Does it look like a good location? It is a maisonette. The family seems very nice and responsible. they are experienced home exchangers.

Tenek,

Aubagne is definitely NOT in the middle of nowhere. It's about a 15 minute drive to Marseille, France second largest city. An easy drive to Aix and as mentioned, a very short drive to Cassis. There are some nice beaches further east of Cassis (again easy drives). You could do many day trips throughout much of Provence - inland Var, the Luberon, les Alpilles, etc. To give you an idea, it takes us about 1 1/4 hours to drive from here (the Luberon) to Aubagne and we live on the north side of the Luberon. To Lourmarin, it is much shorter.

I think your decision should come down to whether you like hot, sunny, beach weather vs. the north of Europe and whether you prefer the excitement of being in the middle of a world class city like Amsterdam vs. a small, sleepy Provencal town like Aubagne.

-Kevin

Kevin, thank you so much for your contribution. Hope springs eternal that we work it out and get to see this beautiful part of France!

As you can see on this map it's an easy drive to Aix and vicinity.
http://www.beyond.fr/map/map2r13.html
most of the lavender is harvested by mid August
but there will be fields with some but the color won't be as bright. Aubagne is famous for the santons and most of Pagnol's stories are in that area.

I'm glad cigale mentioned Pagnol. This wonderful writer and filmmaker was born in Aubagne. For background, I recommend these films based on his experiences in this area: Jean de Florette, Manon des Sources (Manon of the Springs), La Gloire de mon Père (My Father's Glory), and Le Château de ma Mère (My Mother's Castle). All wonderful films and evocative of the region.

Merci beaucoup! Having done some research into the area I have run into the name of Marcel Pagnol several times. Thank you again for contributing. I will check out the films you suggested, MaineGG.