My husband and I want to plan a 12-14 day trip this September for our 30th. Paris is the anchor, thinking about a week, with a plan to rent a car at some point for a trip to Pont L’eveque (because we love the cheese!) and surroundings. We wonder if it’s too much to take on a bit of Switzerland too? We are pretty active and love to walk, but don’t want to be constantly packing and moving hotels. Any suggestions are welcome as I guess we’re excited but so far too open to seeing too many places! Thank you.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2884 posts
Congratulations! After Paris, I would give some thought to exploring more of France. TGV trains can get you to Strasbourg in 2.5 hours with all the Alsace-Lorraine towns nearby. And you’d be visiting during the harvest season in the vineyards.
Dijon— just 90 minutes from Paris by TGV— also makes a romantic destination with neighboring Beaune just 20 minutes away.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2055 posts
pmdelfs,
Since Pont L'Eveque is in Normandy, after a week in Paris, I would forgo Switzerland and stay in the Normandy area for the second part of your trip. There is plenty to do and see in the 5-7 days you have left. Also, are you counting arrival and departure days in the 12-14 days? If so, you really only have 10-12 days, as arrival day is usually lost to arrival activities, getting to the hotel and settling in,and adapting to time change and jet lag. Departure day is pretty much gone too, unless you have a late flight out.
In the Normandy area there is Honfleur, Entretat (the Monet connection), Bayeux, Rouen, the Route des Abbayes, Mont St Michel, and of course tasting the Calvados, camembert, cider, seafood.....etc. Rent a car for this part of your trip, after arriving in whatever Norman city you take a train to from Paris, and return it before taking the train back to Paris.
Getting to Switzerland from Normandy will take up most of a day, so that isone day lost. If you decide to go to Switzerland, then I would drop Normandy (and Pont L'Eveque) and go straight to Switzerland for the second part of your trip. Save Normandy/Pont L'Eveque for another trip.
We have celebrated various anniversaries in foreign locations, beginning with our third at a fancy restaurant on the beach in Marseille) in 1974. Our 30th was in France also. Covid 19 put the kibosh on celebrating our 50th in France in 2021, but we made up for it in 2023 for our 52nd, in the Dordogne with our kids and grandkids. It was wonderful, and I hope your 30th anniversary in France will be all you hope for. Felicitations!