kelsey22

I would like to hear from anyone who has travelled alone without a car in Provence. I have read a few threads and I appreciate that I will be missing a lot without having a vehicle. That being said, I would like to go someplace warm, pretty, historic, charming and safe. I am open to other areas of France (or other parts of Europe). I am looking at the beginning of July. I have gotten so many wonderful suggestions from people on this forum, I hope I can iron out this trip too. Many thanks.

MmePerdu

Two springs ago I took the TGV from CDG airport to Avignon where I stayed for several days before taking a local bus to Uzes, as per your request, a pretty, charming, historic and very safe town not too far to the west of Avignon and the Pont du Gard with twice weekly markets. I rented a studio apartment and stayed for 5 days before returning to Avignon and eventually to Paris.

I travel often by myself, had a wonderful time and recommend the area. You won't so much "miss" things, you'll see different things than if you had a car. From Uzes there's bus service to a number of places and, of course, the train from Avignon anywhere in the region with a station.

kelsey22

Thank you MmePerdu! This is just the type of information I am looking for. Did you do any local tours or managed on your own? Did you write a trip report?

MmePerdu

No tours and part of the interest for me is scoping out the possibilities and local transportation. I find that part of travel especially gratifying.

A friend joined me for a couple of days in Uzes, had an adjacent apartment. We just hung out, haunted the markets as a source of entertainment rather than shopping, had long outdoor lunches, visited every nook & cranny of the lovely town and I did more of the same when I was on my own. When I have an apartment I especially love food shopping. And in Avignon much the same, saw the local sights and otherwise more eating and wandering. I do not much & relaxing very well.

From Avignon I went to Burgundy for a 5 or 6 day walk along the Burgundy Canal, also planned and executed on my own. Then time in Dijon & Beaune before ending the France portion of my trip in Paris for a week.

No trip report, sorry, but I'm happy to answer questions in as much detail as it occurs to you to ask.

igpjazz

Sorry to 'ambush' your thread kelsey, MmePerdu, where did you base in Burgundy? I assume you didnt have a car in Burgundy as well.

gertie3751

About 10 years ago I flew into Nimes on RyanAir and stayed there for a week in a very central little hotel right across from the Roman temple. Every day I took the train or bus somewhere. One day bus to Pont du Gard then on to Uzes and back to Nimes. Another day to Arles. Another to Avignon. A day in Nimes itself. Very easy to do and relaxing. Talked to all kinds of people at bus stops and on buses and trains. I don't usually hire a car and didn't feel it would have improved my trip. Just used my guidebook and common sense.

MmePerdu

Igpajazz, first several days in Dijon. Then bus up the canal to Pouilly-en-Auxois and walked back along the towpath to Dijon, staying in B&B's along the way. Then train to Beaune where I stayed about a week.

calgary1989

hi kelsey. my wife have been going to europe for the last 10 years and we drove for the first time in provence last may. you will miss so much and waste your time finding alternative transportation around that area. avignon and marseilles are the big centers which you do not need to see. an hour in each place and you'll know why right away. the thing about aix and st.remy and the other villages is your ability to go around at your will...stop my a scenic area...and just generally relax. the area lends more to a life style than anything else. if you are a frequent traveller, there's nothing extraordinary about it except the pace of life and its simplicity. plus, if you have a vehicle, you can visit the big cities, stay a couple of hours, and drive out before it drives you crazy. rent a car which is jot expensive at all, let your hir down, and enjoy provence's sun and scenery.

MmePerdu

Mr. Calgary, Kelsey has asked "to hear from anyone who has travelled alone without a car in Provence," not with your wife in a car. There's nothing innately superior, as you seem to suggest, about driving and expense is not necessarily the issue, believe it or not. Some of us actually prefer the alternatives. And I liked Avignon. Some things to think about while you let your own hir down.

Sorry all, didn't care for the tone.

WeisserTee

Calgary, sometimes people don't want to drive -- or can't drive. Don't make them feel like their trip will be worthless just because they don't have a car. We live in Europe, haven't driven a car in years, and get around to many wonderful places in France just fine. FWIW, one of my colleagues goes to Provence and the Cote d'Azur every year -- without a car. He and his family always have a great time.

calgary1989

i apologize to everyone for the tone. it wasn't the intent neither was the wrong spelling.

swandav2000

Hi kelsey22,

I enjoyed a lovely few days (maybe 5 days?? can't remember) in Arles without a car. It was warm, and I was seeking warmth after a German winter. Arles has a lot of history, lots of Roman ruins, and I found I had plenty to do wandering the town as well as all of the historical sites.

I took the train from Nice to Arles, then flew out of Marseilles. It was well connected to the airport by bus.

