dugi_otok

I like dwds recommendation a lot. But I will try to answer your questions.

Your trip is looking great! You have the opportunity to visit 7 of the Huffington Posts 10 most enchanting towns of France.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minube...b_3377638.html

Four days to add:

<<Should I add 1 day each to these Provence, Annecy, Alsace? >>

-Provence Yes, add 1 night. Stay the added night in the Luberon.

-Annecy No. Four nights makes for a nice stay including a day trip to Chamonix.
But you may want to add a day to further relax and smell the roses or whatever grows there.
-Alsace Yes if you want to see Strasbourg

<<Should I add a few places on my journey>>

<<a. from Nice to Annecy>>
Nice to Annecy is 6h36, 433km. Sisteron is about half way. But I would spend my precious 4 days in a different way.

<<b. from Alsace to Paris>>
For me Reims was OK, but another magnificent cathedral and champagne cellars does not bring it to the top of the list. Troyes sounds better but I did not come this far for shopping outlets, though-half timbered houses sounds better. The idea of stopping in Dijon, I love the mustard, appeals to me.
I did the drive Alsace to Paris last year. I got to Paris in the mid afternoon, after making stops only on the motorway.

<< There is also one more option to spend the additional time.>>

<<a. Neuchatel area in Switzerland which is en-route Colmar from Annecy.>>
I would not stop a night in Neuchatel. It may be a nice place to live, but I would not want to spend the night as a tourist.

<<b. Black Forest Lake Titisee area >>
I would not select Lake Titisee area for Black Forest. I would select Gengenbach for Black Forest.
Tough decision for me. Please help me to decide. >>

Summary of the choices you presented which I would recommend you consider for your added 4 nights:
I. Provence 1 night
2. Alsace 1 night only if visiting Strasbourg
3. Annecy 1 night if you really want some R&R
4. Dijon for 1 night when driving Alsace to Paris
5. Gengenbach for 1 night when driving Annecy to Alsace
6. A 2nd night in Gengenbach.

I will think about this and give you a 4 night recommendation tomorrow.






https://www.google.com/search?q=Geng...w=1266&bih=559

dugi_otok

I recommend this for your added 4 nights:
1. Provence 1 night
2. Gengenbach for 1 night (when driving Annecy to Alsace)
3. Alsace 1 night (only if visiting Strasbourg)
4. Beaune for 1 night(recommendation changed from Dijon to Beaune.Beaune is a better one night stay) (when driving Alsace to Paris)

Then
1.Provence 1 night
You have just completed 4 nights in St Remy. I would check out and drive to the Luberon. Visit some hill towns- Gordes,etc. In the late afternoon check into a B&B such as this one: http://www.masperreal.com/
"A luxury bed and breakfast located in the Luberon Park, the heart of Provence. B&B at its finest. We welcome you to our B&B, a centuries-old farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and cherry orchards and just nearby
the lovely village of Saint Saturnin-Lès-Apt - unspoiled, quintessential Provence. Beautiful, comfortable accommodations
await - as do your hosts, Elisabeth and Kevin, ready to share with you their love of this gorgeous part of the world."
Dinner in a nearby hill town.You will wake up in the Provence which will make you want to come back for a seven day stay.
After your gourmet breakfast on the outdoor patio you are on to Nice. Your route will take you thru Lourmarin, one of the ten most enchanting towns of France, and then Aix-en-Provence where you will join the route to Nice you specified.

2. Gengenbach for 1 night when driving Annecy to Alsace (4-1/2 hr driving time)

Leave Annecy in the AM. In about a half hour you are in Switzerland. Don't forget the Vignette.
In about 2 hours of driving you are near Bern. Time for a break?
After another 1- 1/2 hrs of driving you are entering Germany.
Then 1/2 hr more Freiburg im Beisgau. Time for a serious stop. It is a very likeable town.
Nacht Gengenbach. Less than 30 min on the autobahn take the exit towards Gengenbach. In 10 min you are there. Enjoy Gengenbach for the rest of the day. They even have a night watchman tour.

