Rate my Itinerary please!
 

Hi everyone -- I am treating my mom (and myself :) ) to a first trip to France. I have an initial itinerary below. Please look at it and give me your feedback -- Am I trying to do too much? Are there better areas to see? I am especially flexible on the Avignon/Arles segment. I am thinking about taking that out and adding days to the other cities or seeing Burgundy or Brittany instead. Your thoughts would be most welcome as I just can't seem to make a decision (everything looks great)!

Also if anyone knows of companies or people that do one day horseback rides in any of these areas, please pass that on.

Day 1 (March 26): Fly into Paris
Day 2 (March 27): Paris
Day 3 (March 28): Paris
Day 4 (March 29): Train to Avignon sleep in Arles
Dy 5 (March 30): Arles with Day trip into villages
Day 6 (March 31): Arles
Day 7 (April 1): barcelona
Day 8 (April 2): barcelona
Day 9 (April 3): barcelona
Day 10 (April 4):Collioure
Day 11 (April 5): Collioure
Day 12 (April 6): Collioure
Day 13 (April 7): Annecy (sleep there)
Day 14 (April 8): then train to Chamonix Mountain lifts up to Aiguille du
Midi. sleep in Chamonix
Day 15 (April 9): Train to Paris and Plane home

I'm not sure that you will be able to train to Chamonix and go up to the Aiguille du Midi, which may anyway have too much snow for the casual visitor. I think that you will have to drop off your luggage before going up the Aiguille du Midi, another loss of time.

How do you plan to do your day trips to villages from Arles?

You have a lot of time on trains within 2 weeks. If you haven't checked the times, here's what I found:

Arles to Barcelona - 6 to 9 hours
Barcelona to Collioure - 4 to 5 hours
Collioure to Annecy - 6.5 to 8 hours
Chamonix to Paris - 6 hours

What time is your flight from Paris and are you sure you can get to the airport on time if you leave Chamonix on the first train in the morning, arriving in paris at close to 1PM.

This itinerary seems ambitious in 2 weeks. You'll be giving up most of a day's sightseeing moving from place to place. I would cut out a couple of places and limit the trip to 3 or at the most 4 towns, especially as you have 2 major cities and other towns spread far apart.

Thanks for the quick replies! So maybe cut Provence out for this trip? I would prefer to stay in France which would make things a lot easier but my mom dreams of France, Spain AND the Alps (I already cut out alot) :) and most likely this will be her only trip to Europe.

Annecy looks really nice, I'm less sold on Chamonix -- does anyone have an opinion of those two spots, or a suggestion in Spain that wouldn't take so much time to get to from Collioure?

Micheal -- for the day trips from Arles I was thinking about just doing a group tour. I had had thoughts of driving, but I wasn't sure how complicated it would be to rent a car there.

I really don;t think Paris, Provence, Spain and the Alps are reasonably doable in two weeks. Your itinerary is really shortchanging Paris (IMHO a first trip needs at least 5 days - I've been at least a dozen times and always find more to do/see). And you are spending a LOT of time and money trekking around on trains.

I would definitely cut out the farthest point - to cut back on time wasted traveling to and fro.

Okay so it looks like I bit off more then we could chew. Thanks for the insight this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Here is my revised Itinerary -- I'm going to try to talk my mom out of Spain.

Day 1 (March 26): Fly into Paris train to Avignon
Day 2 (March 27): Avignon
Day 3 (March 28): Avignon
Day 4 (March 29): Avignon
Dy 5 (March 30): Collioure
Day 6 (March 31): Collioure
Day 7 (April 1): Collioure
Day 8 (April 2): Collioure
Day 9 (April 3): Annecy
Day 10 (April 4):Annecy
Day 11 (April 5): Paris
Day 12 (April 6): Paris
Day 13 (April 7): Paris
Day 14 (April 8): Paris
Day 15 (April 9): Paris morning/Plane home (4p.m.)

A few questions:
Do you think a trip to Annecy is worth it or should I cut that also?

