Stu-those Nyons olives did, however, look like kalamatas. Perhaps a very little smaller.But the taste.....the taste......makes those black olives in a can at the supermarket taste like Taystee bread by comparison.
Can they purchased here in the US anywhere?

Nyons olives are occasionally seen here in the US at upmarket importers and speciality stores. I am a fan. But their smaller size with full size pits plus the high price per pound means they are definitely a luxury olive. And black olives in cans are colored black with iron and rate as olive shaped objects for decorative use only.

Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge. This is such an incredible and well-informed community. I tried to factor your comments into this skeleton of an itinerary.

Stu, I took a lot from your document and also read through a lot of the trip reports and comments from others that provided input below. I would be thrilled to get any corrections or thoughts on what I have below. My brain is still swimming. I’m trying to get the right pacing down and some of the main towns/sites not to miss. Then I will focus on airline, accommodations, and restaurants. We may be traveling with my son and his girlfriend so we will probably stay away from hotels and look at airbnbs or other options, hint……hint.

We will be there in September so I think we will miss the lavender fields. We can leave anytime between Sept. 4th and the 6th. We will be in St. Remy on Sunday and Monday which may be a problem with things being closed.

Thank you all again. You are awesome!!


Sept 5 (Tues) Leave Las Vegas (fly into Marseille or Paris. TGV from Paris to Aix or pick up car in Marseille and drive to Aix?)

Sept 6 (Wed) Aix: Arrive in Marseille or Paris. TGV from Paris to Aix or pick up car in Marseille and drive to Aix?

Sept 7 (Thurs) Aix: Visit Moustiers, Haute Provence?

Sept 8 (Fri) Drive from Aix to Luberon

Luberon: Stay in Roussillon, Gordes, Bonnieux, or St. Saturnin?

Sept 9 (Sat) Luberon: Are these correct? *Gordes, *Senanque Abbey, *Oppede le Vieux, *Bonnieux, Goult, *Roussillon (shops open on Sunday),

*Menerbes, Loumarin, Lacoste, Cucuron, Cadenet, Saint Saturnin Les Apt)?

Sept 10 (Sun) St. Remy: (Mkt is Wed) – Stay in St. Remy (location TBD)

Sept 11 (Mon) St. Remy: Villages to visit while in St. Remy: *Les Baux, *Uzes (shops closed sun & mon morn.), *Pernes les Fountaines,

Eygalieres, L’Isle sur la Sorgue/Mkt is Sun, *Avignon/Shops closed?

Sept 12 (Tues) I’m thinking maybe a few days in Paris or Lyon or ???.

Sept 13 (Wed) TBD

Sept 14 (Thurs) TBD

Sept 15 (Fri) TBD based on above decision. Drop car off in Avignon @ TGV Station. Take TG to Marseille or Paris

Sept. 16 (Sat) Fly home

I have desperately been trying to reply and submit an updated post but this is crazy. my post has to be reviewed before it gets posted, which seems to take forever.... Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge. This is such an incredible and well-informed community. I tried to factor your comments into this skeleton of an itinerary.

Stu, I took a lot from your document and also read through a lot of the trip reports and comments from others that provided input below. I would be thrilled to get any corrections or thoughts on what I have below. My brain is still swimming. I’m trying to get the right pacing down and some of the main towns/sites not to miss. Then I will focus on airline, accommodations, and restaurants. We may be traveling with my son and his girlfriend so we will probably stay away from hotels and look at airbnbs or other options, hint……hint.

We will be there in September so I think we will miss the lavender fields. We can leave anytime between Sept. 4th and the 6th. We will be in St. Remy on Sunday and Monday which may be a problem with things being closed.

Thank you all again. You are awesome!!


Sept 5 (Tues) Leave Las Vegas (fly into Marseille or Paris. TGV from Paris to Aix or pick up car in Marseille and drive to Aix?)

Sept 6 (Wed) Aix: Arrive in Marseille or Paris. TGV from Paris to Aix or pick up car in Marseille and drive to Aix?

Sept 7 (Thurs) Aix: Visit Moustiers, Haute Provence?

Sept 8 (Fri) Drive from Aix to Luberon

Luberon: Stay in Roussillon, Gordes, Bonnieux, or St. Saturnin?

Sept 9 (Sat) Luberon: Are these correct? *Gordes, *Senanque Abbey, *Oppede le Vieux, *Bonnieux, Goult, *Roussillon (shops open on Sunday),

*Menerbes, Loumarin, Lacoste, Cucuron, Cadenet, Saint Saturnin Les Apt)?

Sept 10 (Sun) St. Remy: (Mkt is Wed) – Stay in St. Remy (location TBD)

Sept 11 (Mon) St. Remy: Villages to visit while in St. Remy: *Les Baux, *Uzes (shops closed sun & mon morn.), *Pernes les Fountaines,

Eygalieres, L’Isle sur la Sorgue/Mkt is Sun, *Avignon/Shops closed?

Sept 12 (Tues) I’m thinking maybe a few days in Paris or Lyon or ???.

