Paragkash

dwdvagamundo, Thanks a lot. The place looks good and inexpensive. Views are nice and location looks convenient. Thanks a lot.

dugi_otok

Hi Paragkash

Let me test my understanding of the Normandy part of your trip.
You are planning on 3 nights in Normandy-1st night in Honfleur, followed by 2 nights in or around . On day one you would like to see Giverny as a first priority and Rouen(though you are not that crazy about large cities) on the way from CDG to Honfleur. On day 2 you would like to see St-Malo and Dinan for a bit of Brittany before arriving at Le Mont. You have no interest in D-Day beaches or the Bayeux Tapestry. On Day 3 you would hang out at Le Mont.

I will assume your sleep locations are cast in concrete. Others have recommended against 2 nights at Mont-St-Michel. Any nights in the Mont-St-Michel area, especially 2, should be spent at Le Mont itself, not 5 km away.

My comments on your sight seeing are as follows:

Day 1 is somewhat busy. Giverny is very crowded, with long lines if you do not get there when it opens. You are at the mercy of the airline landing time, airport lines, car rental lines, and morning traffic. Giverny is a Japanese garden fans delight and a Monet junkies paradise, so worth a visit. Rouen is a 2000 year old city, an architects dream, mixing dazzling Gothic architecture, exquisite half-timbered houses, and contemporary bustle like no other city in Europe. It would be as close to a must see for you as any city in Europe. Rouen is a difficult city to drive into. Park in an underground parking lot near the cathedral. You will be hard pressed to make a 6PM arrival in Honfleur if visiting both Giverny and Rouen. Honfleur requires its own time for sight seeing.

Day 2 is even tougher than Day 1. Leave for Mont-St-Michel after having seen a bit of Honfleur. Make a short stop in by far most beautiful village in the area, Beuvron-en-Auge, about an hours drive on route to Le Mont. Beuvron is a charming village with 40 lovely old timbered-framed houses set around the main square with 16 century Vieux Manoir near by. You do not have time to explore much of the Pays d'Auge (the heart of rural Normandy) area with its picturesque pastures, thatched cottages, magnificent manor houses, apple orchards, winding hedgerows, Calvados and cider makers, and for Camembert and other legendary cheese producers. You probably do not have time to visit both St Malo and Dinan. Dinan is more doable today. Check into your Le Mont hotel and have a dinner of the most expensive omelets in the world or arguably the worst food in France. Enjoy Le Mont at night.

Day 3. Tour the Abbey before the hoards arrive 11AM. This might be a good time to leave and day trip to St Malo and return via the scenic drive outlined by Rick Steves.

Day 4. Get an early start. There is so much to see in the Loire.

Paragkash

dugi_otok, Thanks a lot for a detailed information on Normandy itinerary.
My flight lands by 8 am. I should be able to leave CDG Car Rental Parking lot by 10 am..
Shall take your suggestion on Rouen and visit it by public transport and on foot. Shall try and pack in Giverny if possible considering the total driving time as 3 hours.
I found Honfleur picturesque but a bit touristy and town like rather than a sleepy fishing village which I would have loved.
Assuming that we stay at Honfleur. Would like to reach by 5 pm before Sunset and have dinner by the quay. Early morning Sunrise pictures and breakfast and out by 8 am.

Beuvron-en-Auge, Pays d'Auge look very pretty. Shall try and visit them on the way. Beueux looks good too but am not sure if I will get time. Would like see Dinan and be back by pm again. Dinan can be done on day 3 afternoon when the mont becomes crowded (as a back up)

Am thinking of staying at 2 km from MSM with a view of the Mont, This way i shall get 2 sunsets and 2 sunrises there. Can also time the high and low tides. Shall use the day time to visit some museums.
I have decided to take my photography hobby a bit seriously and will want to see as many sunsets and sunrises as possible. It is very soothing to sit idle for 1.30 hours watching the changing light and people around.

Shall leave for Loire by 7 am on day 3. Any tips on things to see en-route Amboise?

Coquelicot

I suggest Fougeres, with a castle and church in the old quarter at the bottom of the town and fine views from the garden at the top. There's a paved but steep walk joining the two.

For a beautiful village with traditional architecture, I recommend Saint-Suzanne. It's one of the Plus Beaux Villages of France, charming, small, and walkable. It's a more manageable stop than Fougeres because it's so compact. It's a hilltop village so you can see the pretty surrounding countryside from its walls. If you have time, you can walk downhill, past the garden, to the mill.

