Landequoc / Provence - 5 nights

Can you specify what you don't feel great about? Your choices look good to me. There's enough there to keep you busy for months, but you've pared it down and are keeping it to the right bank of the Rhône. (Remember, the Haribo Candy Factory and museum are in Uzès.)
It's under lock and key today, but the water source for the Pont du Gard, which transported the water to Roman Nimes, originates at the bottom of Uzès, called the Vallée de l'Eure, good place for an evening walk

Matt,
If your plane arrives at 9:30, by the time you get thru customs and checked into your hotel, your first night is gone. I haven't been to Montpellier, but I have stayed in Avignon, Arles and Nimes all within the last 4 years. I also rented a car in Avignon and used it to see the Pont du Gard (worth every second). Each of the 3 cities I named above are worth one full day, so have you considered taking the train to Nimes and using that as a base? (each of them has great food, shopping, hangout spots and key sights). From there you can do full day trips by train to Avignon and Arles. All three cities are very walkable and pedestrian friendly and you will not need (nor want) a car to get around. All three have Roman ruins worth visiting. You could rent the car in either Nimes or Avignon and drive to the Pont. I was your age when I traveled and was able to get from Avignon to the Pont and back within 4-5 hours by car and I took my time. My memory is the car rental place did not open until 10:00 and that was a bummer for me. (I did not rent a canoe but climbed all over the Pont & spent time mulling through the museum there). I think it was no more than a 45 minute ride to the Pont.

I'm sorry I cannot address your canoeing issue, but if you check out "kayakvert.com," you'll find services available. Best of luck

Make sure to add in a canoe trip under the Pont du Gard. We booked with canoe-collias.com and the 8 km trip starts right outside Uzes.

You mentioned St. Guilhem-- went there years ago and saw kayaking. It's an incredible monastery to visit.

Montpellier to Uzès is just over an hour. Uzès to Pont du Gard is 18 minutes. Pont du Gard to Avignon is 30 minutes. So, I'd use day 1 and 2 for your Nimes/Montpellier exploration. Then get your car for the Avignon, Pont du Gard, Uzes part. It's all fairly close but Montpellier and Avignon are your two furthest points.

With your timeline, you've have tough choices to make.

I've been to pretty much every place you mention, but I don't think I can critique your overall itinerary. However, you mention Remoulins or Uzes. While Remoulins does have some good bakeries (at least it did 16 years ago), Uzes is far superior as a place to stay.

Bonjour! I appreciate everyone's comments

I have made some changes to the trip over the last several weeks after reading the above thoughtful comments and conducting additional research.

It's myself, the wife, and two twin boys (age 11). We are traveling from mid-June to early July. The plan is to fly into Dublin (2 nights) and fly out of Barcelona (5 nights), with Lyon (2 nights), Provence (3 nights), and Costa Brava (7 nights) stuck in the middle.

I would like your comments on the Provence portion of the trip if you don't mind. Am I missing something? And, are the days to ambitious? Do you see a good use of time with the plans for each day? Any good tips that may help? We will have a pool at the hotel and would like the kids to come back to the hotel after a long day and relax. Then, go out for dinner afterwards. We want to combine water fun with nature, wineries, markets, lavender fields, and good meals. Our culture / history checks are the Arena in Nimes, Pont Du Gard, and Papal Palace. We will get rental car on second day.

Thursday June

1. Arrive around at Avignon Center – 9:30 A.M. (7am train from OUIGO – Lyon Perrache by hotel (4 blocks.)
2. Staying at Novatel Hotel Centre (next to train station) OR Maison Grivolas (5 min. West of Palais des Papes.)
3. Les Halles Market (Close at 2 p.m)
   
4. Palais des Papes (reserve in advance - must be in by 6) 1-3 p.m.
5. Pedestrian streets (Rue Joseph Vernet) - shops (shops close at 7).
6. Pool / relax
7. Dinner –L’Isle sur la Sorgue VIA train.
   • 5:15 p.m. from Avignon Central & 9:17 p.m. from Isle sur la Sorgue
   • This town gets short end of stick on trip.

