Sue4, good luck with your luggage. I had 2 not so large rolling cases for our 3 weeks in 2005. For our 2008 trip I'm hoping I can force myself to downsize. It may be hard as there could be anything from chill rain in Normandy to too warm in the Loire.

We were up a circular stone staircase on the 3rd floor in a small hotel on the Riviera. The man who checked us in didn't speak English and didn't appear to be interested in our luggage. When we checked out, the young maid took pity on us and whisked a couple of our bags down.

Good luck with the solo driving. You may be able to pop out early and get some of those neat "peopless" pictures of flowerpots and blue doorways that Ger always finds. I think the more people on a trip, the more standing around and waiting there is!