Hello Wonderful Fodorites!
DH and I are planning about 5 weeks end August-September 2018 in these areas of France. We usually begin in Paris, but may want to change arrival venue this trip to try for the best weather at Chamonix and Annecy. I have Stu's itineraries for the Alpes and other regions, Green Guides in hand and Michelin maps. We could start in Nice or Lyon, or even Avignon. Will have a car for much of the trip. I'm thinking we'll stay 2-3 nights in Chamonix, then 5 or so next door in Annecy. We'd like to drive the wine villages and hopefully avoid the wine festivals while visiting the villages of the Route des vins.
My challenge is how best to link these areas somewhat leisurely. Please advise. What are your favorite towns/villages along this route?
Thank you mille fois!

Just as an aside, with five weeks you might consider using the Peugeot or Citroen leasing program. We lease every year and love it since you can choose the car, and it is brand new and includes extra driver fees, full insurance and you can return the car for free in any city in France for no extra charge and is also free in for pick up and drop off in Geneva. You also can guarantee you will get an automatic transmission if that is important to you. We use this company but there are others: http://autofrance.net

I agree with your plan to start in the Alps, so I would be tempted to arrive in Geneva or Lyon if you start in the Alps, but it sort of depends on where you are coming from, so Nice might be the other logical places to start as you mention. I think it would just depend on the prices and easiest connections for you. My brother-in-law lives in Annecy and that is a great time of year generally.

I will say that Avignon is the place that seems like the outlier in terms of geography so unless you want to venture into Provence I would skip that area and focus more on the other places you mention.

It's a good idea to begin at Chamonix as many cableways and mountain restaurants in the French Alps will close around mid September. As to the weather in the Alps, it's unpredictable all the year round.
The "natural" airport for Chamonix, Annecy, etc. is Geneva (about 2 hrs by bus if you don't want to drive after a overnight flight).
If you land at Paris CDG, you may reach Lyon by direct high speed train in 2 hrs and rent your car there.

Jpie, Thank you for the reminder about the Citroen program! I had remember that now from one of your earlier posts. Would it be a good idea to pick up the car in Geneva and return it say, in Reims?

​​​​neckervd, I have learned so much from your posts! Had not thought about flying into Geneva. So Chamonix first, then Annecy. (Maybe even back to Berner Oberland. The awesomeness of Piz Gloria remained shrouded in clouds when we were there in August 2016.)
​​What would be the most logical route to link the French regions?
I'm feeling a lot of pressure to finalize plans!

Thank you so much for your help!

" What would be the most logical route to link the French regions?"

Cotes du Rhone can mean Vaucluse, Gard or Ardeche.

Fastest way from Chamonix/Annecy to this area:
Montmelian - A41 - Grenoble - A48/49 - Valence - A7 - Orange
Most scenic way from Chamonix/Annecy to this area:
Chamonix - Mont Blanc Tunnel - Courmayeur - La Thulie - Petit St. Bernard Pass - Bourg St. Maurice - Val d'Isere - Iseran Pass - Lanslebourg - St. Michel de Maurienne - Telegraphe Pass - Galibier Pass - Lautaret Pass - Briancon - Gap - Orange (much longer).
From Orange/Avignon you may enjoy the 6 legs of the Route du Vin up to Vienne and go on through Lyon to Chalon and the vineyards of Burgundy.
Beaune (Burgrundy) - Mulhouse (Alsace): all by motorway A 36. If you extend your Burgundy leg up to Vezelay, you may reach A36 via A6.
Reims is along the motorway A4 from Strasbourg (Alsace) to Paris. Leave the motorway around Meaux if you drive directly to CDG airport (without touching the Paris conurbation).