Friday June

• Pick up car in Avignon as soon as possible – opens at 9, but will try to get earlier pick-up for extra fee (Eurocar is about 25E.
• Bonnieux (market - closes at 12 noon) Travel (T) – 1 hr / Duration (Dur)- 1.5
  • If we get there around 10 a.m., is that going to create parking issue?
• Chateau La Canorgue (wine tasting) Travel – 10 min / Dur- 1.0
  • or other less popular one in area
• Pont Julien (swimming) T- 10 min / Dur – 30 min
• Roussillon (lavender fields on way to town) T- 10 min / Dur. – 1.0
• Gordes (lunch?) La Trinquette T – 10 min / Dur. – 1.5
  • parking easy / plenty
• Abbaye Norte Dame de Senague (lavender) T-10 / Dur. 20 min
• If time, stop in Isle de la Sorgue / du partage des Euax (swimming)
• Back at hotel by 6 p.m / T 50 min.
• Dinner - Avignon ** Alternatives - Joucas or Goult - -

OR – Reverse and start with Carpentras Market.

• Try to pick up car at Caprentras after the market. Would take early train to Caprentras.
• Carpentras (Market 8-11)
• Saint Didier (quick stop)
• Venasque (lunch - - Les Remparts) (Friday evening market at 5 p.m.)
• Abbaye De Senague (lavender)
• Gordes
• Rousillion
• Coustellet (Quick stop)
• If time, stop in Isle de la Sorgue / du partage des Euax (swimming)
• Back at hotel by 6 p.m / T 50 min.
• Dinner – Avignon ** Alternatives - Joucas or Goult ** Lagnes – Friday market?

Saturday June

Leave early – 7:00 a.m.

1. Uzes Market Travel 50 min / Dur. 4.0
2. Small town near UZES - - [Saint Quentin - La Poterie] T – 15min / Dur. 1.0
3. Pont Du Gard (canoe) / Museum 1-5 p.m. T-25min / Dur. 4.0
4. Visit winery near Pont Du Gard / Sernac area.
   • Roman tunnel at Sernac?
   • Domain de Poulvare (wine tasting)
   • Wine cave?
5. Hotel / Pool / Dinner in Avignon.

Sunday June 20

1. Take car to Nimes (mainly for Arena) and spend remainder of day until train leaves for Girona at 3:40 p.m.
2. * Is there a place to store the bags (no lockers at station) or should I just find a place to park then return the car when we are done with visiting?
3. Possibility – Try to squeeze in Les Baux / Carriers des Luminares (40 min drive from Avignon) before Nimes. Opening time though is 9:30 a.m., if we go, Nimes will be tough.

matt-- you need to create a new post for this new, multilevel question. Just cut and paste.

I can address only Uzès : arriving at 8 you'll be ok. Use either the Marronniers or Cordeliers parking lots if you are going to Saint Quentin la Poterie afterwards. From Les Cordeliers, be sure your GPS puts you on the D979. From Les Marronniers, you exit the lot, turn right and take that road toward Saint Siffret. There will be a sign to turn left toward Saint Quentin. Uzès is one giant jam on the ring roads on Saturdays, but you can avoid the mess with these lots. You won't get a real view of the Place aux Herbes because of all the vendors, but you'll see the rest of the preserved sector. The market spills out along the ring road and back streets: in addition to food and drinks--clothes both new and used, household items, toys....

Parking the car in Nimes with EVERYTHING out of sight--not even a map or Haribo Candy wrapper--would work. There are garages. The wonderful Roman Museum is near the center.

A few random thoughts:

That looks like a Ouigo train from Lyon to Avignon. I think you have to be on the platform 30 minutes before departure. I'm all for saving money, but I wouldn't be willing to get up early enough to be sure of being at the station at by 6:30. Perhaps you're all early risers. Note also that you'll be changing trains at the Avignon TGV station unless you opt to just get a taxi from that station straight to your hotel (with four of you, that sounds like a good idea). I don't know whether you'd save any money with tickets just to the TGV station.

A good number of tourists don't care for the Palais de Papes. I think in many/most cases it's because it is essentially unfurnished. I happen to dislike most of the furnishings in palaces, so I figured the emptiness wouldn't be an issue for me during my 2017 visit. Once in Avignon I discovered there was a special exhibition of contemporary African sculpture scattered around the palace, so I was very happy to buy a ticket. I had a great time, but I really can't say how interesting I would have found it if there had been no sculpture to look at. I did think the audio guide was worthwhile. Most of those have jacks for earbuds. If you take two splitters, all four of you could listen and only pay to rent two devices.