Paragkash

Coquelicot, Thanks for the suggestions. I am planning to visit Fougeres on the way from MSM to Amboise. Shall also add Saint Suzanne.

I came across a wonderful website for France trip planning, called "http://www.francethisway.com/" Haven't seen a more informative website than this. It also has a trip planner which gives suggestions on places and markets around.

Coquelicot

Paragkash, yes, that's a great website. I was trying to think of the name of it today! It coordinates so many things. Thanks for jogging my memory.

dugi_otok

Leaving MSM at 7AM I would head to Saumur in the western Loire Valley arriving 10:30AM plus stops. Then meander, choosing stops, to Fontevraud (Abbey), Chinon, Usse, Azay-Le-Rideau (tour), Villandry (if you like gardens),Langeais (if time permits) and on to Amboise. This will give you a day seeing the Chateaus to the west of Tours.Francethisway will show more on this region.

Paragkash

dugi_otok, Yes you are right. I would also like to stop at Fougeres and Saint-Suzanne as suggested by Coquelicot. Will see as many places in the west Loire region. The distances are not much but the sights are vast. I would like to zero in on 3 or 4 chateaus to avoid Deja Vu feeling. Would like suggestions on that. I am thinking of Chambord, Chenonceau, Chaumont, Usse. I feel the Chateaux that I can see from outside will be Amboise, Chinon and Saumur.

Coquelicot

Paragkash, I was wrong about the website I'd been trying to think of. Francethisway is good, but I encourage you to take a look at this one too:

http://www.france-voyage.com/cities-towns/

This to me is the best general web resource I've found for France. It will make an itinerary for you. You specify place, length of time, pace, distance to cover, on a 5-point scale for architecture/nature/culture/well-being/leisure.

It actually gave me more information than I wanted, but that's good, because that way I could winnow it down.

Paragkash

Coquelicot , thanks a lot for excellent information. The website is really very informative and user friendly. Almost like a one-stop-shop.

dugi_otok

Paragkash

Of the chateaus you listed Chambord, Chenonceau, Chaumont, and of course Amboise (view from the outside) can be seen from your Amboise base. You have time for one more. I recommend Blois. It is a beautiful building in the center of a medieval town. Others would recommend Cheverny because of its furnishings. I hated the feeding of the barking dogs.

Saumur, Chinon, and Usse are too far away to be seen from Amboise. They should be seen on your drive from MSM. I have only seen Usse from its' exterior so I cannot comment on its' interior. Azay has a beautiful setting, reflecting pond, and would be good to test your photographic skills.

Paragkash

dugi_otok, I plan to visit places to the west of Tours on the way to Amboise from MSM.
Have been devoting a lot of time on studying places and deciding the perfect itinerary. Have almost reached a conclusion that there is nothing that is perfect and no one can see it all even if one wants to make a number of visits in a lifetime.
There is also a Deja Vu factor after a while. So have zeroed on on places to stay for 3 to 4 nights and have listed attractions as per priority. Don't want to see more than 2 to 3 places a day. Whatever I can see and absorb. Don't want to miss the fun trying to execute a perfect plan. Journey is the destination in itself.
I would have loved to go without booking hotels/ gites like I used to before year 2004 and just call it a day where we feel like. But it would be too much of an uncertainty and wasting time.
Am doing the fine tuning before i post the revised itinerary for the experts to comment and help.

dugi_otok

<<Have been devoting a lot of time on studying places and deciding the perfect itinerary. Have almost reached a conclusion that there is nothing that is perfect>>

" Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence" – Vince Lombardi (famous US football coach)
...................
<<There is also a Deja Vu factor after a while.>>

There is no danger of the Deja Vu factor on your trip especially in the southwest (Dordogne and Lot) of France. Having said that,yes, 2 and possibly 3 Loire chateaus visits are a full days activity even though each can be quite different.
...................
Looking forward to seeing your revised itinerary.