3. Alsace 1 night (only if visiting Strasbourg)
Today you will tour the central Black Forest. Leaving after a buffet breakfast you will leave Gengenbach heading to idyllic Haslach(Schwarzwalder Trachtenmuseum), perhaps to quaint Schiltach, back to Hausach, south to Gutach im Schwarzwald, Schwarzwalder Feilichtmuseum, Hornberg, Triberg (more cuckoo clocks than you want to see). Make the 2 hr drive to Colmar. Sleep in Colmar.
The next day make a day trip to Strasbourg, 30 min each way, via train. Sleep in Colmar.
The next day tour Colmar , then to Riquewihr for 3 nights. Visit the villages of Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Hunawihr, Ribeauville, and the Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg.
Summary for the region: Gengenbach Germany (1), Colmar France (2), Riquewihr France (3)

4. Beaune for 1 night (when driving Alsace to Paris)
Leave Riquewihr AM. (3 hr drive of 274 km)
Tour the Hotel-Dieu (medieval hospice). Can take one of the scenic vineyard driving routes recommended by Rick Steves. You can sleep in Beaune or a nearby village. Last year we stayed at La Saura B&B in the nearby village Lusigny-sur-Ouche. Jocelyne and her physician husband Jean, the owners, are wonderful hosts and the coach house on the property has exquisitely decorated and spacious rooms.Jocelyne can recommend a restaurant for dinner in Beaune or in a village. Highly recommended.

http://www.la-saura.com/en/index.asp

The next day Paris is a 3-1/4 hr drive. You could make a stop at Auxerre at the half way point or at Fontainbleau on your drive to Paris. Drop off your luggage at your hotel, return your rented car, and walk or taxi back to your hotel. Enjoy your 4 night stay in Paris.

Paragkash

Have finally booked my refundable return Air tickets on Qatar Airways.
My Flight itinerary is as follows
1. Mumbai- Paris (4.40 to 14.10) on Saturday 16th May 15
2. Paris- Mumbai (11.00 on Sunday 21st June-2.40 on 22 june)
I have managed to stretch my trip to 36 nights/ 35.5 days.

1. dugi_otok, I liked your idea of adding Burgundy. Don't know whether to add Beaune between Annecy and Colmar (better route) OR Colmar Paris (longer detour)

2. Am reaching at 2 pm at CDG. Will probably leave with the car by 4 pm. Reaching Honfleur looks like a big ask on the same day.
a. Am thinking of breaking the journey on day 1 and drive 2 hours and sleep at a nice picturesque small place
3. Am also thinking if I do the trip in a reverse Clockwise direction. I anyway need a night halt between Paris and Colmar. If I take a night halt, it will perfectly suit my purpose.
c. Now that I am travelling 15 days in May and 20 days in June, can I see some lavender bloom? (looks difficult as I shall be in Luberon either way by 1st week of june)
Where can I see other flowers blooming?

dugi_otok

2. Paris- Mumbai (11.00 on Sunday 21st June-2.40 on 22 june). Is that 11PM or 11 AM?

Mimar

The OP seems to be using a 24-hour clock. So his flight will leave at 11 PM and arrive at 2:40 in the morning .

dugi_otok

Why not visit Paris 1st? Arrive CDG 2PM Saturday May 15. Taxi to Paris. Stay 3 to 4 nights. Then Normandy, Loire, etc.That is counterclockwise, the Rick Steves way.If you want to go to Giverny you could get there when it opens and avoid the crowd.Then Paris-Giverny-Rouen-Honfleur.

On the return drive Colmar to Paris for one night. Taxi to CDG for your 11AM flight. I did this last year. If the flight is 11PM you have more options.

dugi_otok

<<c. Now that I am travelling 15 days in May and 20 days in June, can I see some lavender bloom? (looks difficult as I shall be in Luberon either way by 1st week of june)
Where can I see other flowers blooming?>>

http://slowtraveltours.com/blog/poppies-in-provence/

Kathy Wood says:
May 15, 2013 at 12:53 am

Karen, the poppies in this area of Provence (the Calavon Valley north of the Luberon) usually bloom in May, depending on the weather. Fields seem to bloom at slightly different times and are at peak usually only about two weeks. By mid June you’d normally begin to see lavender in bloom.

dugi_otok

<<3. Am also thinking if I do the trip in a reverse Clockwise direction. I anyway need a night halt between Paris and Colmar. If I take a night halt, it will perfectly suit my purpose.>>

I would look for a place in the champagne region, 2+ hrs drive from CDG. One place to look is Booking.com , read reviews. I like reviews > 9.0 for places , but sometimes settle for 8.5. A quick search I found Le Marsonnet (9.2) in 51240 Marson, Chambres d' hotes La Maison Forte (9.1) in 55800 Revigny-sur-Omain, Le Clos Marget (8.6) in 51130 Vertus, and La Chateau D'Etoges in 51270. There were some more expensive places also. I do not know your price range for overnight stops.

