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Oh my

I just got a great deal into Amsterdam and out of Paris from San Diego. This is in June. I will have 4 days in Amsterdam and then take a train to Paris.

I will then have about 20 days in France and this is what I am thinking of doing, but would love thoughts and feedback and suggestions :)

Arrive in Paris and spend 4 days (have been before so a quick visit), then pick up rental car and head north to St Mont Michel and WW 2 sites but would love have a base somewhere and do day trips. Does that sound OK or is that unreasonable proposition? Not sure where a good base would be ?

Then driving to Sarlat and spend 4 days there and do day tips and relax in the countryside.

Then done to Carcassonne for another 4 days and do day trips.

Then back up to Paris maybe via Lyon?

I am giving myself a cushion for flexibility. I don't want to rush but would like to have two/three home bases.

TIA

Posted by
1888 posts

I have heard that the area around the D day beaches can be very busy in the days leading up to the anniversary. I hope you will be there after that.

Posted by
2707 posts

For Upper Normandy, consider Bayeux as a base, St Malo is another interesting potential base in Brittany. It is a lot of driving to add Carcassonne, from Sarlat-la-Canéda. I would alternatively head to the east, with possible stops in Rocamadour, Saint-Cirq, Conques, swing by Laguiole just to purchase a few knives at Calmels, include Aubrac just to order aligot at Chez Germaine, continue southeast to drive through the Gorges du Tarn, and continue until Uzès at which point I would plan the final week or so exploring eastern Languedoc and western Provence, ultimately taking the TGV back to Paris to be in position for your return flight.

This is basically a big letter C traveling the highlights of France, a somewhat shorter drive than you have planned, yet just as compelling. Volumes of information could be added within this framework, I might take a quick look at the suggested driving itineraries found in the Michelin Green guides.

June will probably be full of other vacationers this year, I would book hotels as early as I could.

Posted by
202 posts

Thanks for the tips. I may go to Dordogne for a few days and then head east toward Chamonix and back up to Paris to fly out. I spent two weeks in Provence last year which was marvelous.