Paragkash

Have done a lot of reading on the net, trip reports and books. Seen images that excite me. Taken the gist of everyone's advice.
2 things are fixed.
1. I can spend max 31 days
2. I want to see as much as possible but also want to get absorbed in the place.. Have omitted some good places...
for all long journeys we leave by 6 am. (possible if we sleep by 10 pm)
Have come up with a revised itinerary.
3 DAYS NORMANDY
1- Arrive at CDG- pick up a car- proceed to Rouen and reach Honfleur for Sunset.
2- Honfleur- via Cider route- Dinan- overnight Mont Saint Michel
3- Mont Saint Michel

3 DAYS LOIRE VALLEY
4. MSM- Fougeres, Sainte-Suzanne, Saumur Sleep at Amboise
5-6- Loire valley-3 Chateaux and 3 villages

3 DAYS DORDOGNE
7-8-9 Amboise to Sarlat- Market- 2 day trips in 2 loops seeing small villages in Dordogne and Vezere valley, including a boat trip and prehistoric caves.

10- Sarlat- Cahors- Carcassonne

4 NIGHTS PROVENCE-
11- Carcassonne- Menerve- Arles- St Remy
12-13-14 St Remy and day trips to villages around+ Pont Du Guard and Avignon and if possible Marseilles and Casis

(Like St remy as a base but feel Arles is more central- also avoiding a temptation of splitting 1 night near casis.

4 NIGHTS- FRENCH RIVIERA
15-Arles/St remy to Nice- via internal road Aix en Provence, Le Val, Carces, Le thornet and some small villages- fayence- Nice- as per Stu's itinerary

16-17-18- Nice, Cannes, Antebes, Eze, Monaco, Menton

( am tempted to stay at Eze instead of Nice- pl suggest where to stay- also how do I do this part with the car- Is parking at nice and seeing the rest by public transport possible)

3 DAYS- ALPS- NEAR ANNECY
19- Nice- Scenic Route de Gentelly F VENCE TO Gréolières and Napoleon's Route from Digne to Grenobe- and to Annecy
20- Chamonix, mageve day trip
21- Yvoire n misc day trips

4 DAYS ALSCACE-
22-Annecy to Colmar via Scenic route via Lake Leman and Neuchatel, Switzerland- and Ronchamp Chapel enroute Colmar
23-24-25- Scenic Route de Vin/ Strasbourg etc.
( am thinking of cutting one night from this)

4 DAYS -PARIS
26- Drive from Colmar to Paris (450 km) This is a bit long- but have no choice- ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS?

4 NIGHTS- PARIS
27-28-29- Paris+ Versailles etc.

30TH Paris- Mumbai- Flight back home...

I would have loved about 5 more days... but it doesn't work.
Dear fodorites. I need help from you all to do the fine tuning/ changes ...

dugi_otok

<< 3 DAYS DORDOGNE>>
<<7-8-9 Amboise to Sarlat- Market- 2 day trips in 2 loops seeing small villages in Dordogne and Vezere valley, including a boat trip and prehistoric caves. >>

Good luck on seeing Dordogne in 2 full days. It will take 3 full days, some will say longer, to see these highlights- Sarlat and its market, Beynac including fortress, Castlenaud including fortress, Gardens at Marqueyssac, La Roque-Gageac including Gabares boat ride, Chateau des Milandes and its bird show, the bastide town of Domme, La Roque Saint-Christopher, cave art in Lascaux II (replica) or (the real thing) Font-de-Gaume, and Sainte-Leon-sur-Vezere on the river.

I would add another day ( 10 ) to Sarlat. That would allow you to see Rocamadour, Gouffre de Padirac, and the villages of Loubressac, Autoire, Carennac, and maybe Collonges-la-Rouge.

See Maitaitom trip report chapter six: Driving the Dordogne Mon Oct 1, 2012.
http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/Tom_...1_Entry_1.html

dugi_otok

<< 10- Sarlat- Cahors- Carcassonne >>

If you were not able to see (the real thing) Font-de-Gaume while staying in Sarlat I would suggest seeing Grotte de Pech-Merle on this travel day. Make a reservation for the first tour, I think it is 9:30 AM. It is a 1-1/2 hr drive from Sarlat, turn off before Cahor. Some Fodorites like it better than Font-de-Gaume.

http://www.pechmerle.com/english/

Paragkash

dugi_otok, thanks for aking such keen interest and efforts. That will surely make my trip worthwhile. All your tips are noted and will work on it. I feel even 4 nights and 3.5 days in the area are not enough to see them all. You have given a very nice, compact and precise description of "must-see and do" things around Sarlat.