Macaron:

Typically the leasing program drop offs are at major city airport locations, although some have a Paris city option right at the edge of Paris, so Reims isn't an option. Here are the location pick off drop off locations for some of the programs:

https://www.autofrance.net/locations/france/
Car Rentals Leases in Europe - Login - rent a car in Europe, lease car in France, Lease car in France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Great Britain
https://www.ideamerge.com/car-lease-...ee-france.html

But lots of times, since the airport office for these programs is just site of the airport they will than take you to the airport metro station-so Roissypole at CDG where you can then take a RER into Paris for example.

Also, one thing to know is that the cars come with only a little gas since they are new from the factory, so you need to fill first thing.

Depending on your ultimate trip plan, with 5 weeks I could imagine seeing a pick up in Geneva and drop off in Avignon and then train to Paris. If you skip the Provence area then I think it would be better to just drop at CDG or even the Paris city location.

If starting in Chamonix fly into Geneva and take bus to Chamonix where cars are useless and the thrills are in taking mountain trains or gondolas. Then take train to Annecy and rent a car there (unless possible in Chamonix) - not sure I would base in Annecy 5 days but more in Beaune if into Burgundy Wine Road - which you can take to Macon and then Lyon/Avignon to Nice. Fly home from there. If wanting to go to Paris take TGVs in about as quick as flying all in all. Book TGV trains at www.oui.sncf for discounted tickets if you book far enough in advance to get them - great info on trains- www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Hi All! Please consider new thoughts.
Flights booked August 12-Sept 16, 2018. AF into Geneva, back to US from CDG.

Goals:
Aug 12-22 *Revisit Lac Léman and Berner Oberland. Can not miss it since we are already there.
Aug 23 *Depart Wengen for Chamonix, arriving at Chamonix Gare using last day of Swiss Rail Pass.
Aug 23,24,25 *3 nights Chamonix, bus or train to
Aug 26,27,28 *3 nights Annecy, then rent car to see Chambéry, Aix Les Bains, Semnoz Plateau. Thank you, MaineGG and French
MysticTours! Should we stop in Lyon?
Aug 29, 30, 31, Sept 1 *Several days Beaune/ Dijon area, Troyes
Sept 2,3,4,5,6 *5 nights Colmar/Alsace/Route des vins Drop car in Colmar.

Sept 6 *Train to Strasbourg am, overnight, then train to Reims & overnight.
Sept 8 *Train to Paris. 8 days in Paris.

Please help with train portion. I have booked prems before, but not short trips.

Thank you!!

Colmar to Strasbourg is by regional trains that are cheap - no sense pre-booking - reservations may even not be possible. No real savings for pre-booking.

Strasbourg to Reims is a long-distance high-speed train to book at www.oui.sncf - same as you booked Prems before. No trains right to Reims I think but always a shuttle train the few kms from Champagne-Ardennes TGV station outside of town to town - significant savings on this one so bok ahead as far as possible for lowest fares.

Reims to Paris is a high-speed TGV train and should be booked as you have Prems in past. Lots of direct Reims-Paris Est TGV trains.

So book last two to get discounted fare and guarantee of a seat on these reservations-only trains.

See sea61.com -&nbspsea61 Resources and Information. for lots of tips on booking discounted tickets - for general info on trains www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

Chamonix-Annecy takes about 2 h 15 by train - with one change at St-Gervais-les-Bains (because of track gauge differences - off one train and onto another. These are TER regional trains that you might be able to save money on by pre-booking but reservations are either optional or not possible so could always get on train by walk-up but again possibly save a little money by pre-booking.

For lots on trains check www.seat61.com - sageful tips on booking your own discounted tickets online; general info www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

Sounds like a wonderful wonderfully planned out itinerary!

I've been to Lyon several times once for a week and it is a large city that takes time to really experience -if you cannot devote a whole day I would skip it.

Thanks PalenQ!

How do I find France Trip Reports?
Still trying to find TR by MaineGG title 3 Weeks in France.

This new format is maddening. Search function is showing every reply to every thread.
Is there a simple fix?

Beats me I can barely find my own posts.