If you had a choice between Brittany, Burgundy and Provence which would you choose and why?

C+

You're criss-crossing the country stopping in some rather random places. I'd cut out another destination and cut down on your time in Collioure - four days is way more than adequate (and you WILL have a car, right?)

Hey StCirq -- do you have an idea for an A+ one. I'm really open to suggestions. Collioure worked with Spain in the mix, but without Spain maybe someplace else would be better. Open to ideas -- I honestly think both of us would enjoy just about anything.

I would cut out Annecy for this trip. I just put together a one month itinerary for Eastern France in April, and dropped Annecy and Chamonix because it was too early in the year for hiking. Besides, it's on the other side of the country from Collioure. I'd even be inclined to put in Barcelona instead, just because it's closer!

But I would add day trips from Paris instead of either, assuming you run out of things to do in Paris itself - Chartres, Versailles, Giverney, etc.

Okay Revision #3 (Thanks Thursdaysd!)

Day 1 (March 26): Fly into Paris train to either Brittany, Provence or Burgundy Region
Day 2 (March 27): Region chosen on day 1
Day 3 (March 28): Region chosen on day 1
Day 4 (March 29): Region chosen on day 1
Dy 5 (March 30): Region chosen on day 1
Day 6 (March 31): Region chosen on day 1
Day 7 (April 1): Collioure
Day 8 (April 2): Collioure
Day 9 (April 3): Collioure
Day 10 (April 4): Paris
Day 11 (April 5): Paris
Day 12 (April 6): Paris
Day 13 (April 7): Paris
Day 14 (April 8): Paris
Day 15 (April 9): Paris morning/Plane home (4p.m.)

Hi, katimari....sure, rent a car in Provence and when you're at the end of your Avignon stay, drive to the Dordogne and spend as many days there as you were planning to spend in Collioure and Annecy, drop the car off, and take the train back to Paris.

I would really recommend renting a car for your entire trip. You can come and go when you please. Aside from Paris and your first night destination (do not drive far on day one when you are bound to be exhausted), I might not even make reservations if I were driving. You can always find a room and it would put more spontaniety in your meandering around.

For two weeks, I recommend no more than 3 changes of hotel no matter how you do it. Packing and moving all the time just is not fun.

Aside from Paris or perhaps Nice and Cannes, I always recommend renting a car for travel within France. Unless you are traveling from Paris to some other city, getting around by train can be cumbersome, as you might have to go through Paris to get where you want to go because the majority of main line trains radiate out from Paris.

When you start asking us to choose between different areas in France, we all have our favorites. If it is your mother's first and possibly only trip, I would include Paris, 3-4 days in the Loire/Mt. St. Michel, and perhaps a couple of days exploring the Normandy Beaches, but that is my preference. You might have something else in mind.

You just can't do it all.

Thanks to you both. This is really helping me clarify/simplify. Okay, let me admit it, I am TERRIFIED of driving in France, but I will probably give it a try.

I'll look into your suggestions and come up with another version -- I really appreciate all your comments -- all of you probably saved us a lot of unhappy, tiring traveling!

I'll post my new one after I do a little more researching.

I forgot to add that there are myriad places to go horseback riding in the Dordogne (amid some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet).

I would never rent a car to drive from Paris to Provence. It would take you twice as long, cost as much or more, and it's not a pretty drive.

I don't think you can make Brittany work as Region 1 - it is the at the opposite end of the country from Collioure.

What about the Dordogne, to Provence and then back to Paris?

However, if this is going to be your mothers only chance to see Europe and she wants to see the Alps, you could still work that in after Provence on your way back to Paris 4-4-2-4 nights, in order, would work.

Don't worry about the driving!

Having a car would certainly be worthwhile in Provence, but France has a good train system, and you really don't have to go back to Paris to move around!

When you have a car, you are not restricted to fast roads. If you see a sign for something that looks interesting, you can just decide to go there. I am not a fan of trains unless you want to get somewhere quickly. When I am on vacation, I don't generally care about that.

And don't worry about making wrong turns. I have made my share of those. When you make one, you just see a different site other than the one originally intended.

