Rick's 21 day France Itinerary

We followed a chunk of it in Normandy once, at about 2/3 speed, and found it exhausting. It was great for a few days, but beyond that?

I wouldn't try to follow it in just 21 days, that's for sure.

I really like Rick's books for practical information, but I have always found it ironic that he says to minimize one night stands, yet his itineraries have many one and two night stands. I would take what he suggests and cut it down by a third.

You have to know who you are. I always recommend Rick's books for hit and run travelers as he has a nice balance of stops but I would never follow this sort of superficial rush rush itinerary. Some people love it -- it keeps the tour group industry healthy. If you like a trip that covers a lot of ground, start with Rick's itinerary and then edit it to lengthen some stays and drop others or insert one long stretch somewhere. Try to have a few days in whatever city you are flying home from at the end of the trip so there is no rush rush at the end.

We did 3 week trips for many years in Europe and generally tried to anchor each end with a 5-7 day rental stay and then did the week to 10 days in between with shorter 2 night stops. The least fun part of the trip is getting there -- the fun part is being there. I'd rather base in say Paris for a couple of weeks and do day trips in the region than be constantly pulling up stakes. We did Normandy in 5 nights with 3 stops a couple of years ago and enjoyed that but it was only 5 days -- we spent the following month in Paris.

As others have said, know yourself. I'd find his itineraries too rushed to follow, but if you have done some of his 2 week trips following them "almost word for word" then you're in a better position to judge your tastes regarding his pace than anyone else.

On a tour.. the bus driver knows exactly where he is going.. the hotels, the sites, etc.. I doubt very much any person trying to do the same thing , in the same time frame.. has a chance of enjoy it. The tour bus drops you off , then goes off and parks in a prearranged spot.. you would have to find a parking spot.. then make your way to hotels.. and sites, on your own.

I think the tours work , because lots of time and planning , and experience go into them.. its not the same on your own. Each site.. you will have to look it up,, research how to get there.. and wait in line( on the one RS tour we took, tickets were handed to us ,, or we were in a "tour only" line. etc..

And just as a btw.. most RS tours have few one night stays.

If I was to do the same 21 day tour. I would allow 28 days. And , I would do a lot of homework.

pat, I don't think the OP was referring to a RS tour, but rather to his suggested driving itinerary which is different. He also has a suggested itinerary by train and other public transportation. But I have to agree with you, these itineraries are just too fast for my taste.

i think most itneraries written by tour folks include RS are a little pressing for most people ....remember most tour guides have been to the locations mulitiple times and most will speak the languge. I tried the RS short stay in paris itinerary. got in late firday night. started saturday morning and finished sunday about 3pm. i knew very quickly (by noon on saturday) the plan wasn't going to work.
So i spent time at Notre Dame, then the Louve for about 1/2 day. Spent some time with my daughter shopping. THen Saturday evening, took the bus from Ecole Mil to the Ache de Triumph strolled down-hill on the champes de eslesie caught the bus back to the rue cler area. then had a good meal. Got up early the next day hit the Eiffel tower first thing. Screwed up on the bus, because the Tour De France was coming into town and the bus route changed. ended up walking from St. Micheal to the Orsay museum. toured it and head to the train station for the trip back to london. I am going back to Paris next fall....i will have got the "lay of the land" and should be able to see more things this time in my aloted time period.

Thanks to everyone for their replies! No one has yet to chime in who has actually done the 21 day itinerary, but your input is much appreciated!
We spend multiple weeks at other places throughout the summer and winter, throttling down and decompressing, so our trips abroad are not necessarily to slow down. I'm sure some have you must have followed the RS books itineraries before, or is everyone doing their own thing?
We've run into people on the structured (and priced accordingly!) RS Tours, who are going to the same places as we and even staying in the same hotels. Many of them wish they were on their own, like we were, but then many like the structure. I guess it's an individual thing.
If anyone has completed the 21 day tour, please speak up!

Thanks

Nick

When I did that driving route years ago, it was in reverse, starting from Colmar and looping southwest, and not including Reims and Verdun. I probably took a full month, including 5 days in Paris. The spots that I think you may find rushed are generally not the one-night stands. Mont-St-Michel is a perfect example of a place where "nobody" stays more than one night.

I'm more concerned about day 10 (to see Arles and Les Baux) and day 12 (to see Nice and Monaco) as part of 2-night stops. People often stay longer in both spots, especially to include more close, neighboring towns. If it's market day in Arles, that's an additional sight on the list for the day.

Do you have the option to travel longer, or would you be looking at cutting destinations, or trading stops in a new region for more focus on an included region? The whirlwind trip gives you a taste of France's varied regions, with different architecture, regional dishes, and personality. It will be continually fresh and not repetitive. But it makes you choose one town in Provence, and two chateaux in the Loire, not several of each.