Hot, Hot, Hot in the Dordogne

Pack bathing suits. The rivers may be your best friends. Are you early risers? Outdoor sightseeing before the the heat builds will be helpful. Cave visits in the afternoon will be most welcome. It's a beautiful area, enjoy!

Find the closest hotel with air conditioning and stay there in the evenings instead of the typical guesthouse in the countryside. I recommend this even if you have to give up the idea of a quaint cottage by the river in favor a chain cookie-cutter hotel in the closest city. Otherwise, the only relief you can expect will be in a rental car, which, fortunately, can carry you back to the countryside in cool comfort. I have not been to the Dordogne part of France, but air conditioning is rare in rural villages just about everywhere, in most restaurants and shops as well as lodgings. (Sorry to go back on my soapbox.)

Bring sun hats for everyone! Move slowly. Get an early start. Stay hydrated (bring water bottles for everyone). Take a siesta when it's hot. Not Dordogne specific, but these will help you in the heat.

What Roy said, you need lodging with AC so you can sleep.

Matt,

You could also go canoeing in the Dordogne region. I can't remember which towns offer that, but I found it quite a "cool" experience. I most definitely agree with the others to get a hotel with A/C.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

Matt

Once again - I appreciate the advice about booking another hotel as it was outside what I would have thought of on my own. I reserved 3 nights (the predicted hottest of the week) at the IBIS Sarlat at what I consider a good rate, with parking (and AC in a room that fits all 4 of us). Their cancellation policies are good, so I now feel confident that our sleep will not be compromised due to the heat. Of course, it's never ideal to pay to stay at two places simultaneously (we have a gite in Beynac for the week), but to be honest, the combined daily rate that I'm paying isn't even that bad (considerably less than what I paid to stay at the Hampton Inn, Philly Airport last week!!!).

Thanks again,

Matt

We ended up cancelling our reservations at the ibis. Our gite, despite no ac, has stayed cool. The shutters do wonders. Also, the mornings are long and we've been able to get a lot done before the intense heat arrives. Then we go swim in the Dordogne. The heat has barely impacted us.

Glad to hear this!! I feel bad for the folks who have been travelling in Paris this week. Thank goodness you are in the countryside with beautiful rivers.