DaveMM

Bookmarking. Thank you.

DaveMM

caroltis

If you drive at home, you can drive in Provence. It's extremely easy...you have no need to speak French. To just stay in one place, yet "absorb" Provence is expecting a bit too much. Driving through Provence is like taking a drive through the countryside...it's divine. That being said...you can stay in a larger town such as St. Remy or Isle sur la Sorgue or Aix and take bus trips into the smaller villages on market days. I just hate for you to miss out on the best experience just because you are a little fearful of driving. My husband and I are 60 and we've been traveling in Italy, Spain, France, etc. for several years and we always rent a car and wouldn't do it any other way.

caroltis

Also...if you look up posts that the following have made on this forum...you will be WELL equipped to make a visit to Provence...these folks are treasure troves of useful information regarding Provence!!!!! (StuDudley, StCirq, cigale)

Bellibop

Well thank you all for your information. I will definitely propose the idea again to my husband, and if not, will drive myself. I am not a skiddish driver here, but I guess he had me concerned since he did not want to drive himself.

Now, if we go for 10-14 days, where do you suggest we start (airport and town), what towns are a must, and any suggestions on places to stay at.

I'm going to make this happen!

starrs

Bellibop, you won't regret it. Driving around Provence reminds me of driving around the rural, middle part of my state...except there aren't beautiful hilltop towns all over the place.

Have you been to France before? Have you been to Paris?

If not, I'd recommend a few days in Paris and then taking the train down to the town you chose to use as a base.

starrs

Where to go?
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-itinerary.cfm

I'd email Stu Dudley and ask him to email his latest Provence itinerary.

StCirq

I would fly into Paris, spend a couple of days there to poke around and get over jet lag (and if you haven't been there before you simply can't miss it), then take the TVG to Avignon (go to www.voyages-sncf.fr and look for the discounted PREM tickets - there are entire threads here on Fodors about those and how to use that website). Pick up your rental car there and head for whatever town you decide to base yourself in (Stu's itinerary will help you distinguish one from the other and make a decision). I'd rent an apartment or villa for a week and use it as a base and explore from there. Probably, for a first-timer, St-Rémy or nearby would make a good base. From there you can explore the main sites of interest in the Bouches-du-Rhône and get a grand overview of Provence. You can go back to your home base every evening an drelax, or just stay put there for a day or two if that's what you feel like. At the end of your stay you could take the train to Nice for a couple of days and fly home from there, or take the train back to Paris from Avignon.

caroltis

We have based in Roussillon and in Menerbes. Both these bases allowed us to make day trips as far north as Vaison la Romaine, east to Entrecasteux, west to Les Baux and south to Aix. If you do rent a car, basing in a town that is easy to get in and out of is something to be considered. Also, on our last trip we purchased a GPS and it was THE best thing we took with us on the trip...amazing how it navigated in and out of the tiniest villages!