Itinerary take 4:

The Dordogone looks beautiful and interesting so I added it in. Thanks again everyone. Looks like renting a car is the way to go, scared or not.

Day 1 (March 26): Fly into Paris train to Dordogone - pick up rental car
Day 2 (March 27): Dordogne
Day 3 (March 28): Dordogne
Day 4 (March 29): Dordogne
Dy 5 (March 30): Dordogne
Day 6 (March 31): Provence
Day 7 (April 1): Provence
Day 8 (April 2): Provence
Day 9 (April 3): Provence
Day 10 (April 4): Provence
Day 11 (April 5): Paris
Day 12 (April 6): Paris
Day 13 (April 7): Paris
Day 14 (April 8): Paris
Day 15 (April 9): Paris morning/Plane home (4p.m.)

BTW - Is it easy to find vegetarian food in rural France?

A+

Although the regional cuisines of France are not strictly vegetarian, you will never be somewhere where you can't find a vegetarian option, even if it's only a salad or a cheese sandwich. Of the places you're now contemplating visiting, the Dordogne will be the hardest, but still absolutely not an issue.

#4 looks the best so far.

Sleep in as few places as possible, taking days trips to explore the area.

It looks like a good mixture of nature,city,& quaint villages.

If you fly from USA 3/26 you will arrive Paris 3/27 mother will be exhausted.Do you think you can go another 6-7 hrs ,you go thru immigration, then you have to get to RR station, then travel.I will consider reversing your last itinerary,give mother a chance to recover from jet lag see Paris then take the fast train to one of the other destinations. Rent a car with GPS or take one with you from the states. On the way back with some planing the train can deposit you under the CDG airport. If you want to give mother a break add a nite in Paris before your flight home.

Hi Kat,

You've finally done it.

You can take the train directly from the CDG airport (Roissy 95) to Bordeaux or Libourne and get your car there. (I prefer Libourne, as it is smaller).

You can also take the train from Paris Austerlitz to Brive la Gaillard.

>I am TERRIFIED of driving in France,.....<

Don't be.

The roads are very well maintained. They have good signage,

Things to remember:
1. Traffic on the RIGHT has the right-of-way, except in traffic circles - where the car in the circle has the r-o-w.

2. If the road entering the traffic circle has 2 lanes, the right lane is for people taking the first exit.

2a. As you approach a traffic circle, there will be a large sign showing you which exits go where. They will have the names of towns, not route numbers, so you should keep in mind the name of your destination and the towns along the route.

3. Do NOT cross a solid line.
If you want to make a left turn and there is a solid line on the road, you must go to the next intersection or traffic circle and come back.

4. The speed limit within town limits is 50 kph, even if there is no sign.

French road signs are at
http://www.americansinfrance.net/Dri...dRoadSigns.cfm

Check www.kemwel.com, www.autoeurope.com, www.gemut.com and www.novacarhire.com for rentals.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

I agree with leto about spending the first part of your trip in Paris. It's always best to get over jetlag in cities. They have lots of sightseeing options, day and night.

This is a nice trip, but will your mother be disappointed? No Spain, no Alps. I hate to send you back to the drawing board, but have you looked into cheap flights from Paris to Spain or even Switzerland? For example, Easyjet flies from Paris Orly to Geneva (French-speaking) and Barcelona. Look at www.harefares.com or www.whichbudget.com for flight options.

You could fly to Bordeaux instead of Paris. That said, I routinely fly into Paris, take a long train ride, then drive a half-hour or so into the Dordogne, and I'm no spring chicken. You can catch the TGV right at the airport.

No opinion as to whether you're a spring chicken, St. Cirq, but you have done this trip quite a lot, right? The OP isn't used to driving in Europe, and will be doing a completely new route. I always hate having to drive right after a Transatlantic flight, and theses days I just don't. (Actually, I haven't driven on a European trip for some time, as it's not often cost effective for a solo traveler.)

Can you swap Provence and Dordgogne and fly into Lyon and out of Paris?

