South France 10 days October
Aug 7th, 2016, 07:10 PM
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South France 10 days October
We (my husband and I) are coming from Australia and have plans to arrive in Nice from Pisa by train. We have 10 days on our own with a car. After this we are being joined by another couple in Nice with whom we plan to spend 5 days staying slightly north of Nice in a house.
My husband is an avid surfer who can't go to south France without seeing the surf near Biarritz. As I have carte Blanche with the holiday I am happy to concede this small request
We will have a car from Nice or alternatively travel by train to Biarritz and collect a car from there to head back to Nice over 10 days. Do you think it would be a good idea to get the car in Nice, head to Biarritz by one route and back to Nice by another route. Keeping in mind we don't need to do east of Nice necessarily in this section of the trip because we can do that we our friends.
Would greatly appreciate any suggestions. We are more of the 'slow' traveller types so would probably prefer 2 stops max 3 rather than hopping from one place to the next. I also imagine it will be cheaper for accommodation to stay in smaller towns? We are hoping also to use air BnB although I hear there are some changes afoot with air BnB...Although I love live music and hope to get to a couple of intimate jazz gigs, this is not a major priority as I would prefer smaller towns over larger ones...we can always bus/train into the larger towns. Any suggestions of 'must not miss' appreciated. With thanks!
My husband is an avid surfer who can't go to south France without seeing the surf near Biarritz. As I have carte Blanche with the holiday I am happy to concede this small request
We will have a car from Nice or alternatively travel by train to Biarritz and collect a car from there to head back to Nice over 10 days. Do you think it would be a good idea to get the car in Nice, head to Biarritz by one route and back to Nice by another route. Keeping in mind we don't need to do east of Nice necessarily in this section of the trip because we can do that we our friends. Would greatly appreciate any suggestions. We are more of the 'slow' traveller types so would probably prefer 2 stops max 3 rather than hopping from one place to the next. I also imagine it will be cheaper for accommodation to stay in smaller towns? We are hoping also to use air BnB although I hear there are some changes afoot with air BnB...Although I love live music and hope to get to a couple of intimate jazz gigs, this is not a major priority as I would prefer smaller towns over larger ones...we can always bus/train into the larger towns. Any suggestions of 'must not miss' appreciated. With thanks!
Aug 7th, 2016, 09:41 PM
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The amount of time you take to go back and forth does depend on the amount of time you want to spend in Biarritz. You would be traveling through prime tourist areas in France:Côte d'Azur, the Provence, the Languedoc. There are lots of things to see on the way, even when staying close to the main road: Arles, Nimes, Carcassonne, to name a few.
Aug 8th, 2016, 12:16 AM
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The best train I see Nice to Biarritz leaves at 7:21AM and arrives at 7PM. You arrive Paris at the Gare de Lyon and depart from Gare Montparnase [Metro connection with one change]. If planning on picking up a car and driving back, you can look up routes on viamichelin, making 2 or 3 days. I looked into various flights and came up empty.
Aug 8th, 2016, 02:17 AM
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I wouldn't bother taking a train from Pisa to Nice if all you're going to do once you arrive is head off on another long, boring trip across the bottom half of France by train to Biarritz.
Fly from Florence to Biarritz. Pick up the rental car in Biarritz and take 5 days or so to drive to Nice.
Fly from Florence to Biarritz. Pick up the rental car in Biarritz and take 5 days or so to drive to Nice.
Aug 9th, 2016, 02:36 AM
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There are a host of places you could choose between Nice and Biarritz. In your situation, I think I would agree with StCirq and get to Biarritz and work your way back to Nice. As #1 said, it also depends on how long you want to spend in Biarrtz. Ten days really is not that long to drive from Nice to Biarritz and back if, as you say, you like 'slow travel'.
We will be spending a week in the Basque region of France [ in Sare ] in a few weeks and it looks lovely. You could do some day trips from Biarritz into the hinterland , or even stay there and visit Biarritz on a day trip. Then you have the Pyrenees region - Pont d'Espagne, Cirque de Gavarnie, some of the iconic cols of the Tour de France.
We have spent a week each in the area near Prades in the Pyrenees Orientales, and in the Aude. From the latter we visited Carcassonne, Mirepoix, and the Cathar castles of Queribus and Peyrepertuse.
We spent two weeks in the Herault in 2014 and found plenty to see - Millau viaduct, Roquefort, Olargues. Pezenas, Bouzigues, La Couvertoirade, Aigues Mortes. We will be spending two weeks near Albi this year. The Tour passed through this year and there are lots of lovely villages and wonderful scenery.
Closer to Nice you have Western Provence where there is plenty to fill weeks .
We stay in self catering for a week and sometimes two weeks and always in smaller places. There is so much to see that it is difficult to narrow down what is ' must see '. It depends on you. For example, the surf at Biarritz has little appeal for us, but is a must see for you.
Have a look at some of the regions mentioned. If you click on my name, you can read my reports on the Aude, the Herault and Provence from 2012 and 2014.
Bon voyage.
We will be spending a week in the Basque region of France [ in Sare ] in a few weeks and it looks lovely. You could do some day trips from Biarritz into the hinterland , or even stay there and visit Biarritz on a day trip. Then you have the Pyrenees region - Pont d'Espagne, Cirque de Gavarnie, some of the iconic cols of the Tour de France.
We have spent a week each in the area near Prades in the Pyrenees Orientales, and in the Aude. From the latter we visited Carcassonne, Mirepoix, and the Cathar castles of Queribus and Peyrepertuse.
We spent two weeks in the Herault in 2014 and found plenty to see - Millau viaduct, Roquefort, Olargues. Pezenas, Bouzigues, La Couvertoirade, Aigues Mortes. We will be spending two weeks near Albi this year. The Tour passed through this year and there are lots of lovely villages and wonderful scenery.
Closer to Nice you have Western Provence where there is plenty to fill weeks .
We stay in self catering for a week and sometimes two weeks and always in smaller places. There is so much to see that it is difficult to narrow down what is ' must see '. It depends on you. For example, the surf at Biarritz has little appeal for us, but is a must see for you.
Have a look at some of the regions mentioned. If you click on my name, you can read my reports on the Aude, the Herault and Provence from 2012 and 2014.
Bon voyage.
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