We would be flying from US East Coast to France for second trip (last one was Paris, Versailles, Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, Arromanches, Concale, Mont St Michel/Dinan and Loire Valley for chateau visits). This trip, we want to experience La Sarlat (kayak) and caves, and Provence (Arles, St. Remy, Avignon, Les Baux, Orange, Pont du Gard, Vaison la Romaine, Roussillon, Gorges du Verdon). We plan to rent a car for part/all of our trip, and we are open to train travel. The trip can be 2 wks. +. We were considering late May-June of this year.
There are no good flights to Marseille from the NE of US. We are open to flights/trains from nearby countries if that makes sense.
We welcome advice on how long to linger in an area, where to base ourselves and transportation. Rather than move daily, we'd like to limit our exploration areas to 2-3 accommodations. Wondered if Lyon should serve as our launching site, as we could pick up/drop off car at the same point. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and ideas.
Posted by
Lubbock, TX
401 posts
Have you looked at flying into Nice? United has a direct flight daily from Newark.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6510 posts
I'd suggest flying to Bordeaux (probably via CDG if you're coming from North America) and heading east through the Dordogne valley to Sarlat. Then Via Michelin shows a 6-hour nonstop drive to Avignon, which will take pretty much a full day with traffic and stops. Return the car in Avignon or Aix or Marseilles and get a TGV train straight to CDG the day before your homeward flight.
Posted by
Irving
2956 posts
What about flying in and out of Toulouse (TLS) and Nice (NCE)? Gorges du Verdun is closer to Nice than Marseille. Instead of renting a car on your day of arrival spend the night where you fly into and rent a car the next morning.
If you’re flying from the NE don’t expect to sleep on the flight over. Driving a car, you’re not familiar with on foreign land has many challenges and a lack of sleep doesn’t help.
Your trip will be easier if you have a car the entire time you’re there. From Nice (or vice vs) stop in Gorges du Verdun on your way to Provence (2h 30 from Nice and 2h 45m to Roussillon and use Roussillon as your base in Provence).
Driving from Roussillon to Vaison-la-Romaine (1h 30m).
Roussillon to Pont du Gard (1h 30m)
Roussillon to Orange (1h 15m)
Roussillon to Les Baux (1h 15m)
Roussillon to Avignon (1h 15m)
Roussillon to Saint-Rémy (1h)
Roussillon to Arles (1h 30m)
Roussillon to Sarlat (6h 45m)
Sarlat to Toulouse (TLS [3h])