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Please give me advice about my first trip to France planning!

Posted by on

Hello! I've been reading this forum for days now! I'm loving it!
It seems like most users here are americans... Well, i'm brazilian, and next June, me and my husband are going on our first trip to Europe.
We are a young couple who loves to walk around and explore. We don't care about luxuries and we want to make this trip on the lowest budget possible.

What i want from you guys, is your opinion and suggestions, since i am a newbie planning this trip by myself!

So far, all i've paid for is the plane tickets. I plan to start in Paris, staying from june 10 to june 16 in a apartment in Montmartre (found on airbnb).
June 16 around midday, i plan on getting the TGV to Aix en Provence, and stay there till june18, renting a room on a private house. (Airbnb). My plan is to explore the city and others nearby by public transportation, and then, around midday on June 18, we would rent a car and take the road to Avignon, stoping in beautiful villages along the way.

So far what do you think? Is it a good plan? My plan is to get the car in Aix and return it in Avignon, but i tried to look for this option in Autocar, a site many of you suggest, but they say it's not an available option. Do any of you know if it is?

So, we would stay in Avignon for the night and also the next day exploring nearby. On June 20 in the morning, we get the train (Tgv+eurostar) from Avignon to London, where we are staying for 10 days. It seems cheaper to buy Avignon to London at sncf, than separates: Paris- Avignon round trip plus Paris-London.

Please tell me what you think about my plans, any advice will be really helpful! Thank you! Livia.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you so much for you suggestion about the car rental! I will check it out!

Posted by
32715 posts

You need to organise the train connections from Provence to London.

The TGV will arrive in Paris at Gare de Lyon and the Eurostar leaves from Gare du Nord.

Use the RER-D for just 2 stops. You MUST check in for the Eurostar, and you MUST be checked in before 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure or you don't travel. After you check in you will go through security and Border Control. The queues can be slow and long.

How much time do you have between arrival in Paris and departure on Eurostar?

The reason there is a large number of Americans here is that the website is a side bonus of the guidebooks written by Rick Steves and the associated tours by them, all designed for first timers from North America.

Posted by
4037 posts

Starting May 1, Eurostar is promising a "direct" service Paris-Marseille, stopping in Avignon. That means changing from the tunnel train to TGV in Gare du Nord, cutting substantial time off the journey. But to start, there's only an early-morning departure from St-Pancras, three days a week; other services still involve moving to the Gare de Lyon. The information on the website is a bit murky but here it is: http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/book/train/outbound-train

Posted by
4105 posts

Livia,

Have you thought about flying from Marseilles airport>London Gatwick? Easyjet

Travel time from Avignon TGV>Marseille is about 40 minutes. Cost 22-26 euro

Flight is 1H50m and cost 65.46 euro.

Train Gatwick>Victoria via train is 30 minutes. cost 12 euro.

Should be both faster and less expensive. Be sure to look carefully luggage restrictions

on easyjet.

Posted by
5 posts

Hello Nigel!
Your observation was so important! I really wasn't paying attention to this change in stations and to the amount of time it will take. That's definitely something i'll double check when i'm ready to buy the tickets! Thank you a lot!

And thanks for explaining, now i understand why almost all the users are Americans. I've started following Rick Steves work just recently, when i discovered his awesome videos on youtube and also on his website.
I still haven't read his guides but a few days ago i found out there's ebooks as well, so that will make it easier for me to purchase one.

Posted by
5 posts

Hi Southam! I think i understood what you said, but i will have to check the link you provided and see if i really got it! Thanks for sharing!

Posted by
5 posts

Hello Gerri!
You know, i haven't thought about flying! That sounds really interesting, since it would be cheaper and faster. I will check that right now, thank you!

Posted by
4385 posts

you really need to hit the old-fashioned guidebooks to plan a trip properly. Not just Rick's books, but also Fodors and Frommers. It seems they are all online now if you don't like the old style printed paper versions.

Posted by
11613 posts

The Michelin guides might be useful for planning a car trip, as well as for brief descriptions of sights and accommodations.

Posted by
4132 posts

Livia, Aix is an interesting choice. It is a charming town, with a great main boulevard, but there are no special sights there. Well, Cezanne's studio is open to the public.

There are decent rail connections from Aix to Marseilles and Avignon. It would be a nice base from which to explore Marseilles. However it is a bit far away from many of the attractions of the Rhone valley area, such as the Roman antiquities in Arles and Nimes and Orange.

Your drive from Aix to Avignon is really, I suspect, a big detour into the Luberon. Get an early start.

All your luggage will be in your car. This is problematic! At minimum, rent a car with a boot--a trunk--for your stuff. Or, since Aix and Avignon are so close, you might reorder your day, checking in to your new place first and leaving your bags. Or even consolidating all your time in one base location and taking day trips.

If you decide to fly to London from Marseilles, it might work better to flip Avignon and Aix (i.e. Paris > Avignon > Aix > Marseille airport)

Posted by
4802 posts

Livia, The only downside to the RS ebook guides is that the maps leave a lot to be desired. Having said that, however, he details enough walks and other info about Paris to keep you busy and also cover most of the things that are really "must do & must see" items. Highly suggest you get one. TC

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