http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Epernay

dugi_otok

<<2. Am reaching at 2 pm at CDG. Will probably leave with the car by 4 pm. Reaching Honfleur looks like a big ask on the same day.
a. Am thinking of breaking the journey on day 1 and drive 2 hours and sleep at a nice picturesque small place>>

There are many possibilities for minimum disruption to your current plan because of late arrival in CDG.Your current Normandy plan is 1 night in Honfleur, 2 nights MSM. Perhaps 1 night in "nice picturesque small place", 1 night Honfleur, 1 night MSM makes more sense. Two nights Le Mont St Michel is overkill. Another possibility is 1 night in "nice picturesque small place" and 2 nights MSM.

Paragkash

dugi_otok, Thanks again for the suggestions.
Yes, the return flight is at 11 AM on 21st june 15.
My reason for keeping Paris for the last 4 days is that I don't want to drive on the last day with a tension in mind of catching a flight after a long drive, plus I will anyway have to stay 1 night on my way back at CDG to take a 11 am flight. It will be a waste.
I am also keeping some time margin in case I have an issue with the car or car rental company, I can sort it out while I am in Paris.

I will surely miss the Lavender bloom, but will try to see Red Poppies (apparently brought into France by Genghis Khan) and Sunflowers.

Can anyone suggest a place enroute Colmar from Paris. I am thinking of Eparney or even smaller village on Route de champeign, if I am going in a clockwise direction to Colmar.

dugi_otok

Can anyone suggest a place enroute Colmar from Paris. I am thinking of Eparney or even smaller village on Route de champeign, if I am going in a clockwise direction to Colmar.

Look at my next to last post. Repeat here.

I would look for a place in the champagne region, 2+ hrs drive from CDG. One place to look is Booking.com , read reviews. I like reviews > 9.0 for places , but sometimes settle for 8.5. A quick search I found

Le Marsonnet (9.2) in 51240 Marson,

Chambres d' hotes La Maison Forte (9.1) in 55800 Revigny-sur-Omain,

Le Clos Marget (8.6) in 51130 Vertus

, and La Chateau D'Etoges in 51270 Etoges.

There were some more expensive places also. I do not know your price range for overnight stops.

http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Epernay

Tulips

I have not read all the posts here, but can recommend La Maison de Lucie in Honfleur. Be sure to book a parking space with the hotel if you stay in Honfleur.
If you do not have time for the D-Day beaches, try and fit in the Memorial in Caen. I thought it was very well done, very moving.
Agree that a full day, or two nights, in MSM is too much. Stay overnight, and leave again the next morning.
In Amboise we liked Manoir les Minimes, on the river bank, with parking and next to the Chateau.

Paragkash

I have taken all the suggestions from you all and am working on the fine tuning of the itinerary, hotels and gites. Lots of options. This is the part of the trip we all love the most.
Most probably I shall do this trip in a clockwise direction covering Alsace 1st and Normandy last before I reach Paris again.

One place that attracts me the most besides the ones that are mentioned here is LE PUY EN VELEY-Am trying to squeeze that (2 N 1 day) as I travel between Sarlat and Amboise/Blois.
I am anyway travelling 40% distance when I visit Rocamadour and Aurilac villages from Sarlat. If i extend that by about 180 km till Ley Puy which makes a long day of visiting awesome places which ends in a visually stunning place. shall spend the night and the next day there and shall leave for Amboise early on the 3rd day.

Shall come back with more concrete itinerary and more questions and seek guidance as I go further into planning. Thanks again.

bilboburgler

In Epernay
http://www.parvadomusrimaire.com/
just been poshed up, but very much great position

Paragkash

Have finalized my 36 Days trip itinerary:
DAY 1 Land at CDG, Rent a car n drive to Eperney 1 N

Day 2 Chamapgne route and wine tasting
Drive to Alsace via chalons and Nancy
Beblenheim- Alscae - 4 n

Day 4,5,6 Strasbourg, Konigsberg castle,
Wine route, Colmar
Black forest- lake Titisee

Day 7 Drive to Switzerland- stay at Krattigen- 1 N
Spiez, Lake Thun, Kandersteg, Lauterbrunnen

Day 8 Drive to Doussard- (Lake Annecy)- 3 N
enroute visit Gstaadt and Saanen
plus Yvoire Castle

Day 10. 11 Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Megeve
Lake Annecy, Menthon palace

Day 12 Drive to Juan Les Pins - 5 N
via "Napolean Route" Grenoble to Gap etc

Day 13, 14, 15, 16 Nice
Eze and menton
Grasse perfume factory
St Tropez, Antebes

Day 15 Drive to St Andiol ( Near St. Remy)- 4 N
En route- see Cassis and Marselles
15, 16,17 Gordes, Rossilion ect.

