Spring 2020 Provence France Itinerary HELP
Jun 29th, 2019 | 01:58 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 50
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Spring 2020 Provence France Itinerary HELP
My wife and I ( both in our 60's) are traveling to Southern France and Barcelona the end of April and beginning of May 2020. (April 19- May 5)
Here is our itinerary:
April 18 fly from US
April 19
Land at CDG in Paris
Take TGV train from CVG to TVG Aix-de-Provence
Rent a car
Lodging 3 nights Aix-de-Provence- AIR B&B
Day trips to surrounding towns and enjoy Aix-de-Provence
April 22
Visit area
Lodging 4 nights Avignon - AIR B&B
Enjoy Avignon
Day trips from Avignon - Luberon- Gordes- Thouzon Caves- L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Possible French cooking class
April 26-
Travel to Arles and stop at Carrières de Lumières??
Lodging two night Arles - Air B&B near arena or B&B Le Mas de Peint ??
We would like to take in a non-lethal bull fight while in the area ( any suggestions)
Visit Camargue
April 28
Tavel to Nimes visit Pont du Gard-
Lodging two nights in Nimes - Appart'City Hotel near arena
If the Roman Games are in town we would get tickets
April 30
Return car at TGV
Morning TGV train to Barcelona
Lodging five nights in Barcelona - AIR B&B apartment Rambla Catalunya area
Public transport and foot tour Barcelona for four days
May 5
Fly back to US
Please review and offer advice.
Air travel is booked and confirmed
All lodging is booked but can be changed
Thank you in advance for your help
All suggestions of schedule changes or places or events to visit will be apopreciated
Here is our itinerary:
April 18 fly from US
April 19
Land at CDG in Paris
Take TGV train from CVG to TVG Aix-de-Provence
Rent a car
Lodging 3 nights Aix-de-Provence- AIR B&B
Day trips to surrounding towns and enjoy Aix-de-Provence
April 22
Visit area
Lodging 4 nights Avignon - AIR B&B
Enjoy Avignon
Day trips from Avignon - Luberon- Gordes- Thouzon Caves- L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Possible French cooking class
April 26-
Travel to Arles and stop at Carrières de Lumières??
Lodging two night Arles - Air B&B near arena or B&B Le Mas de Peint ??
We would like to take in a non-lethal bull fight while in the area ( any suggestions)
Visit Camargue
April 28
Tavel to Nimes visit Pont du Gard-
Lodging two nights in Nimes - Appart'City Hotel near arena
If the Roman Games are in town we would get tickets
April 30
Return car at TGV
Morning TGV train to Barcelona
Lodging five nights in Barcelona - AIR B&B apartment Rambla Catalunya area
Public transport and foot tour Barcelona for four days
May 5
Fly back to US
Please review and offer advice.
Air travel is booked and confirmed
All lodging is booked but can be changed
Thank you in advance for your help
All suggestions of schedule changes or places or events to visit will be apopreciated
Last edited by ttandy; Jun 29th, 2019 at 02:20 PM.
Jun 29th, 2019 | 02:27 PM
#2
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,684
Likes: 0
First, please don't pick your car up until you've been in France for at least a day or two -- mounting evidence indicates that driving after crossing multiple time zones is not safe for you or anyone else, and nothing you can do will eliminate the problem except giving your body time to adjust.
I thought the Carrières de Lumières extraordinary and am very glad I visited. Consider booking in advance.
I recently returned from a trip to the area and will post a trip report when I can. You might want to watch for it....
I thought the Carrières de Lumières extraordinary and am very glad I visited. Consider booking in advance.
I recently returned from a trip to the area and will post a trip report when I can. You might want to watch for it....
Jun 29th, 2019 | 03:04 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
You'll need an International Drivers Permit to go with your regular license.
Day trips from Avignon - to me St-Remy-de-Provence and nearby Les Baux are musts - not far from Avignon - just to east a bit.
St Remy is a nice old town that many here seem to prefer to Avignon itself as a base - especially if driving - Avignon can have horrendous driving at rush hours. But, the draw here is the asylum van Gogh put himself in after slicing off an ear in nearby Arles and where he painted furiously - many of them have copies now standing where van Gogh did them - Arles, a really nice medium size city worth of look - great markets - has similarly put copies up where they were executed.
Les Baux is a medieval hilltop fortress -up top is bare rock with the fortress remains and views for miles.
Day trips from Avignon - to me St-Remy-de-Provence and nearby Les Baux are musts - not far from Avignon - just to east a bit.
St Remy is a nice old town that many here seem to prefer to Avignon itself as a base - especially if driving - Avignon can have horrendous driving at rush hours. But, the draw here is the asylum van Gogh put himself in after slicing off an ear in nearby Arles and where he painted furiously - many of them have copies now standing where van Gogh did them - Arles, a really nice medium size city worth of look - great markets - has similarly put copies up where they were executed.
Les Baux is a medieval hilltop fortress -up top is bare rock with the fortress remains and views for miles.
Aug 2nd, 2019 | 03:11 PM
#4
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
I too am planning a spring 2020 trip similar to yours. We are 2 mid 60’s couples in the early stages of planning. This is what we have to date:
Paris 4 nts
Lyon 1
Arles 4
Barcelona 3
Seville 1
Porto 3
Lisbon 2
Flying into Paris & home from Lisbon. All travel will be by train, except we’ll fly from Seville to Porto. We will likely rent a car in Arles & do a Rick Steves driving tour.
We have not started looking at accommodations yet. We would like to stay in airb&b’s or small boutique type inns. We’d prefer easy access to the towns restaurants, etc. I’m overwhelmed with all the info right now! Where did you start your search?
Paris 4 nts
Lyon 1
Arles 4
Barcelona 3
Seville 1
Porto 3
Lisbon 2
Flying into Paris & home from Lisbon. All travel will be by train, except we’ll fly from Seville to Porto. We will likely rent a car in Arles & do a Rick Steves driving tour.
We have not started looking at accommodations yet. We would like to stay in airb&b’s or small boutique type inns. We’d prefer easy access to the towns restaurants, etc. I’m overwhelmed with all the info right now! Where did you start your search?
Aug 2nd, 2019 | 04:56 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,778
Likes: 0
Hi TTAndy,
Do check out KJA's Trip Report, you won't regret it. Its not long enough, but it'll do.
And also take note of everything that Pal says here. They know a great deal about the area.
Pal: 'This is my opinion about....'
Zebec: 'You are correct, sir!'
Welcome back 'P'.
I am done. The land of Peter Mayle.
Do check out KJA's Trip Report, you won't regret it. Its not long enough, but it'll do.
And also take note of everything that Pal says here. They know a great deal about the area.
Pal: 'This is my opinion about....'
Zebec: 'You are correct, sir!'
Welcome back 'P'.
I am done. The land of Peter Mayle.
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Aug 14th, 2019 | 10:43 AM
#8
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
You may be interested in my travel blog posts from Provence and the South of France https://travelfam.wordpress.com/category/france-2015/ https://travelfam.wordpress.com/cate...ce-spain-2016/ Bon voyage!
Aug 14th, 2019 | 10:45 AM
#9
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
That's a lot of countries to drive through. You may be interested in my travel blog post from our Paris-Bordeaux-Barcelona-Madrid trip https://travelfam.wordpress.com/cate...ce-spain-2016/ bon voyage!
Aug 14th, 2019 | 06:05 PM
#11
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,684
Likes: 0
BTW, I've finished my trip report. It long, but searchable.
A stellar month in southeastern France
A stellar month in southeastern France
