My husband and I are planning a trip to Provence/Cote D’ Azur in October. We are planning a three week trip. We originally had thought of returning home at the end of the trip after spending five days in Paris. That said we spent two weeks in Paris this past November. Who doesn’t love Paris! My husband is very much looking forward to Provence.
We enjoy driving in the countryside and visiting small villages. Is three weeks in the South of France a good call or a bit too long? We are recently retired and enjoying a new way of life.

It depends on what you want to see and experience, but I certainly would not think 3 weeks in the south of France too much -- if anything, too little!

Here's my trip report covering from Menton to Marseille -- nothing west of that.
A stellar month in southeastern France

BTW, the Michelin Green guides for Provence and the French Riviera are excellent.

You could read Stu Dudley's guide to Provence (may he rest in glory). He and his wife went back year after year and never tired of it.
All Stu Dudley docs in one place

Three weeks in Provence isn’t too much at all, not by a half, wish I had three weeks there this October!

Personally, I prefer the upper Rhône valley to the Cöte d’Azur. You could perhaps split your stay between two locations, one in or near St Rémy de Provence and another more to the west near Uzès. Get a couple of good guide books to see what you’d like to see and do, you won’t want for options. Spend a day or two at Paris on the return, you can go back there anytime. And make the best of your stay in Provence, you won’t regret it!

I second going through Stu’s recommendations, he was an expert for all things France and Italy. And raise a glass to his memory!

I would love to spend 3 weeks exploring. I've spent two but I'm now retired and could do three. I'd probably pick three bases and spend a week at each.

If you are looking for lodging recommendtions let us know.

(I had missed the post in March about Stu's passing. That is so sad and he was such a great resource for all, and his documents live on)

If you have any questions about the Cote d'Azur, we've been going back and forth to our place for 8 years (I'm here for the summer). I've been throughout the south, but mainly in the Cote d'Azur and western Provence (and Paris -- and most of Europe, as we've lived in the UK, Italy and Switzerland).

You can split your three weeks across the two regions. Unless you actually want to go in the water, I'd recommend western Provence first as things can be more seasonal (and weather unsettled) the further you get into October. There are no guarantees on the CdA either but there are a few more indoor activities to wait out a wet spell. You could even add a few days wo the west, to see Carcassone, but generally people split a bit of time between the southern Rhone region (Avignon and north) and the Luberon/Arles/Aix. I would encourage a car for that amount of time in western Provence, but in the CdA you can do without (from Menton to Cannes).

To the French "south of France" means anywhere south of the Loire river. You seem to be wanting to see just the overtouristed southern fringe of France along the coast. France has so much more to offer.

THANK YOU for the much appreciated responses.
We have decided to skip Paris and stay in southern France for the three weeks. Sounds like a good call!
We do have the Michelin Green Guides and a stack of travel guide books. I will be researching the sites that you have recommended.
I would like to make the flight reservations soon, maybe once we get a better understanding of the areas of interest to us. We are not casino goers nor are glitzy hotels a priority. Love the countryside, villages, great food, and of course great wine.
With three weeks, I am assuming that we can make some tracks without passing ourselves on the road or trying to do too much.
I like the idea of three bases and do day trips. I am thinking maybe flying into one airport and out of another…Nice and Marseille??
I appreciate your experience and guidance, keep it coming
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Check whether you can get a direct flight to Marseille; the only transatlantic service I’m sure of is Air Transat out of Montreal, and changing planes in CDG is unpleasant. You can get a direct TGV train from CDG to Marseille, about a four hour trip.

Direct flights to Nice are possible from New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, as well as Montreal.

If a direct flight from /your home to France is not possible, then I'd opt for Nice and Marseille. But I'm sure you can work out your options!

Jealous that you have three weeks for this! Good for you!
The 2 airports are only 2 hours apart. In a 3 week trip, that is nothing.
I've returned a car to Nice and picked one up in Marseile (different trips). I'd much rather drive out of the M airport than N's. Personal preference.
The roundtrip car rental may be less expensive than a one way as well.

The rental cars are so close to the terminal doors -

View from rental car to terminal

The driving felt far less congested (than Nice).

In an hour I was in Arles. Not long after, I was soaking and looking at the Roman amphitheater across the street. Heaven.

I have been off the forum for awhile, and am so sorry to hear of Stu's passing. He was a treasured resource, and so generous with his time and advice.

I think the Nice/Marseille airports are too close to each other. I’d consider flying into Nice and out of Toulouse (or vice versa) for a 3 week trip.

starrs and joannyc raise good points about the choice of airports. I think it depends on when / where you would pick up your rental car (assuming you use one) or more generally, what your final itinerary is. Can you rough out an itinerary before committing to flights?

I'm all about easy access when driving out of an airport. That's true all of the time for me. I've driven of midtown Manhattan before (to go to a friend's second home in PA for NYEve) but I didn't enjoy it. I just like the first 20 minutes in a rental car I picked up to be relaxing - if possible.

Someone mentioned (I'll go back and look) picking up at a train station and the mess that is connecting at CDG. Personally, I could not skip Paris completely. A LONG time ago (21 years?) we flew into Paris for a few days and then took the TGV to Avignon. Took a cab into a hotel in the old walled city part. Then took a cab back out to the train station and picked up a rental car. The cars were parked steps away. Easy driving as soon as you leave the airport. It worked out great for us. That might work for you. You could fly back out of Marseille. I don't mind connections on the way home. Really dislike them at the start of a vacation. I don't want plane delays (or cancellations) to mess up the first day(s) of my trip.

I was referencing this post in my earlier post. 100% agree.

Years ago we had to return the rental car in Nice to an in town parking lot - instead of the airport. I don't remember why exactly. Maybe weekend hours or an early flight? In any case, I liked returning it early in Nice and then taking a cab to the airport the next day. That was the trip when we picked it up at the Avignon TGV station. The flights were in to Paris and out of Nice.

One additional note: If you are crossing multiple time zones before first landing, do NOT rent a car for at least 36 hours -- you will NOT be safe to drive, for yourselves or anyone else on the roads. Anyone who says they've done it with no problem has simply been lucky.

I'd see what routing and ticket price works for you best. In October, I'd default to hitting Provence first as the changes of better weather are higher (but not guaranteed). In some villages, things already start to button up for the off-season as you head into the 2nd half. The NCE airport is only a short feeder highway to the autoroute, and the rental car parking, train station and tram lines are interconnected.

I don't think Nice and Marseilles are too close together because of the density of places to visit in each of their regions. I LOVE both cities, which are worth a few days in their own right. From Marseilles you can find a base to explore Aix, Arles, Nimes, etc., while from Nice you can travel along the coast and also enjoy towns like Vence in the hinterlands. Sounds wonderful! I certainly wouldn't fly into Toulouse, which is another wonderful city and region to save for another trip.

I don't either. Shannon and Dublin are 2.5 hours apart and people fly into one and out of another often. 223 km apart.

M to N - 205 km

11 miles and 11 minutes difference = virtually the same