Would love input on France Itinerary: Paris, Avignon & Annecy with kids
 

Hello! I am traveling to France in April with my husband and two daughters, ages 11 and 15. We have been to Paris a few times already. We are looking forward to spending more time in Paris, but we would also like to see a bit more of France this time (without exhausting ourselves from moving around).

I have come up with the following itinerary and I'd love some thoughts/input as I keep second guessing (too many beautiful places).

Feel free to make other suggestions as well -- but I like the idea that Avignon gives us a slice of Provence and Annecy will give us a slice of the Alps. Enough variety to keep the kids interested, but not TOO much traveling from place to place and getting exhausted.

One specific question -- does 3 nights in Avignon and 2 in Annecy make the most sense? Torn about that one.

The other thing my husband questions is whether we should do the Nice area instead of Annecy? I just feel drawn to those mountains and the alpine flavor... Nice is a longer trip back to Paris too...

Here goes:

Friday: Paris (Flight gets in too late to take the train to Avignon)

Saturday: Train to avignon (Stay 3 nights)

Sunday: L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or Uzes (we will rent a car)

Monday: Avignon (maybe visit a vineyard or visit a beach town?)

Tuesday Drive to Annecy (anywhere interesting to stop on the way?)

Wednesday: Day trip to Chamonix (Aguille du midi)

Thursday: Morning train to Paris

Friday: Day trip to Versailles

Saturday: Paris

Sunday: Paris

Monday: Fly Home

Thank you!!

Yep - you'll be spending quite a bit of time in the car and very little time "being there".

You only have 7 1/2 days (excluding travel time) to visit 3 places. And you want to drive several hours RT to a beach town and a several hours RT to Mt Blanc???

Early April (I'm guessing this is an Easter trip) is still winter in the Alps, and Annecy/Mt Blanc could be a total waste of time if the weather is not good. It is "iffy" enough in mid-year months.

I strongly recommend that you just do Provence & Paris. Save Annecy/Alps for your next trip - in the summer.

Also, Sundays & Mondays are not good days to visit large cities (except Paris). Shops are closed on Sundays and Monday mornings (some open around 2:30).

What time does your flight get in on Friday? Where do you plan to stay Friday night?

Stu Dudley

Also, Avignon is actually north of Boston, and Annecy is north of Montreal - so daylight hours will be the same as in these American cities, and weather in Annecy might be more chilly than in Montreal in early April.

I notice that you are new to Fodors. Welcome!!! My wife & I have vacationed for 20 weeks in Provence & an additional 20 weeks on the Cote d'Azur. We spend 2 months in France most years. I developed a 31 page itinerary for Provence & the Cote d'Azur that describes our favorite cities, villages, scenic drives, markets, restaurants, etc. I've sent it to over 3,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail. Do so soon - we leave for our fall trip to France in 1 week.

Stu Dudley

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Hello
I like your itineray - a good mix of cities and some nature.

Avignon is not too big and the vineyard visit is great.
Train from Paris to Avignon is less than 3 hours.

Car to Annecy is 4 hours, so it leaves you a half day there.
Chamonix and the aiguille du midi is a great excursion.

Indeed welcome on Fodors. We have vacationed about 3000 weeks in southern France but never been to Annecy !
We made a 151 pages itinerary that we sent to one person.

Enjoy your vacation !

Snarky comments "shoo away" first-timers also.

Stu Dudley

?
The snarky comment was directed at you Stu, not at OP.
What can it matter for a first timer that you present yourself like the reference ?
And do you really think that your first post will not 'shoo away' anybody ?

let me summarize :
'And you want to drive several hours' + ??? just in case
'I strongly recommend'
'Also, Sundays & Mondays are not good days to visit '

It does give the impression (or maybe I'm being paranoid today) that nothing is good in OP's schedule, does it ?

Ah, and where did you get this idea that mondays are not good to visit a city ? Because hairdressers are closed ?

Pfff. Rant over. Burgundy wine in 2-3 hours.

Thanks for your input! I was figuring we'd need to pack some warmer clothes for that portion of the trip if we do it. But I don't want it to be a total waste -- that wouldn't be good! We will be there the end of the month rather than early, but I'm sure the weather could still go either way. I don't care if it is cold -- but more afraid of getting there and having the Alps be socked in with fog or something (which is what happened to me the first time I skied in Colorado and I never saw the mountains!)

I think my kids would be completely blown away by just seeing the Alps, but I will have to mull that over some more.

The beach day trip is my husband's idea...even though it's not beach weather -- he loves to see the ocean. I was thinking Cassis for the day, which looks to be only an hour and a half by car.

Thanks again!

Cassis is beautiful.
I leave you a link for a trip with a boat to 'les calenques'. You can get it in english by clicking on the flag...
http://www.lavisitedescalanques.com/fr/grand-public/
As they say, you cannot make a reservation, so jsut go to the wharf and get a ticket with any of the boats there.. if you have to wait, do like us, stroll into the city, beautiful !

We've done it several times and it was ... waw.
But it will take away one full day.

So it may make sense not to go to Chamonix where level of snow would be minimum (I went last time in June and it looked dirty up there as the glacier is receding).

September (even end) is still beautiful weather on the mediterranean. So you should have it warm and nice in Avignon and Cassis.
Paris can be warm or rainy or ...

That is thanks to both of you for your input! Yes -- Pariswat -- we are trying to have a bit of a balance, having only spent time in Paris in the past, so I'm glad you think it's a good mix!

Sorry I was replying at the same time!

Yes, I was reading about les calenques! Looks so beautiful. My daughter actually saw something about it and was interested. So maybe I need to let go of my idea to see the Alps...

Funny about Paris -- while we have been there several times, it has only been in February! We are excited to see it when Spring is a bit further along!

Pariswat
I was taught that if I can't say anything nice about someone - don't say anything at all. I "strongly recommend" that you do that too.

From my Provence/Cote d'Azur itinerary about my wife's favorite shopping city in Provence:

"While in Aix in mid June ’10, I did a “survey” of about 30 shops that had opening & closing days & times posted on their storefronts. Of these 30 shops, 5 were open all day Monday (including a Gap and Monoprix – chain-type stores), 10 were closed all day Monday, and 15 were open Monday afternoon only. Only 1 shop was open on Sunday."

Stu Dudley

Stu
I was taught not to accept being patronized. All the more if it is 'strongly recommended'

So now that we both know where we stand can we stop here ?

(Interesting stats in Aix. (en provence or les bains ?))

Bon, Burgundy time is 1,5 hours away. I can survive.

Annecy is lovely. Spent a week there in my younger days.

>>From my Provence/Cote d'Azur itinerary about my wife's favorite shopping city in Provence:<<

Aix les Bains is not in Provence.

Stu Dudley

We spent four nights in Avignon, and left there a week ago. Stayed in the centre of town, and really liked it. Both the bridge and Papal Palace were fun.

This might be interesting to read.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...enice-2014.cfm