Or fly into Bordeaux as suggested?

Or put Paris 1st, fly into Paris then leave through Lyon or Bordeaux? It really ought not cost anymore to open jaw the ticket.

I'd strongly suggest staying in Paris on the 26th if you have to fly in/out of Paris. You are not going to want to drive or take the train right after landing. I might even stay through the 28th and shave a day off Provence or not return to Paris until April 6 - the latter would be my choice.

Driving in France is a snap, I would not worry. You will need a car for this trip.

You have some good suggestions here.

I never drive on the first day of a trip because it is, quite frankly, dangerous to drive when you are jet lagged.

I also sometimes spend the last night of a trip staying a the Ibis at CDG because I don't want angst about missing my flight and I just want to relax.

The 3 places you have are fine--but any of the other regions are just as fine.

I do agree researching whether you can fly out or into one of the regional airports.

If your mother really wants Spain and France, I would recommend just splitting your trip between Paris and Madrid.

Hey, it's Europe and there is no wrong way to structure a trip there. The only RIGHT way, is the one you pick for yourself.

Thanks everyone -- I'm still thinking a little bit, but want to finalize this by tomorrow night. I'm going to talk with my mom today and find out what her preference is.

You have all been so helpful! I will be sure to report back on how it goes (though I'm sure I'll be on here asking many more questions before I actually leave) Thanks again to everyone!

Thursday, I'm guessing katimari is about the age I was when I was first driving in France after all-night flights. Her mother's probably my age. You have to start somewhere, and if she takes a train to Périgueux or Brive she only has to drive an hour or less. Heck, she's probably young enough that she sleeps on airplanes.

Your last itinerary is an A+, IMO. I've visited all the places you've mentioned in all your revisions, and Provence & the Dordogne are my 2 favorites (in addition to Paris). You can do them in any order. In 5 minutes, I'm reserving the TGV from CDG to Bordeaux. We'll'll stay there 1 night, then drive to the Dordogne for 2 weeks.

Visit Carcassonne on the way from the Dordogne to Provence.

Do you have my 27 page itinerary for Provence & my 20 pager for the Dordogne?? If not, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail.

Why would you spend 3 days in Collioure in early April??? It was cold when we were there in early June. It's quite small.

Stu Dudley

My mom is okay with no Spain. Paris has to be at the end because my mom (who was an art teacher all her life) really wants to visit Monets' gardens which don't open until the 1st.

So maybe train into Avignon straight from Paris?

Do you think I should cut back even more and choose either the Dordogne or Provence instead of both? -- researching both of these places there seems to be a lot to see.

Okay -- it is official. Thank you all so much for your help. My mom is excited and I am excited.

Final Itinerary:
TH Day 1 (March 26): Fly into Paris train to city (any suggestions?) - stay one night
F Day 2 (March 27): Drive to Dordogne
Sa Day 3 (March 28): Dordogne
Su Day 4 (March 29): Dordogne
Mo Day 5 (March 30): Dordogne
Tu Day 6 (March 31): Provence (Visit Carcassonne on the way)
We Day 7 (April 1): Provence
Th Day 8 (April 2): Provence
Fr Day 9 (April 3): Provence
Sa Day 10 (April 4): Provence
Su Day 11 (April 5): Paris
Mo Day 12 (April 6): Paris
Tu Day 13 (April 7): Paris
We Day 14 (April 8): Paris
Th Day 15 (April 9): Paris morning/Plane home (4p.m.)

Hi K,

>Fly into Paris train to city (any suggestions?) - stay one night
................Drive to Dordogne

Why not stay in Paris that night and take the train the next day to either Brive La Gaillard or Libourne to pick up your car?

((I))

Depending on where you are staying, taking the RER from CDG might be a snap.

I know that Dordogne aficionados will be outraged, but I would cut a day out of the Dordogne and stop in the Loire valley to see at least one chateau--Chenonceau comes to mind. Of course that assumes that you are driving from Paris. At this late date, train fares for two and driving might be about equal in cost.