Need advice on itinerary

I would give Paris at least 4 nights, leaving 2 nights (one full sightseeing day) for each of the other stops, if you delete Annecy. Every travel day will require at least several hours on the train. Use the link below to see real options and fit them onto your calendar. From Beaune to Chamonix, the 9:00 departure takes only 5 hours and travels through Switzerland, around Lake Geneva. Some later departures take 7 hours and travel via Annecy, but I would choose the Swiss route (not covered by France Rail Passes).

Rick Steves' France guidebook covers sightseeing and other practicalities for all of these destinations, except Cassis, which is only in the Provence & Riviera book.

How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it. Use a current date; schedules are published through June 13.

Thank you Laura, so you think traveling by train would be better than by rental car?

Hi,

The train is much better for visiting cities/towns unless you want a car to see the villages in a given area. Since I mainly go to cities and some towns, I take the trains. Also, keep in mind that you'll be paying for gasoline by the liter.

I looked into going by train from Chamonix to Alsace and found that Chamonix was not well-connected to anywhere by train. It seemed like any journey required at least one and up to three train changes and would take most of a day. I decided to rent a car.

You can find train schedules on the German website bahn.de

Thank you Chani, I noticed that also. Since it appears you already did this, could you give me some added advice? If I rented a car in Annecy, drove to Chamonix, stayed for a couple of days, then should I return car and use train or continue to drive to our next destination of Cassis?

Thank you Chani, I noticed that also. Since it appears you already did this, could you give me some added advice? If I rented a car in Annecy, drove to Chamonix, stayed for a couple of days, then should I return car and use train or continue to drive to our next destination of Cassis?

Hi Linda. No, I haven't done it yet. I'm taking a MyWay tour that ends in Chamonix and I want to spend more time in France afterward. I thought to take a train to Alsace and then rent a car to explore. After looking at the options, I decided to rent the car in Chamonix since I was planning to rent a car anyway. I will have the car for 8-9 days, then return it in Strasbourg. I'm planning to visit Beaune, but Annecy and Cassis are not at all in my plan. Are you okay with a manual transmission? If you need automatic, you are looking at a bigger, more expensive car. Also, you may need to pick up the car at a big facility to ensure that they'll have an automatic for you.

I use both google maps and viamichelin.com to estimate driving times and routes. Your itinerary sounds too rushed for my taste. If you haven't been to Paris before, you should spend at least 3-4 days there. That leaves only about 8 days for 5 other destinations. Where are you planning to fly home from? Do you have to return to Paris? That will use up another 1/2 day.

While all of the locals are enchanting, I think I would eliminate Cassis. Chamonix is a
8 1/2 train ride or a 5 1/2 hr. drive from there. If you want to keep Chamonix and Annecy,
see if this would work for you.

Fly into Geneva. Remember you arrive the next day.

1. Arrive Geneva. Bus to Chamonix. 1H40m.

2. Chamonix.

3. Rent car drive to Annecy. 1H20m.

4. Annecy.

5. Drive Annecy-Beaune. 2H45m

6. Beaune.

7. Train or car. Beaune-Colmar. 3 hrs.

8. Colmar.

9. Train. Colmar-Paris. 3 hrs.

10. Paris

11. Paris.

12. Paris

    Travel home.

If you decide to keep Cassis, Fly into Marseille and out of Paris. In this case I would
eliminate Annecy and Chamonix.

Thank you Chani & Gerri! You both gave me a lot to think about. I think, as much as I don't want to, I have to cut out one of my spots. Love the sea, but Cassis might have to be the one. Definitely want to go into the French Alps, so despite the inconvenient travel, am going to try to make it work. Read somewhere that there is a bus leaving Annecy going to Chamonix. Does anyone know anything about it? Was planning on flying from Chicago to Paris; but maybe should consider flying into Geneva as suggested and making my way towards Paris to fly back to Chicago.