I take your suggestion and will add 1 day each to make it 4 nights stay at Loire, Sarlat and Annecy. I will have to stretch my holiday which I will try and do.

Am tempted to split my stay at least at 2 places-
1. a- Nice 3N- a see facing apartment near the corniche
b. Eze 1 N- A resort with Panoramic view and infinity pool.

2. a. Annecy 3 N and b. Menton Palace- 1N- I loved he place and would like to relax for a day there.

Any suggestions or comments and places to see around. Am trying to cover min.2 to 3 day trips at each location, suggested by Stu Dudley.

dugi_otok

Good decision on adding a day to the Dordogne (Sarlat), the Loire(Amboise), and the French Alps(Annecy).

<< 4 NIGHTS PROVENCE >>
11-Carcassonne- St Remy (Like St-Remy as a base but feel Arles is more central- also avoiding a temptation of splitting 1 night near Cassis.)>>

Where to stay. You are considering St-Remy or Arles. Actually St-Remy is more central. But they are both good places to stay. Arles is a medium size city of 50,000 with more attractions- impressive well-preserved Roman stuff and an abundance of monuments and museums. St-Remy is a town of 10,000 with lesser attractions-Glanum (ruins), a Roman arch, and St-Paul-de-Mausole (V vanG fame). but near Les Baux and the Cathedrale of Images. I have only day tripped St-Remy but have stayed in Arles. I found Arles to be old in a good way and very blue collar, Provincal, nice to walk around. St-Remy is in a beautiful location with a charming low-key town center. I would stay in St-Remy. Small is good.
<< 12-13-14 St Remy and day trips to villages around+ Pont Du Guard and Avignon and if possible Marseilles and Cassis >>

With 4 nights (3 full days) I would spend the 1st two days seeing the nearby sights Les Baux, Cathedrale des Images,a convenient market day, Pont du Gard, Uzès, Arles, Avignon (the Palais des Papes and the nursery rhyme bridge).
The third day I would visit the hill towns of the Luberon. Roussillon and choose from Oppede le Vieux, Menerbes, Lacoste, Bonnieux, Saignon and finish up with Gordes. Deja vu will set in.
I would make this part of the trip inland and thus skip Cassis and Marseille because of the next 4 days in Nice and the Cote d'Azur. Deja vu!

Photos by Michael Mocella
Album link (click the first photo in the album, to get the captions started)

https://plus.google.com/photos/10147...01670739516097

Photo of Antibes(40-53), Eze(54-75), Arles(224-250), Aix(270-293), Gordes(295-302), Saignon(315-323), Bonnieux(324-327), Roussillon(331-356), Nice(314-)

dugi_otok

4 NIGHTS- FRENCH RIVIERA
St Remy to Nice
3 nights Nice
1 night Eze- 3 full days to see Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Eze, Monaco, Menton
I would add St-Paul-de-Vence to this list.
How best to do this requires requires further study. It could be argued that no need to see hinterland villages since you have seen such villages in Provence. I do not accept this thinking. These two villages(Eze and St-Paul) are worth a half day visit just because of the spectacular views. Whether they are worth a one nighter is an individual decision. If it would be a highlight for you I would go for it.
I assume you are talking about this:
http://www.chevredor.com/uk/chateau-...icial-site.php
For more photos http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/la-c...-or.en-us.html
I am thinking about this(for my next trip): http://www.le-hameau.com/uk/index.php

dwdvagamundo

Paragkash--just got back from some of the places you are planning to go, and will go through your and dugi's latest thread:

No way will you be able to see Giverny and Rouen on the way from CDG to Honfluer. We stayed in Chantilly, had planned to see Giverny and Rouen from there, but ended up just at Giverny--it took much more time than we thought it would--most of the day that we had allotted to it and Rouen. You also have to factor in the time it will take you to eat lunch, etc. But with around 10 hours from the time you leave CDG, it's probably doable as long as you watch the time and are able to herd your family out.

BTW--there is a lovely cafe outside the Gardens called Restaurant Gaudy. We had some very excellent lunch salads and wine for a not too expensive price. You may want to eat there once you arrive in Giverny and before going into the gardens.

One piece of advice is to take the expressway (even if it is toll) as much as possible. Time on a vacation is worth much more than money, and the expressway is worth the cost.