Day 20 Drive from St Andiol to Carcassone1 N

Day 21 Drive to Beynac, via Cahors, Monpazier etc

22,23 Boat Trip at Gogec

Day 24 Drive to salers - 1 N
Rocamadur, Padirac etc

Day 25 Drive to Le Puy - 2 N
en route- visit some villages
26 Ley Puy Local

Day 27 Drive to Loire vally (Onzain) - 3 N
and see Chambord in d even.
28, 29 Chenoncea and Cheverny, Chaumont
Blois, Amboise
28 Drive to Loire West- near Saumur- 1 N
Visit some more chateau

Day 29 Drive to MSM- 2 N
En route- See Fogere's
30 See MSM- Drive to Dinan and back to Mont saint Michel

Day 31 Drive to Honfler

Day 32 Drive to CDG Paris- drop the car- 4 N
34,35,36 Paris

Day 37 Return to Mumbai by flight

It sounds like a whirlwind tour, even though I have about 4 days in each place.
Please suggest/ Comment on it

PalenQ

Leave a few hours for Nancy, to me a spectacular city with the awesome Place Stanislaus (name?) - one of the most overlooked cities in France, after Strasbourg.

seems like a lot of driving on the first half but the second half is much more relaxed - one heck of a long day chamonix to Riviera via the inland route and Route Napoleon - that's one day I would break up - say in the Grand Canyon of the Verdun - well the Verdun Gorge the biggest canyon I've ver seen in Europe. You can easily take a boat ride on it in canoes or kayaks - not that challenging even though me and my son did tip over once. Moustiers would make a sweet stop - unlike other tourist meccas you are hitting an ordinary but neat regional town near the Verdon Gorge.

You will be driving all day if not - I drove that route - mainly two-lane roads that can have heavy traffic at times - especially camper vans putzing along.

Tulips

We've driven from Annecy to the Cote d'Azur in one day; if I remember correctly left about 9 am and got to Castellane late afternoon. Not much time to stop along the way, but doable.

Paragkash

PalenQ, Thanks for the suggestions. Shall keep some time at Nancy.
I am planning to leave Annecy by 5.45 am around sunrise. Would like to cover maximum distance by 8 am.
I am meeting my brother in law and his family who will join us at Juan Les pins and we will spend 5 days in the riviera together. I had planned exactly as you said, but changed the plan to get one more more with the family. We are 2 drivers so will take turns after every 2 hours.
We have done a similar stretch in a day from Las Vegas to Lake Mono- via death Valley.. It was wonderful then. I believe french roads may not be as good to negotiate.
Tulips, thanks. your views are encouraging.

Paragkash

SHOULD I SPLIT MY 4 DAYS IN DORDOGNE VALLEY. 3 NEAR BEYNAC AND 1 NEAR SALERS?
I will be visiting a lot of small places from Beynac en route Le Puy en Veley. I am also thinking of visiting Rocamadour and Padirac on my 3rd day so that I have more time on day 4 to visit other small villages on the way to Le Puy.
Please suggest.

bilboburgler

There is not really a Champagne route in Champagne, I've cycled along bits of it (and "it were rubbish" more of a marketing thing to get the tourists into the countryside) and you will do better staying focused on the Avenue de C where the processes are actually carried out. Champagne is really made in the winery rather than on the cold wet hillsides (though the Echelle systems claims this is not true)

Still the ability of the Champagne region to expand its size almost perfectly in line with the world wide demand for Champagne is almost laughable.

The Route D'Alsace is another matter, drive along the route (you will find it is very slow with tourists/coaches/tractors etc, do a few tastings but also try walking in the vinyards (don't steal the grapes ) maybe walk from a village to another and see the views, smell the vines etc. Notice the suntraps and how small some of the Grand Cru vinyards are (another marketing thing from the 1950s BTW) but some of them are perfect for keeping vines warm.

Do pick up one of the leaflets that explain the various grape varieties (7 or 8 depending on how you count them) and the various mixes allowed. You will find many restaurants now offer a line (or flight) of different local grapes as well. Find out what you like (for me Pinot Gris is the best) but Gewurtz and Riesling have a place.