Thanks very much, Adelaidean! Very much appreciated!

Permission to add a Toulouse question or two?

Do you think a guide is necessary for the historical section? They all seem pretty expensive.
And do you think the Toulouse Tourism Pass is a good idea? They seldom are in other towns, but....

We have never used a guide in Toulouse, just read a whole lot of books ahead of time.

Can't offer any info about the pass - we've never considered buying one. A quick look at it tells me we probably wouldn't make much use of it, though, especially as we always walk everywhere and don't use public transportation in the city.

The Michelin Green Guide has an excellent "walk" through Toulouse.

Stu Dudley

I think if you start with the Petit Train that I mentioned above, it will give you a pretty good idea of sights in the historical center in 45 minutes or so and you can decide from there. There is commentary in English (and other languages) so you will get an idea of what you are looking at. Unlike Paris, I don't think extensive historical guided walks would be as interesting there IMO. If I were to do a tour it would more likely being something specialized like a foodie tour of a market or something.

https://www.petittraintoulouse.com/?lang=en

I have also used this app called gpsmy city there before to plan my own walks and it is pretty good-form their site:

"Each walk comes with a detailed tour map as well as photos and background information for the featured attractions. The app's navigation functions guide you from one attraction to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad."

https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-g...ouse-2618.html

Thank you all. Yes, I've read the Green Guide and Eyewitness Travel. I've been listening to the Join Us in France podcasts. I've harassed this group. I guess I'm as ready as I will be. ;)

I hope you have a great trip! Be sure to come back and let us in on the highlights :)

I think Rick Steves actually does very well in some countries that are just more his thing or that he likes or somehow feels acclimated to. That is not France. I think his books in central Europe are pretty good, I think that's his real strong point (like Austria was a good book of his). But also you have to understand his goal and emphasis, which is not the same as some general comprehensive guidebook. If you grade him on that, he does better even in France. His goal is to limit information to a few select highlights that he thinks more neophyte travelers would really enjoy. For one thing, it is more digestible to them (eg, telling someone about 2-3 neighborhoods in Paris where he recommends staying rather than describing or just listing options in every quartier). I know I've seen numerous posters on this and other forums write posts about how they are just too confused and are tired of reading different stuff and just want someone to tell them which hotel or area to stay in. For those folks, he is good. He doesn't have much of any info on the SW of France, he doesn't even include Marseille in that book, either.

I've been to Toulouse several times and no, that pass is not a good deal. I take public transportation all over Toulouse, there are many things to see that are not just in the dead center, and even the ones near the center can be all over the place (like St Sernin versus the Augustins museum, opposite directions, each close to 1 km from the center). So I take the metro and tram and buses a lot. However, you can buy an unlimited day ticket for only 6 euro, so why buy that pass that is I think 18 euro per day? The museums aren't that expensive, either. If you don't want to use transportation that much, there are other options, like 10 trips for 14 euro.

For example, they have a good museum of deportation/the Resistance and that's a couple km from the center. There is also a really nice big park on the way (Jardin des Plantes)
https://www.toulouse-visit.com/musee...umid031fs0005f

I'm not a guide type of person so have never hired a guide just for a major city as they are usually easy to get around and tons of info. I've only used guides on booked group day trips to smaller places (when they can be really good) or for some places in countries where it isn't wise to be wandering around on your own, especially as a woman. So no, you don't need one for Toulouse unless you really like that kind of thing. I prefer to make my own schedule and I like to read anyway.

Rick Steves is too generic and main stream for me. His hotel choices are terrible. There is so much to discover on the internet and bloggers these days.

This thread has been woken up from two years ago - then Covid happened. So who knows if this trip happened or not?

Lavandula