Help!!
All of itinerary is planned except 4/5 days. My 17 year old daughter and I are torn between the Alps (Chamonix, Annecy) or the Provence (small towns) region. We do not need beach. We are both active and would love to know which region you like most and why. What activities were your favorite and why. We need help. We have gone back and forth in our decision all week. We need to decide soon. We will be in one of those regions the last week of June this year! Thank you!!
The mountain destinations are easy enough to do by public transport but many people prefer a car for small-town Provence. Without a car, you can take buses for the nearest excursions from Avignon or Arles (different list for each) but there's no direct bus to Rousillon. Both areas are quite impressive in their ways. Hiking in the Alps is pretty much limited to summer, but enjoying Provence with decent weather can be done at least 9 months of the year (e.g., on another trip).
Thank you Laura! Having a car in either area is not a problem...we plan to have one. The main question is what area is the French traveler's favorite and why. I realize they are both beautiful ... we are just looking to take a 'vote' of opinions to help us in our indecisiveness. This is our hardest decision. We have time for only one but not both :(
Coley,
This is a tough one, because both areas are very different and very beautiful!
My daughter and I visited Chamonix, Annecy and also a few places in Provence (Avignon, L'Isle sur la Sorgue, St. Remy and Les Baux) last June. We enjoyed both areas and certainly wished we'd had more time in each of our destinations.
As Laura has pointed out, it's ideal to have a car if you want to visit many of the small towns & villages in Provence, however you can visit some via public transportation (train/bus). We didn't have a car so we didn't get to Roussillon or Gordes.
Having said all this, Annecy became our favorite place!
It's a very charming town with a crystal clear lake, good food, and beautiful atmosphere.
We also enjoyed the street (farmer's) markets in Annecy (and Provence.
Here are a few websites to help you decide where you want to spend your time:
You'll have a great time wherever you choose to go because you'll be making lasting memories with your daughter!
Enjoy!
Edit to add...
I took so long to write my response (distracted by my dog barking at the gardeners, etc..) that I didn't realize that you had added a response. If you choose to go to Annecy and Chamonix, you don't reallly need a car, however, if you choose to go to Provence, then a car will be great.
I prefer the Alps. Details of my trip with lots of opinions are captured in this podcast http://joinusinfrance.com/trip-report-provence-and-chamonix-episode-83/
Both regions are great, but Chamonix and Annecy are two of my favorite places in the world. While crowds shouldn't be an issue in either place in June, Chamonix should feel like you have the place to yourself.
That is a tough one...
I went 3 times in Provence, and 2 in the Alps.
Love them both a lot, but very different.
You will want to go to the alps if you are a nature lover
You can go on top of Mont blanc it's spectacular.
Annecy is wonderful.
If you go south around Grenoble, it is also spectacular for walks as well, especially if you take the cable car in La Grave to go on top of La Meije. Almost on top you can stop at around 2200 meters, 6700 feet, and have memorable walks in spectacular sceneries.
If you are into Le Tour De France, cycling, many of the mythical roads are there and are spectacular: col du Galibier, col du Lautaret, Alpes d'Huez
Now, if you are more into history, architecture, small villages, then a ton of things in Provence:
Small villages like les Baux de Provence, Roussillon, Gordes, Cassis, moustiers ste-Marie
Roman history in Arles, Nimes, at Le Pont du gard, the roman Theather Orange
Avignon with the pope palace
Aix en provence if you are into impressionist paintings
Great natural sites such as le Mont ventoux(mythical cycling place too) at 6000 feet
Gorges du Verdon for spectacular sceneries or great kayaking(just beside Moustiers ste-marie a wonderful village)
Gorges de l'Ardèche for kayaking as well, and the Aven d'Orgnac Cave, if you like those(it is also great)
In Cassis, the coves(i believe that is the word in english), you can see them by boat from cassis or by foot.
If you ae there at the end of june, you should see spectacular lavander fields especially on the road around Valensole. See this site for different roads:
http://www.moveyouralps.com/en/routes-de-la-lavande/the-routes
So many things in both region to spend 2 weeks. :-)
Tough choice.
Don't hesitate if you have any questions
Claude
Look at it this way: you can visit quaint small towns such as those in Provence in many places.
But you're unlikely to find landscapes such as you'll see taking the téléphérique from Chamonix to Aiguille du Midi and then on to Helbronner in Italy anywhere else. At least not as easily accessible. And then to walk down a glacial valley an into a glacier to be able to touch the ancient ice with your hand and see the blue light through the glacier such as you can do at Mer de Glace? And then couple those experiences with the hiking opportunities around Chamonix, more exciting pursuits such as paragliding if you wish, and the chance to visit a small town such as Annecy with its quaint architecture and beautiful lake?
I'd pick Chamonix with a day trip to Annecy over Provence any day.
What I liked about Provence -- the markets in the small towns are fabulous! The one in Bedoin was a feast for all senses, and one of my favorite experiences on the trip. I also liked the wonderful food and relaxed meals we had. The end of June was beautiful and the lavender was in bloom.
What I liked about Chamonix (another trip) -- The views from Aguille du Midi were amazing; we were lucky that it was a stunningly clear day after light snow up high the day before. We took the gondola back 1/2 way and very much enjoyed hiking from there. The views were amazing everywhere we looked. And we had the absolute best omelet ever at the "hut" overlooking the valley.
Now you have to decide; I'm sure whichever location you pick, you will have a wonderful time. Don't think of what you are missing, just enjoy what you are experiencing.
Thanks to all of you for your helpful answers to my questions. We have been torn between the two places for a long time. Based upon your responses, we have finally made our decision (insert drum roll...)! We have just booked our last 4 nights in Chamonix with 1 night also in Annecy (on the way). We are very excited that we have finally picked one. As you all have stated, it's in the places we go not the places we miss. Plus, I am now guaranteed (husband coaxing) a trip to Provence at a later time! My daughter and I booked paragliding and we plan to do a few hikes along with the cable car. Any other ideas or companies for activities are welcomed. Chamonix looks like a great place to finish our time in France! We will start off our trip with 3 weeks of language school so we should have some great practice. Thanks again to all of you! Bonne vacances!
I hope you and your daughter have a memorable visit. My suggestion would be to do a little study of alpine glacial landforms ahead of time to help you understand what you're looking at beyond the pretty scenery. Also, if you have the time, the Musée Alpin in Chamonix provides a good overview of the origins of mountaineering.
Here's a pretty simple resource: xhttp://www.colorado.edu/geography/class_homepages/geog_1011_sum08/GlacialLandscapes_Bowen.PDF, however it includes some continental glacial features in addition to alpine glaciation.
Have fun!
