Seven days in Provence: Can you help with itinerary?
Mar 7th, 2018, 06:44 AM
#61
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Where did I say there were no excursions to the Luberon towns? Of course there are - I've seen many people wandering in lavender fields with the van's driver honking his horn trying to get the stragglers back in the van (this is why we don't take group tours). Again - please indicate where I said there were no excursions.
Where did I say it was "virtually impossible" to get to Les Baux from Avignon. I wrote that buses were "infrequent". To me, anything longer that 45 mins between departures is infrequent. Others, of course, would have their own definition of infrequent. I could not get the link you provided to display any specific info about the timetable for departures from Avignon to les Baux de Provence. Maybe you can get it to work better than I can. Please provide the first 5 departure times from Avignon to Les Baux starting at 9:30. Also, please provide the time it take the bus to get to Les Baux. The OP probably does not read French - so your translation could be useful to her. And the formerly 3 star restaurant is outside of Les Baux - so they would have to walk up & back on a hill to get to/from the bus stop in Les Baux - unless it also stops at the restaurant (which it might). This would be very useful info for the OP.
>>don't need car for a few days hitting highlights - cars are great for several days or more.<<
Again - this may be subjective, but the OP is visiting for 7 days. Is 7 days "a few days"?
Stu Dudley
Where did I say it was "virtually impossible" to get to Les Baux from Avignon. I wrote that buses were "infrequent". To me, anything longer that 45 mins between departures is infrequent. Others, of course, would have their own definition of infrequent. I could not get the link you provided to display any specific info about the timetable for departures from Avignon to les Baux de Provence. Maybe you can get it to work better than I can. Please provide the first 5 departure times from Avignon to Les Baux starting at 9:30. Also, please provide the time it take the bus to get to Les Baux. The OP probably does not read French - so your translation could be useful to her. And the formerly 3 star restaurant is outside of Les Baux - so they would have to walk up & back on a hill to get to/from the bus stop in Les Baux - unless it also stops at the restaurant (which it might). This would be very useful info for the OP.
>>don't need car for a few days hitting highlights - cars are great for several days or more.<<
Again - this may be subjective, but the OP is visiting for 7 days. Is 7 days "a few days"?
Stu Dudley
Mar 7th, 2018, 07:20 AM
#62
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Looking at just a sample of two of the schedules Pal provides, there is only one bus per hour. And he has given the Summer Schedules, which end September 29. The OP is traveling mid-October.
But she seems to have arrived at a good compromise regarding the car, so at this point these bus schedules are moot.
But she seems to have arrived at a good compromise regarding the car, so at this point these bus schedules are moot.
Mar 7th, 2018, 08:20 AM
#63
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Yes OP has decided. These comments now are in general nature and again for other folks who do not want to rent cars but see surrounding sights. For those coming May thru Sept as most do.
And basing in Avignon or Arles even if driving is fine - yeh you have a bit of traffic getting out but staying in a larger city at night is preferable to many over quiet small towns.
One thing I always say - best to rent car, but in season you can get to main sights without one - absolutely zero comparison to California Wine country - yes an idiotic comparison - please state what the comparison is? That you need a car? Well here you do not though having one would be nice as you can expand your horizons and do more in one day. No disagreement there.
enough said. Stu has great itine
And basing in Avignon or Arles even if driving is fine - yeh you have a bit of traffic getting out but staying in a larger city at night is preferable to many over quiet small towns.
One thing I always say - best to rent car, but in season you can get to main sights without one - absolutely zero comparison to California Wine country - yes an idiotic comparison - please state what the comparison is? That you need a car? Well here you do not though having one would be nice as you can expand your horizons and do more in one day. No disagreement there.
enough said. Stu has great itine
Mar 8th, 2018, 04:34 AM
#64
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As OP, I'd like to thank all of you again. Stu and PalenQ both have a wonderful knowledge of this area and I am really looking forward to seeing it. At first, I wondered if it had "enough" to justify a 25th anniversary there. That question is long gone--only sorry that we will miss the lavender
(and hoping we get some foliage change).
Thanks also for offering the suggestion that I do the driving, which sounds obvious, but since DH is Italian, we have fallen into the habit of having him drive while we are there.
Now it's time for French In Action, which I adore, and assume is known to many Fodorites.
(and hoping we get some foliage change).
Thanks also for offering the suggestion that I do the driving, which sounds obvious, but since DH is Italian, we have fallen into the habit of having him drive while we are there.
Now it's time for French In Action, which I adore, and assume is known to many Fodorites.
Mar 9th, 2018, 04:18 AM
#65
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Merci cmstraf!
Stu and others like StCirq has a much much much better current knowledge of the area. I have been to this area many times -on bike, by train and with car but not recently -so I have a general knolwedge based on many trips there and I try to keep my comments to generalities (rather than knowing all the *Michelin restaurants, etc) - for nitty-gritty Stu is amazing.
Bon Voyage!
Stu and others like StCirq has a much much much better current knowledge of the area. I have been to this area many times -on bike, by train and with car but not recently -so I have a general knolwedge based on many trips there and I try to keep my comments to generalities (rather than knowing all the *Michelin restaurants, etc) - for nitty-gritty Stu is amazing.
Bon Voyage!
