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France trip overload??

We are planning a trip to France this mid June and wondering if we have put to much on the itinerary.

The plan is for 16 days starting in Paris (with possible Normandy/Saint Michael/Monet Gardens as side trips) for the week, then by rental car heading to Annecy / Chamonix for a couple days. From there, return the car along the coast at Avignon and then taking either train or ferry/boat to Barcelona for 2 days. We are flying home from Barcelona.

Does this seems feasible or are we short days?

Much appreciated for any comments.

David

Posted by
784 posts

Giverney is a good day trip from Paris, but Normandy and Mont St. Michel are best done as an overnight trip, and at least two nights would be needed to do them justice if you want to visit the D-Day Beaches. If this is your first trip, I would suggest a day trip to Giverney and leaving Normandy and MSM for a future trip, which would allow more time in Paris - believe me, you can't spend too much time in Paris IMO. Also, unless there is some compelling reason you want to go the French Alps, I'd suggest you spend your time in Provence, then work your way south through Languedoc whick will bring you right to Barcelona. There is a lot to do and see in both regions which warrents spending more time there.

Posted by
3643 posts

It's not clear whether you are including your travel days in the 16. Assuming the best, i.e., that you have 16 on the ground, I'd still agree with Carolyn to cut one destination. I think it could be the Alps OR Barcelona. Provence and Languedoc offer enormous numbers of interesting places to visit and a French experience very different from Paris or Normandy. It's usually not too difficult to get flights back to the U.S. from Marseille or Toulouse. If the 16 include your travel days, then definitely cut one destination.

Posted by
4132 posts

Giverny and Rouen are feasible Norman day trips from Paris (even one day for both if you are nimble). Further afield, such as Bayeux and Mont St. Michel, should really be overnight. There are other fine day trips from Paris, of course.

As for the rest of it, I think you'd shortchange yourself unless you can add at least a few more days. That is, while this is feasible, you might enjoy better a trip that covers less ground but lets you see more of that ground.

A road trip to Annecy from Paris could be charming, with stops along the way. Since you do not have time for that consider a train, perhaps to Chamonix first. Trains are often faster than driving in France.

Avignon is not really at the coast, though it's not so far that you could not detour that way if you had time. Annecy, or Chamonix, to Barcelona is really an all-day proposition. Flying might be your best option.

Of course one way to get more time for some of these is to cut back on Paris, but the net result might just make your whole trip feel squeezed.

I don't have a sense of your priorities. If Normandy is important, you might budget 3 or 4 days there with a car, which would leave you perhaps 3 days to get to Barcelona, if that is set in stone. If the Alps are the thing, make sure to have enough time and felxiblity that inclement weather does not wipe out, say, your one day in Chamonix.

Want to spend a little time in Provence or the Cote d'Azure? Skip the Alps or Barcelona. Etc.

Posted by
2081 posts

dtaylordesigns

I can only go by what i did and how i travel. Since i fly solo, i can do when i please as i please and dont have to worry about upsetting someone and i dont have to wait on someone if they are pulling up the rear.

I spent 4 full days in Paris and was able to see what i had planned to do/see with no day trips outside of Paris. I left out Versailles, but i had planned that and so it wasnt a big deal to miss what i didnt plan on seeing. I will go back and catch what i missed.

in the Normandy area i had planned for 3 full days. 1 day for Mont Saint Michel (MSM), 1 day for a personal tour of the Normandy area and the last day for Bayeux and Caen. I can say that after my time there, i would spend more time in the Normandy area including the other towns. I would also like to spend an overnight on MSM just for the fun of it and at least 2~3 full days to see all or most of the Normandy WWII sites, including the UK and Canadian sectors if possible.

as far as the other places you state, havent been there, yet.

in my opinion, i think your 16 days would depend on what/where you want to do/go and see things.

happy trails.

Posted by
16895 posts

We agree that Normandy and Mont St. Michel are better as overnight stops, not day trips from Paris, and that Paris has plenty to see within a week. The train departing Avignon around 8:30 a.m. takes 4 hours to Barcelona; later departures take a little longer. I don't believe there is any ferry from the French coast to Barcelona.

Posted by
4853 posts

That is a LONG trip. I strongly suggest you stop in the middle, regroup, reassess how it's going, sleep really late, do some laundry, have a "vacation" during your vacation.