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Feedback on my nearly finished France itinerary

The bricks are in place, but before I apply the mortar to my France itinerary I would appreciate your feedback. It's a 15 night plan, flying into Paris on May 29 and flying home from Nice on June 13. I'm traveling solo via a mix of train and car.

Paris - 3 nights. I was there a week last summer, so I'm not hitting it too hard this time. I've booked the Hôtel du Jeu de Paume in the 4th. I have some sight-seeing mop-up duty to do here, but I'd also like a walking tour focusing on Paris during the German occupation.

Beynac - 4 nights. I'll take a 4-hour train to Brive where I'll pick up a car and drive the remaining 2 hours to Beynac. I'm staying nearby, on the south side of the Dordogne, at La Tour de Cause. My main priorities here are canoeing, visiting prehistoric caves, castles, tracking down a Michelin star or two, and lounging.

St. Remy - 5 nights. From Beynac I'll drive around 6 hours to St. Remy-en-Provence. I'll stay at Le Castelet des Alpilles. I thought about breaking up this segment by stopping for a night in Carcassonne, but I think I'll save it for another time. There's simply too much I want to see, do, and eat in Provence. My priorities are the Roman ruins and museum in Arles, Orange, and Nimes; a bullfight in Arles, a special van Gogh exhibit going on this summer in Arles, and wandering around the Luberon. Oh, and Avignon and the Pont du Gard. Gotta figure out a way to do these efficiently.

Antibes - 3 nights. I'll drop the car off in Arles and take a 4-hour train to Antibes. I'm planning on staying at the Rue Sade B&B.. By this time the beach will have my name on it. The art museums in town and in Nice will be a secondary priority, as more lounging and Michelin stars will take top billing.

Any restaurant recommendations (or condemnations) are also appreciated!

Posted by
799 posts

About staying in Beynac, you will have to drive to almost anywhere that you go out to eat. Assuming that you drink wine, think about how you will handle the drinking and driving - France has strict laws about that.

You may have already figured this out, but there are are only two Michelin-starred restaurants anywhere near Beynac. One is Le Vieux Logis, in Tremolat. We stayed there one night, and had dinner there, several years ago. The lodging were very relaxing and dinner was (of course) great. The other is Le Grand Bleu, on the southern edge of Sarlat. We haven't eaten there yet. There are many great restaurants in the area that do not have Michelin stars.

Posted by
7175 posts

I think a night in Carcassonne en route to St Remy is a sound idea. Spend a few hours in Montpellier as well.

Posted by
774 posts

A few thoughts: We loved staying in Beynac and canoeing down the Dordogne River. Although not a Michelin star, we enjoyed two wonderful dinners at La Petite Tonnelle in Beynac within walking distance. Carcassonne is an easy stop over on the way and beautiful at night to walk the ramparts. Arles is well known for their "Bull Games" which are really fun to see. I realize that you want to hang out at the beach in Antibes, but the PIcasso museum located in Picasso's former home the Château Grimaldi is amazing.

Posted by
3643 posts

If you haven't already checked out the reservation process for the better-known prehistoric painted caves, you should do so asap. Some have stopped taking reservations, and it's a 1st-come basis only. You could do a search on this site. The topic has been discussed at length. There are also several less well-known sites very worth visiting.

Posted by
1450 posts

Yes, I'll definitely look into cave tour reservations. I know RS's 2016 France book has the details which I will heed. I'll also look into a visit to Montpellier.

Thanks, all!