Sept 13 (Wed) TBD

Sept 14 (Thurs) TBD

Sept 15 (Fri) TBD based on above decision. Drop car off in Avignon @ TGV Station. Take TG to Marseille or Paris

Sept. 16 (Sat) Fly home

I wouldn't try to visit Lyon. If you explore Aix & Avignon - that's enough "big cities", IMO. You already have your plate full.

Most shops will be closed on Monday morning in Avignon, Uzes, and Pernes. Some will open in the afternoon - but afternoon starts around 2PM in France (after lunch). Pernes is a bit too far away to visit from St Remy - and the drive there is not scenic if you take a direct route. Best bet is to visit it from the Luberon. Same with Uzes (from St Remy) - but the drive is nicer.

No Pont du Gard ??

Thanks Stu. I looked up distances using Rome 2 Rio and it looked like drive time was shorter from St. Remy to Uzes and Pernes that it was from the Luberon but maybe that’s not the scenic route. Good point about Aix and Avignon in terms of City time. I’m still not sure where to spend or focus on for the last 3 days. This may sound lame or naïve but we’ve spent time in Tuscany and loved it but after a while it’s just another beautiful small town, if you know what I mean. Some of course are more memorable than others. Do you think we will have enough variety as far as sights, etc. We will probably prioritize the towns we visit using the * below (took many from your report and others). I was thinking it might be nice to mix it up with some coastal sights/beach, etc. but again not sure about pacing and timing.

Using viamichelin.com, Pernes is 45 mins from St Remy & 30 from Gordes (scenic). Uzes is 1 hr from St Remy & 1 hr 20 mins from Gordes.

For some variety, visit some gorges, mountains, Rustel Ocre fields, Abbeys, drive up Mt Ventoux , and the Pont du Gard. My lavender route starting in Gordes and including the Gorges de la Nesque and Sault will provide some gorges & mountains (no lavender in Sept, however). And perhaps visit the Gorges du Verdon when visiting Moustiers. Also the Alpillies mountains (see my itinerary).

Just stick to Provence. Most likely you will not be able to pack as much into a day as you might think. And remember - Provence includes hours at cafes just relaxing & people watching.

Stu Dudley

Good advice Stu. I think I've settled down now...haha. I'm going to re-work and streamline by itinerary and hope to send it out for review after the 1st. Thanks again to all for your help and sharing your experiences. Merci Beaucoup.

Hello again friendly travelers!I'm back again. Well, I'm still struggling with our plans/itinerary. I know I can fine tune the specific sights we see once I get a handle on the three base locations and timing. I've posted a slightly different plan below. I added 3 days in the Cote vs the Luberon. I would love to get your input on these locations as bases, the number of days there, etc. My thanks, as always.

Sept 5 (Tues) Leave Las Vegas (fly into Marseille or Paris. TGV from Paris to Aix or pick up car in Marseille and drive to Aix?)

Sept 6-8 (Wed-Fri) 3 nights in St. Paul de Vence or other recommendations? Any recommendations for nice apartments or airbnbs for 4 people?

Visit Villefranche Sur-Mer, Eze, Antibe, Menton

Sept 9-11 (Sat-Mon) 3 nights in Aix - Any recommendations for nice apartments or airbnbs for 4 people?

Shops closed Sunday and Monday (how to get around this?) Would it be better to switch this and stay in St. Remy at this time and Aix on the Sept 12-14th

Visit Moustiers, Haute Provence?????

Sept 12-14 (Tue-Thus) St. Remy – Any recommendations for nice apartments or airbnbs for 4 people?

Visit Roussillon, Gordes, Bonnieux, Memerbes, Senanque Abbey, Oppede le Vieux, Eygalieres, Avignon

Sept 15 (Friday) Fly home from

""Sept 9-11 (Sat-Mon) 3 nights in Aix - Any recommendations for nice apartments or airbnbs for 4 people?

Shops closed Sunday and Monday (how to get around this?) Would it be better to switch this and stay in St. Remy at this time and Aix on the Sept 12-14th"

NO BRAINER!!!!!!!! Read page 2 of my my itinerary. Then read it again. Very little to do in Aix on Sunday & Monday unless you are focused on museums and churches. Not that much to do by car within 30 mins of Aix.

Head to St Remy instead.

Moustiers is a little too far away..

Stu Dudley

If starting in St Paul de Vence, fly to Nice. Do not even think about driving while jet lagged.

I like museums, so I’d plan to be in Aix when the museums are open. What would you be shopping for that makes the store hours a crucial question? The decision between two nights or three hinges on what you want to do in Aix itself. It’s not a convenient base from which to drive out to explore.

Moustiers Sainte Marie and Haute Provence: if these are important to you, drop Aix and spend one night on the road between the Riviera and St Rémy. Take your time through the northern Luberon on the second travelling day.

Flying home on Sept 15: if that’s from Marseille, it’s fine to drive there that morning from St Rémy or Aix. If from Paris, do your sanity and blood pressure a favour and spend the night of the 14th in a CDG hotel.

