Itinerary check

I would line up a winery tour before you start. Those things fill up during tourist season.

Any particular reason you are splitting your time in Paris instead of going directly to Bordeaux? I'm neither an expert in French travel nor European travel, but I have read several suggestions from those more experienced to keep your stay in a city all in one setting, to keep from wasted transportation time going back and forth and settling into a hotel more than once.

I am meeting a friend Julie once I get to Paris. He is only available then.

Claire

Looks good to me. I'd give more time to Paris and less to Nice but I'm an old guy who isn't into the beach scene. And living in Scotland you can pop over to the City of Light whenever you want, without the 10-hour flight! I agree with you about the Dordogne, it's great but you need a car.

Everyone will do this a bit differently, and I don't see any "mistakes" in your plans. With that preamble, here are my thoughts.

Five nights in Montpelier, two nights in Avignon, and four nights in Marseille is a long time in the same general area. Sure, there's lots to see, but without a car, you can see all the easily accessible places in about half to two-thirds that time, unless you have a special interest. (With a car, you can spend time seeing the small villages; without one, that's difficult). I'd take at least one or two days from this region and put it toward Lyon, my favorite city in France after Paris.

I found Montpelier nice enough, but not as interesting as it was billed. I preferred Arles to Avignon, but that's not a universal opinion. And I liked Marseille but found almost no English (my French improved dramatically in the two days I was there); again, others have different experiences. Again, I preferred Lyon to all of these, but they're certainly worth visiting, at least for a day.

Whatever you do while in this region, don't miss Nimes - my favorite place there. And the Roman theater in Orange is thrilling, with its intact theatrical wall; the rest of Orange is a bit grungy, however.

St. Tropez is between Marseille and Nice, and has no train station, so it's not so easy to visit (buses do go there, and boats in season). Cannes is on the way to Nice, and can also be seen as a day trip from there; I liked it more than Rick does. I also liked Monaco more, and Nice and Villefranche less, than he does. All of them (and many more) are easy to see from Nice, so you can make up your own mind.

It sounds like a wonderful trip. A few suggestions ...
--Head straight to Bordeaux and consolidate Paris at the end. I guess this depends if you are travelling from London or Edinburgh, and by plane or train.
--Perhaps think of adding Biarritz - it has a great atmosphere.
--As much as I love Montpellier I would also choose just the one location in Provence - perhaps Arles as it is central with good train connections.
--3 nights in Marseille and 4 nights in Nice.

Some are very good suggestions. While in Paris I would definitely recommend at least one of the suburban chateaux. Chantilly is my favorite. While in Versailles I would skip the tiresome museum and its crowds The renovated Picasso museum is an absolute must and La Defence, the 21st century Paris is an urban art wonder.
I would reiterate going to Biarritz and the lovely coastal town St. Jean de Luz, while in Bordeaux. Montpellier ( a bustling student city with a lovely weekend market) does not warrant so many nights, and it is out of the way. You would be better off staying in Nimes (don't miss the Aqueduct!) and visiting Arles, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence while there. Marseille can be a challenge with not so many rewards (street food is great there, though) but it is really more fun when you travel in a company. I would reduce my exposure to Nice (you can spend a night/day there on a way to Lyon) and stay in lovely Cannes (no need to add a very similar but rather small and non-distinct St Tropez) instead and definitely visit Grasse and the nearby museum(s), with its perfume and Provence cultural character abundance.
Accommodations in my experience are always better on the fly, especially if you arrive during the day. Local official tourist bureau at the stations are your best bet - just be clear of the type, price and place of accommodation, and then you get a lot of useful tips and information about farm markets (better than pricey restaurant food) and the local fun events at the same time.
Bon Voyage!

Many thanks for your input and suggestions all. They are all very useful and have been duly noted!

Well it's all booked! Well the trains part are and I can alter them if need be but I have taken days off Montpellier and Marseille and added to Bordeaux and Lyon. You are right I am seeing a lot in the same part but I figured since I don't have a car I could 'hop' along, all part of the adventure. I'm planning to visit all that you mention from these bases.

I will report back, but will probably have a few more questions in the meantime.

Thanks again.

If you have booked train tickets with advance discounts for your longer trips, then most won't be exchangeable or refundable. Eurostar tickets are exchangeable, but require paying the difference between the original ticket purchased and whatever fare is for sale when/if your plan changes. Of course, you're probably aware that budget flights can get you home from a few different French cities, if necessary.

Do you think it would be better to take a night off Marseille and add it to Avignon? I was thinking myself 4 nights might be too long but I don't want to mess about with my trains now too much, but changing the date of this leg is easy enough. I'm sure there are better places to spend another night other than Avignon but I don't want to add in another stop if you see what I mean.

Thanks all.

Marseille I think in many ways gets a bad wrap like Naples - it's an image thing. I think if you scratch the surface you may be surprised, and if you do the research you could be rewarded. You need some 'on the ground' local guidance there perhaps.

I have stayed in Marseille a few times and while I enjoyed it I would never trade it out for most of the other locations. It is a relatively large, gritty city. I would add a day elsewhere. It is not what most people think of as a typical French town. There are so many far more beautiful towns to visit. It all comes down to choices.

I've checked the terms of my ticket and I can change the date as long as it's within 7 days of departure and the same type so I think I will only stay 2 or 3 nights in Marseille and add to my other stops instead. Perhaps put in Nimes or just stay longer in Avignon.

Any thoughts to me subtracting a few nights from Montpellier/Avignon/Marseille and adding to somewhere say, Perpignan..?

I cannot change my train from Bordeax to Carcassonne but I am now feeling like I need to streamline the Montpellier/Avignon/Marseille part? I.e. make probably Avignon the base to stay and explore the areaand choose one more place to stay.

Could Carcassonne to Perpignan be an option, then on to a couple of places before Nice. Would Aix be a better place to stay rather than Marseille (keeping in mind I do not have a car).

This is the problem with forums and asking others, everyone has different opinions! I guess I will just have to research a lot more and just decide myself.

I am not sure where you are at so maybe you need to lay out an update of your plans.
I would spend a night or two in Montpellier (or add a 2nd night to Carcassone) rather than venture down to Perpignan. Then move on to Avignon. I don't find it gets interesting again until you get over into Spain. Aigues Mort though is worth a look.

I think I have finally made up my mind.

Paris 2 nights
Bordeaux 3 nights
Carcassonne 1 night
Montpellier 3 nights
Avignon 3 nights
Nice 1 week
Lyon 3 nights
Paris 4 nights. Maybe 3 depending on whether I want to go home or not!

Nice I want to use to explore, sunbathe, go on trips, do nothing but people watch if I want and a set base knowing I am not packing up and moving for at least a week.

It all sounds very nice .... (sorry)
Now off for your French lessons.

Thanks.

I know, I did French at school and did lessons after school when we camped in France as a child, so I'm really hoping the basics come back to me quickly!

Oh it does come back. I can't remember a football score from 5 minutes ago, but somehow remember foreign words from years ago. As long as you make an effort.