I also took a one-day small-group tour of Les Baux, Gordes, and the lavender fields. There were only about five of us on the tour, and the driver changed the itinerary according to what we really wanted to see. It didn't give us a whole lot of time in the villages, but it was enough time to see if I ever wanted to come back and explore more.

Have fun as you plan!

s

liketobike

We are in Avignon now without a car. We rented bikes one day and rode to Chateauneuf du Pape, we were given excellent maps that took us through back roads. Very safe. Rented from Provence Bikes. Took train to Nimes. Another day train to Arles and the bus to St Marie de la Mer. We are having a wonderful time but if I had to do it again I might stay in Nimes.

kelsey22

Thanks for all your responses! Although I don't owe anyone an explanation, I have to say that not having a car while I travel is actually an advantage, not a disadvantage. Travelling to me is so much more than hopping in a car and speeding around to get to my destination. In recent years I have planned, executed and cherished the my solo trips. Some of my best memories are the journeys, not the destinations. People travel for a multitude of reasons and part of the reason I travel is to reflect. A car would just complicate this process for me (just my opinion). I hope no one takes offense to this post but I feel it has to be said for all those solo travellers who hesitate going and living their dreams.

I would like to hear more from MmePerdu and liketobike. Swandav2000 would you mind me asking which tour company you used?

Keep the suggestions coming...most appreciated!

crazyfamilyof4

ttt

Sarastro

How much time do you have in Provence?

You can explore quite a bit using public transportation. I would base myself however in a transportation hub such as Avignon. From here you can take the train/bus to Arles, Nimes, Uzes, Pont du Gard, Aix-en-Provence, l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or St Remy. You could easily occupy a week just visiting these locations.

I would take a look at the Avignon (among others) Office de Tourisme website for suggested itineraries and places of interest:

http://www.ot-avignon.fr/

However without a car, visiting some of Provence's really treasured locations will be very time consuming and difficult if not impossible, to wit, les Baux de Provence (there is a bus from St Remy only during summer), Vaison la Romaine, or Gordes.

liketobike

Today is our last day and we will be sad to leave. We rented a studio from Frederique http://www.avignon-intramuros.com/. We spent a good part of the day at the Rocher des Doms. Beautiful views, place to picnic or relax and read. Our first day here we walked across the river to Villeneuf d'Avignon. I suggested staying in Nimes but it is on the west edge of Provence. Avignon is more central. We had already been to Aix.

Christina

I've been in Provence a couple times without a car, staying in Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. There really isn't a lot to explain as I didn't explore the countryside in any way, nor arrange bus excursions. I just spent my time in places that were on the rail line, that's all--Arles, Nimes, Aix and Avignon mostly. There was plenty to see and do in those places, they are of interest to me and I am not actually that crazy about staying outside in the country, anyway. I like the advantages of things to do and the liveliness of places in town or in a city, even if these are relatively small ones. For example, at night, you can go out into the main square areas or find lots of good outside cafes, there are people about, things to do, shops, etc. I was alone, however, but even if not, I'm not big on staying in the country, I get bored.

YOu do miss the ability to drive around the country some, I have done that at other times, but when I did have a car, so it is true there are some experiences that are missing, but that doesn't make such a trip not worth doing, it is just different.

YOu could do things by local bus or some day bus excursions, you can usually find brochures and things in tourist offices, I just didn't.

igpjazz

Thanks, MMePerdue & Kelsey. This has been helpful.My husband and I are thinking of traveling to Provence and Burgundy without a car.

KathyWood

We have been spending time in the Luberon region of Provence for ten years and now have an apartment in the village of Bonnieux. We're actually on our way there now.

We're very comfortable driving and have always had a vehicle. But I've noticed over the last year or so an increase in buses in this area and several new bus stop have been built around Bonnieux. Friends have told us that the Vaucluse is expanding their bus service, partly for local people who are trying to get around (to school, appointments etc.) but also to support tourism. This would include travelers without a car and people on biking and hiking vacations, which is very big in this area at certain times of year.

I've been working with some friends who are considering renting our Bonnieux apartment and basing there without a car. In the past, it's always seemed it wouldn't be practical to do this, but I think it's become a bit easier. You still have to work around the schedules and some villages aren't connected, but if you're flexible, it could work to spend a few days in the countryside, which is truly the most special part of Provence.

http://www.vaucluse.fr/2826-lignes-e...nsvaucluse.htm This is a link to the departement of the Vaucluse website. You can try out different pairs of villages or towns to see what's available. It's also possible to see where you could get to from a particular village.

All the small villages do have a local taxi, which you could pre-book as needed. And there's now an electric bike rental in Bonnieux (I think maybe also one or two other places), with the possibility to pick up a newly-charged battery in a variety of places. Even if you're not a cyclist, these bikes make bike transportation doable.

Kathy