12 Day Itinerary -- Paris, Provence and Riviera with Kids

Lots of folks on the forum prefer to base in Arles for Provence. Do you plan to rent a car for your time in Provence? If so, take a look at whether you can get down to the Camargue to see the flamingoes. You wouldn't want a car in Nice. I don't know about Antibes. Lots of good day trips from Nice by public transport, though. We loved the bus ride to Monte Carlo and visited the aquarium and the prince's car collection.

Hi

We will check out places to stay in Arles. We plan on renting a car at Avignon Train station when we arrive by train from Paris. We are either going to drop the car off at Avignon or Aix (after we see the Lavender fields) and take train to Nice.

Didn’t want to drop car off in Nice.

Thanks!

It's a good plan. You might want to add a night to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue as there is so much to do in that part of Provence- Pont du Gard and Les Baux should be of interest to your kids. (3 nights is only 2 days for sightseeing so your list of day trips is probably too long)

We were just in the area and loved our stay in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue- I think it's a better spot for kids than Arles (we have stayed in both as well as Saint-Remy). Parking will be an issue in Arles.

We have stayed in both Antibes and Nice- love Nice- so much to see and do there and great for day trips. Day trips from Antibes to Provence would be too far IMO.

We picked up and returned our car at Nice airport- it was very easy. I think it would save you time dropping at NCE. Driving in the area is easy. I believe a train from Avignon to Nice or Antibes would require a change in Aix or Marseilles.

ETA
It was very very hot while we were there-both times- early June and late September
Look for a place with a pool or maybe river access if in L’Isle-sur-la/Sorgue

Josh,
Your plan to rent the car in Avignon is good. I would drive to a different nearby town to stay (Arles, for example) and return it to the train station in Avignon and take the train to Nice, as you have said. I'm glad to see you counting nights, not days, which accounts for travel time between locations. Your plans give you 12 nights in France.....Paris, 4 full days; town in Provence, 2 full days; Nice, 3 full days. Day 1 is arrival day, day 6 travel to Provence, day 9 travel to Nice/Antibes. This looks like day 13 is return home day.
Since Provence covers a large area (about 12,000 square miles) I wouldn't try to make it a day trip from Nice, which, by the way, is a part of Provence. Your kids will have a wonderful time. We took ours when they were 8 and 10, and our grandkids when they were 9 and 12. Both trips were great successes!
Bon voyage!

Thanks all for the great tips. Seems like maybe we should add 1 night and do Paris (5 nights), Provence (4 nights) and Nice or Antibes (4 nights).

Any recommendations for kid friendly hotel/b&b to stay in Isle le Sorgue or Arles?

Best,
J