Thanks again Stu and FTOttawa. After reading your comments, I've come up with another itinerary. FTOttawa, the shopping is nothing specific but we do like browsing through unique shops whether it's housewares, food, clothing, art objects, etc, but also love museums, hanging out and taking in the beautiful surroundings. I hope I’m not driving you crazy or causing you think I’m crazy….Although, I am going a little crazy. I have a new proposal/dilemma.

I’m trying to come up with an itinerary that will give us some time near the coast/Cote d’Azur and then time in Provence. I’m now thinking of removing Aix from the list and focusing on the following areas. I’m struggling with a base in the Cote that will allow us easy access with a car and a town that provides good options for dinner, shopping, beaches, etc. We would prefer a smallish town vs Nice, etc.

3 nights in the Cote (or should we do 4). What town(s) would be a good base?

--Would like to have one beach day, Thinking top sites to visit are: St. Paul Vence, Antibes, Villefranche Sur-Mer, Eze, Menton.

--In early September will driving be harrowing there? How are crowds at that time of year?



3 nights (or should we do 4) in St. Remy.

--Thinking top sites to visit are Oppede le Vieux, Eygalieres, Avignon, Lisle-sur-Sorgue, Les Baux



3 nights in the Luberon. What town(s) would be a good base?

--Thinking top sites to visit are: Uzes, Gordes/Senanque Abbey, Roussillon, Menerbes, Bonnieux

What is driving you legitimately crazy is that there are too many equally fine options and only limited time. How many weeks total did Stu say he’s been able to spend in Provence and the Côte d’Azur?

Your Luberon destinations are all less than an hour’s drive from St Rémy, so the only reasons to change base are (a) that makes too much of a round trip for you, even bearing in mind that you can certainly chain several towns into one day, or (b) you want a different set of restaurant options for dinner after a few nights.

Put Uzès in the “visit from St Rémy” column in any case. It’s farther to the west.

And put Oppede & l'Isle sur la Sorgue in the Luberon column.

Antibes would be your best choice for the Cote.

Stu Dudley

As Frances has said, there are a lot of options you could choose and none of them are wrong. For example, we stayed for two weeks in Perne les Fontaines and visited a lot of the places on your list. If you click on my name, you will find the list of my trip reports. It was in 2014 and is titled On the Road again - Another country roads tour of France. Provence was our first stop. We had already stayed a week in Mazan in 2008 and visited some places.

I think Moustiers and the Gorges of the Verdon are too far away for a day trip. We visited them in 2018 from our base ( about 40kms away ) in the Var and it was a full day. If you want to visit them you need to stay closer.

We stay in self catering, do not have a big budget and we do not eat out a lot. Therefore having a base with a large choice of restaurants is not a big consideration for us. But if you are only staying two or three nights in a place there are lots of places you could choose.

Happy travels.

Thanks Rhon. I will def check out your trip report!!! Francis, I will move Uzes to St Remy section. I think I may have done that earlier and then missed it when I re-posted. Staying in St. Remy and someplace in the Luberon would give us a chance to have more hang time/evening time in those towns which is always kind of nice. I think St. Remy seems to be a popular choice. Do you have any recommendations for base locations in the Luberon.



Also, if anyone has input on the Cote base locations and what driving and crowds will be like that would be great. For instance, Antibe, Villefranche Sur-Mer, St Paul Vence. I feel like I’m the least familiar with that portion now since I haven’t done as much research. I’m just concerned about how easy it will be to drive in and out of the base location, parking, and roads, i.e., winding, etc.



So happy to know you folks are out there!!!!!!

Also from St Remy, the ruins of Glanum, a small Roman town. It's between Les Baux and St Rermy

I will check out Glanum AJ. Thanks for passing that along. Another question, is the Eze everyone talks about called Eze-le-Village vs Eze-bord-de-Mer? I was just doing some research and came across this. Also, if we were staying at a base in the Cote (still hoping for recommendations), i.e., would you recommend driving to Eze as a day trip or taking the bus, train or taxi. Just wondering about parking, etc. Merci Beaucoup

Thanks Stu. I just realized that St. Paul Vence is probably too far inland so Antibe probably makes better sense. What do you think about Ville Franch Su Mer as a base? I think I'm posting my replies incorrectly because I wanted to ask you about a few other questions I posted above but I can't see them right now. I can edit some of my posts and some I can't. Need to read up on the posting mechanics

On the Cote, if you do not want to stay in Nice because it is big, difficult parking, difficult driving, congested, etc - then I would also not consider Villefranche, Menton, or Cannes. Villafranche is small - but the it is somewhat of a continuation of the Nice/Menton area. Antibes ("s" on the end) would be my choice.

Eze village is what you want, but I am not a huge fan of it - especially it you base in Antibes. I have not visited it in over 25 years, but it takes some "doing" to get there, hike up, admire the view, have an expensive coffee etc. If I was staying in the area for the first time, and I would be there for 2-3 weeks - than fine!! But you are already spread quite thin.

Perhaps get Gooster's comments on my opinion/recommendations above.

Stu Dudley