Hello,
My husband and I are taking our 24yr old daughter to Europe for her first time. We did a lot of research to go to Greece, but have decided that my husband and I would prefer to do that trip jus the two of us.
We will be leaving from T.O May 19th and flying home June 3 or 4th.
DH and I had our first trip to Europe 2 years ago, we went to Rome, Paris and Amalfi Coast. This year we went to Port, drove along the Silver Coast and ended in Lisbon. That is all the experience we have in Europe. I read this forum a lot and have had great help with intineraries with all of you trusted travellers.
What we love to do while away. Small towns, walking around and finding cafe's, markets, and being by the water. We like to usually rent bike's or e bikes, and usually do a bike or walking tour the first or second day upon arrival to get the lay of the land.
We are thinking Provence for the lavender fields and markets, and maybe the south of France for a week and maybe Florence, Tuscany area for another week. We have looked at Cinque Terre, but it seems the majority of people on this forum prefer to stay away....I am on the fence with this one, knowing it is very overcrowded.
We prefer to stay away from very touristy locations, or as the Portuguese day "touristical" places. We like to stay in airbnb's and have had great success with RS hotel suggestions as well. When we were in Amalfi, we stayed in the quiet little town of Priano, and rented scooters to visit the busier more popular places instead of staying in them. I hope that helps you know what we are like as travellers.
Posted by
11569 posts
We find mixing two countries on one trip is more difficult than focusing on one country. Just when you start figuring out how they do things in one culture, you have to start all over again. For France, visit Provence and the Côte d’Azur. Or Burgundy and Provence. Our first trip to France was four weeks, one week each in Paris, Burgandy, Provence and the Côte d’Azur.
Both Burgundy and Provence offer most of what you are looking for. You say Provence and then South of France as if they are two different places which is confusing.
Or go to Italy the country we have traveled to most of all. Tuscany and Umbria. Piedmont and Liguria. Skip the Cinque Terre and stay in Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli. You could do a day trip to the CT. Or combine Liguria with the Piemonte. The Piemonte has the wonderful wine villages without the crowds.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
394 posts
Your comments about small towns, walking around and finding your way to cafes and other sites are wise. We were once referred by our hotel to one or two restuarants in one town, but our noses caught the wonderful scent of garlic and our ears heard laughter and conviviality so we went to an entirely different place, instead. The Tortellini en Broda, there, is still a fond memory. We loved Orvieto, Padua and Verona on our second trip to Italy (2015) ... in ways more than our second visits to Florence and Rome.
I am agnostic on one country vs. two for your 2 week trip. We have twice spent about 17 or 18 days in Italy and we have yet to see Italy south of Rome. We spent 8 days in Provence (+nearby Nimes, on our way to Barcelona) and yet we missed a lot. Two countries may be rushed, but if you are selecting and focusing on two regions near one another ... Provence and Piedmont, for example, that may work well for you. Do you speak one language or the other at all? That might tip the scales.
For trip planning, apart from RS (and you should go there and "drill down"):
FRANCE, for example ...
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/provence
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/arles
ITALY, for example
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/tuscan-hill-towns
We were in Cinque Terre many years ago - 2003 I believe. Has Rick Steves left his mark there? Yes, both big time and unfortunately. And lotsa German tourists plainly go there, too. Still, the day we walked from Riomaggiore to Vernazza was the day I died and went to heaven. But that was 20 years ago.
ALSO, the Michelin GREEN GUIDES - and there are regional as well as national ones - are tremendously useful in itinerary planning and getting an advance feel for sites/cities/towns/museums. If you've settled on a particular region, the regional Green Guide is an amazing resource. Perhaps your local library or local travel bookstore has some. If not, go to ...
https://travelguide.michelin.com
I love trip planning for the two of us. Have fun and enjoy.
Posted by
Washington DC
28078 posts
Check further on the lavender growing season. I believe your timing may be too early.
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
Late May is definitely too early for lavender. I was in the Luberon in the last week of May this year, in a hot/precocious year, and the fields only had green buds. And the Luberon fields bloom early. Provence is still worth visiting sans lavender, though.
Posted by
Vacaville, Ca
1441 posts
Google search:
Lavender blooms in Provence from June through August, but when is the best time to see it? Peak bloom usually occurs in early July, but consider going in June – the flowers will be well on their way, and you'll be more likely to beat the tourist season (as well as the French flocking to the South for summer holidays).
Enjoy your trip no matter where you choose.
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
We've done France and Italy in one trip it just takes more planning. You will not see lavender in Provence in May but you might see the poppies which are just as beautiful.
Take Cinque Terre out if you're coming from France - IMO too hard to get to without a car.
You could easily spend a week in Provence and a week in Florence but getting between the two isn't all that easy. So beware.
Posted by
OP
65 posts
Thanks Fred,
No we don't speak any other language, but I would know a bit more French. I use "duolingo" app to get familiar with the language and love to try it, however in Paris, they didn't not like me speaking their language and preferred English.
Posted by
OP
65 posts
Yes, I see the lavender isn't in bloom end of May, that's too bad, my daughter would have loved that!
It's good to know about the difficulty of travelling from Italy to Florence during a 2 week trip. I thought it was easier to travel in Europe with careful planning. We did Paris, Amafli and Rome and didn't seem to be a problem, but maybe this is different with the locations I'm choosing?
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
Since Florence isn't a major airport it makes it tricky. No direct flights from NCE or MRS to Florence. And forget about the train - even longer. Paris and Rome are major airports.
Posted by
429 posts
The bike paths in the Lorie Vally are wonderful and good bikes are easy to rent. J
Posted by
OP
65 posts
Thanks for your advice to choose Italy or France. I agree, so now I need to choose between the two. Could you recommend an itinerary for Italy and France? Or do you suggest I start a new post?
Posted by
OP
65 posts
Thanks all of you for your help, we have decided on going to Italy. Like I said earlier, we have been to Rome and Amalfi, so this time we would prefer to be more north. Perhaps, Venice, Florence/Tuscany area and Rome. My husband went on a trip to Venice and Florence with his dad and said he would like to return.
Is it better to start in Rome and end in Venice or vise versa? I know R.S says to start with the quieter place and end in the busiest city.
We will have 14 nights in total, and our flights aren't booked yet so we could stay a couple nights more if we want.
Any suggestions for itinerary, accommodations $200euro/night or less would be helpful.
Posted by
240 posts
Genoa is nice and not many tourists, compared to Venice or Rome, which are both, obviously fantastic places too, but unless you go in the winter, crowded - sometimes beyond belief.
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
As far as where you fly in/out ... to me it's based on price and times but I don't think as far as your itinerary it would matter.