Hi,

Now that I have everyone's attention, I have a serious question.

My family and I have changed our plans and are now flying into Paris direct from Montreal for 9 nights (including visits to Normandie and Reimes), then taking a train to the Provence region for 4 nights, and then taking a train to Barcelona for 4 nights, before flying home direct.

The question: Where in the Provence region do you suggest staying as we are interested in sightseeing the region as well as spending one day at a beach (maybe St. Tropez), all considering that we have to catch a train to Barcelona when we leave.

St Tropez is Cote D' Azur not the true Provence.
Four nights is not much time to see Sexy Provence.
Without a car it will be difficult to visit villages
and see much.

Train to Avignon or Nice... two distinct areas of Provence. As above, St. Tropez and areas East including Nice and Monte Carlo are considered Cote D'Azur. Areas in/around Avignon to the east/west/south are what most consider Provence.

Without a car, difficult to cover much ground in either area, though if on the Cote D'Azur, there is decent train service between Cannes and the Eastern border w/ Italy.

Hi,

We appreciate the responses so far, but we should have mentioned that we will have a car for our whole time in Provence. As well, we included the Cote D'Azur as part of Provence so we could spend a day there at the beach. If it is too much trouble to travel there for a day at the beach (traffic at that time of year is quite heavy, we have heard), then we will travel to another beach area for the day.

Lisa, yes the road is a mess getting to the Cote D.azur and,,
the beaches are not as nice as we have. Cassis is nicer than St Tropez, les crowded and wonderful harborside dining. But go, I had to because I had read so much about it as a teen.
But alas, no Colette, no B.B.!!

If you stay around Avignon or Nimes area you could go to Grau du Roi, a small fishing ,charming village in La Camarque.The beach is sandy and is not too far from Avignon or Nimes.
I was there for a week years ago and going back for another week the second week of September..

http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...amargue&sz=all

I loved the area around the Luberon/Vaucluse. Bonnieux, Gordes, Roussillon (GORGEOUS!), L'Isle sur la Sorgue, St. Remy, the wine route up to Vaison la Romaine, Pernes les Fontaines, Menerbes, Lumieres, etc., etc. We did a day trip to Cassis and did the boat trip out into the calanques. There are small/tiny beaches in amongst the calanques where you could probably be dropped off for the morning, afternoon, or the day. That was a highlight of our 8 days.

Enjoy!

joy/luvparee

I'de also vote for the Luberon (base for Provence), and then Cassis for the beach thing. St Tropez will eat up to much time to get to & from, and the traffic can be horrible (late June to early Sept), unless you know some back roads (which there are few) and get there VERY early & leave VERY late. Also, the "famous" beaches in St Tropez are outside of town quite a bit. The beach in Cassis is in town (but not as decadent/luxurious as St Tropez's beach).

Stu Dudley

I'd also say around Avignon/Luberon, or even Uzes, etc. Def. not Nice, which is much farther and wouldn't make sense if you are then going to Barcelona. There are plenty of beaches west of Marseille that would be better choices, probably.