I really enjoyed wandering around the historic area of Avignon. If you get off the direct path between the train station and the palace, you won't encounter many other tourists except in the square(s) near the train station full of restaurants. When you go to palace, take a different path in each direction.

I liked L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, but you're not going to have much time there beyond what you'll spend inside a restaurant. Given how early you're going to have to get up that morning, are you sure you're going to want to be so late getting back to your hotel after dinner?

I didn't have a car, so I didn't get to any of the smaller (than L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue) places--or to Nimes, for that matter. It feels to me as if you're trying to do too much, but that's just the gut reaction of someone who's always dependent on public transportation. It may be fine. On the other hand, you may have longer walks than you're expecting between your parking places and the sights you want to see.

I believe France's blood-alcohol limit is lower than ours. Better check on that if you intend to do much wine-tasting.

Overall, you have too much traveling and too many hotel changes. I would skip Lyon completely and spend the time in Provence. Two nights means only 1 day and that´s an expensive one day in Lyon in both time consumed for travel and cost of movement.

You could spend the day in Avignon but taking a 17h15 train to L’Isle sur la Sorgue, just for dinner does not make a lot of sense considering restaurants do not open until 19h30 at the earliest. You would have little more than 60 minutes for dinner if you are to make a 21h17 train back to Avignon. That would be very rushed, my advise would be to stay in Avignon for dinner.

Generally, your entire itinerary is overly busy. A framework is great to have but a vacation in Provence, visiting the locations you have outlined during July, will require more travel time than you have allowed. Have you checked on the dates of the Festival d´Avignon and how it interacts with your plans? Many of the accommodations in Avignon for July are booked a year in advance.

Consider booking 5 nights in Provence, that´s 4 days, which, with a car, will allow you to see the bulk of what Provence has to offer. You could explore from Uzès to Aix-en-Provence and include such popular locations as les Baux de Provence, Gordes, St Rémy, les Alpilles, and possibly Arles. I would not necessarily stay in Avignon during the festival; traffic can be horrendous, parking almost impossible. There are many magnificent hotels in the nearby countryside that will allow much easier access and unparalleled charm.

A final note: this area is known for car break-ins by thieves looking for items they can easily turn into cash. These thieves can spot a rental car a mile away. Never leave anything of value in an unattended car, even locked in the trunk.

I believe France's blood-alcohol limit is lower than ours. Better check on that if you intend to do much wine-tasting.

It´s .05 or little more than a glass of wine. If you consume alcohol, plan your meals in such as way as to avoid driving. You can be given a breathalyzer test anytime, even on the most remote roads. More good news: speed cameras are everywhere. Know and observe the speed limits carefully.

Thanks for your responses.

I have made additional changes based on your comments.

Please take a look and let me know your thoughts.

DAY 1 - Wednesday June 16

• Spend night in Maubec (found cool hotel)
• Arrive Marseille France 11:00 / Pick up rental car around 1 p.m.
• 2 options:

A. Aix en Provence or St. Remy for Lunch and explore
- Proceed north to Maubec and arrive around 5 p.m.
- If possible check out hill towns near Maubec like Menerbes or Lacoste.

B. Travel directly to Hill Towns
- Have quick lunch in Bonnenieux or Lourmarin
- Possible stops along way to hotel: Pont-Julien (swimming); Goult; LaCoste; and Menebes.

**Dinner around Hotel in Maubec, Cavaillon, L’ Isle sur la Sorgue, or Coustellet (prefer not to drive.)

DAY 2 - Thursday June 17

1. Spend morning at Market in L’Isle Sur la Sorgue. (9-noon)
2. Sorgue / du partage des Euax (swimming)
3. Abbaye De Senague (lavender field)
4. Joucas
5. Gordes (Lunch at La Trinquette?)
6. Rousillion (lavender fields)
7. Wineries near hotel in Maubec

8. Relax at hotel / Pool

9. Dinner around Hotel in Maubec, Cavaillon, L’ Isle sur la Sorgue, or Coustellet. (prefer not to drive.)

10. I assume that some of the above towns / activities will be short and/or involve a “drive-by.”

DAY 3 - Friday June 18

• Spend 2 nights in Uzes, France
• Arrive in Avignon around 11:00 a.m.
• Les Halles Market (Lunch - close at 2 p.m)
  
• Palais des Papes (reserve in advance)
• Pedestrian streets (Rue Joseph Vernet) - shops
• Leave around 4 p.m. and go to Uzes - - try to visit Saint Quentin - La Poterie.

DAY 4 - Saturday June 19

1. Uzes Market
2. Pont Du Gard (canoe) / Museum
   
3. Visit winery near Pont Du Gard / Sernac area.
   • Roman tunnel at Sernac?
   • Domain de Poulvare (wine tasting)
   • Wine cave?
4. Dinner in Uzes

DAY 5 - Sunday June 20

1. Take car to Nimes around 11:00 a.m. (mainly for Arena & Les Halles) and spend day until train leaves for Girona at 3:40 p.m. Drop off car prior to departure.
2. Does anyone know of place to store luggage if I drop off car prior to walking around Nimes. I understand that the train station does not have storage lockers.

You mention Roussillon for lavender fields, but do you know that there is a really nice walk that takes you through the red rock formations? It’s in town and not overly strenuous. Several plaques along the way explain the geology.
P.s. I agree with the poster who said that your itinerary is overly busy. One red flag is that you’ve already allotted small amounts of time to each destination, with no allowance for getting lost, finding parking, and other schedule busters. I have visited almost every place your list, and my candidates for elimination are Dublin, Lyon, Montpellier, and Avignon.

Re point 10 on your Day2: you should be aware that the scenic parts of many towns are not accessible to cars. Therefore, there would be no point to a “drive-by.”

Is lavender in bloom in mid June? Better check the dates.
I agree with Rosalyn to skip Avignon this time. It's famous due to the papacy but difficult to imagine the history when touring the Palace. If your interests are Roman, what about the Roman Theater in Orange, or the Roman vestiges in Arles. These would be more interesting to kids than restored hill towns with expensive second homes and shops, which appeal to adults but not much for kids.

Yes, Roussillon village is famous for the red rock formations. Interesting for children. Don't wear light-colored clothing.

I like the last revision and other than a suggestion that you review driving times between points (you may be overly optimistic), it looks good.

Personally, I love Avignon, and could walk all day within the walled city. As I first heard the song Sur le pont, d´Avignon as a young child, when I finally saw the bridge (built by Romans), I was overtaken with emotion. I doubt that will happen to many people but Avignon is well worth a visit nonetheless. There are some excellent restaurants in Avignon as well.

June may not be the best month to see lavender but I once purchased a liter bottle of lavender oil or essence from a farmer for only 20€. I could have made a fortune putting it into tiny little bottles and selling them for 5€ each. According to the farmer, lavender oil lasts many, many years; and remains useful even after it turns brown which it will eventually. I now have a lifetime supply.

Mid-June is early for lavender, depending on the year. The best chance will be in the lower elevations, and in your path, in the part of the trip along the Luberon valley. I'd might consider St. Remy instead of Aix, if you are driving. There are also some nice roman ruins outside of town at Glanum, and I recommend the Carrières de Lumières in nearby Les Baux, with your kids, as it is an accessible introduction to fine art I'd skip the Pont de Julien unless you are just biking along the stream. You'll pass it, more than likely, in driving through the valley. Lacoste is often overlooked -- the Chateau (Pierre Cardin) has some amazing views over the valley and the stone village is nice. Gordes and Roussillon are the top two priorities there -- the best part of the valley is in this area, although it appears you've already selected a hotel. It really all isn't that far.

If you are into antiques, that is the main draw in Isle sur la Sorgue. I noticed you were interested in the Chateau la Cornogue in Bonnieux... a little ways down the same road is a small organic winery Chateau Les Eydins that we also enjoyed (simple tasting room).

Nimes, Uzes and the Pont du Gard are really not that far apart, and the drives are mostly great. I too like Avignon and the Palais (I do not mind that it is empty).