Thoughts about skipping Paris for two weeks in Southern France??

No place is a must for your travel plans. Go where you want. The very first time I went to Europe, I went to three cities in Spain and to Nice and then all over Italy. I felt no obligation to go to Paris because I was not interested in it at that time.

Direct to Lyon sounds like a great trip. Paris will still be there later.

I say, ignore your friends’ advice and stick with your own itinerary. It’s YOUR vacation so enjoy taking your time to visit smaller towns, go on hikes, and take walks in the regions you want! Experiential travel is such a treat and not having to rush from here to there to check off some list others think you need to do.

You need a minimum of five nights in Paris and that doesn’t include day trips. If you don’t have the time then skip it. If you only have two weeks and are also going to Provence and the Dordogne, I say fly into Lyon and take a direct train from the airport to Avignon (1h 45m) and visit Paris another time.

I like Paris, but I like everywhere else that I've been in France better than Paris.

If you are overwhelmed, as you stated, at going from Paris to Provence and Dordogne, then that anxiety might hang over you clouding the beginning of your trip. However, the reality of "From what I have been reading, it feels a bit daunting dealing with the massive train stations, getting into and out of Paris then traveling to Provence and Dordogne regions via train" depends on the person. My husband and I have used the train stations in Paris to get to Chartres, Marseilles, Giverny, etc. and are not daunted, but that's us--we also take an hour train into NY Penn Station from NJ, so we are used to throngs of people, finding the right track, etc. Finding the right track is the most annoying since many times the track isn't announced until @ 10 minutes before you need to board and then there is the sea of people rushing to get to their track, but that's the way it is in NY, Paris, Madrid, etc. Once on your train, you settle into your seat for @ 3.5 hours and relax. Go to the club car and get a drink and ham and cheese baguette sandwich. The initial hassle ends with a relaxing ride and views as Paris drifts away.

For many travelers, there is the "Fear of Missing Out" concept--maybe your friends have instilled that in you. Try taking their suggestions out of the equation and see what is left for you and your wife. It seems you both were fine with southern France without Paris.

We have also just visited the Provence area without going to Paris. It was lovely, relaxing and memorable (20 mph instead of the 100 mph of Paris). Then, you have a reason (as if one is needed) to make a second trip just for Paris.
Btw, we are returning for the 6th time to Paris in September just to sit and eat/drink/take in the views/people. We've visited virtually all major and many minor sights some several times. This time, I just want to walk around and take in the outdoors of Paris.
Here's hoping you do what feels right for you.

Hi Tom, the train stations in Paris are pretty straightforward, so don’t miss it for that reason. But, it’s your vacation, and there are no “must see” locations if it’s not what you would like to do.

The area you’re planning is very enjoyable. Have a great time!

I agree with the others....no "must see" locations!

For myself...yes, Paris is a must but I've been a number of times before and will go again! I'm not much of a city gal but somehow Paris has gotten under my skin. IF you decide in the future you want to try Paris but are not sure you can manage it consider doing Rick's Best of Paris week tour. It's how I learned Paris and fell in love with it!

Provence and Dordogne are awesome as well!

I'm going to add to the chorus of "it is your vacation, take the vacation you want."

I spent just 2 days in Paris the first time I went and did the 3 things that I most wanted to do. I went up the Eiffel Tower, rode a bike along the Seine, and visited the museum at the Pasteur Institute. I highly doubt anyone else would have had the same goals, but it was perfect for me.

The second time I went on the RS Paris and the Heart of France Tour. This gave me a good introduction to the more traditional Paris museums, I enjoyed it, but a few days was still enough for me.

To go to the Dordogne without going through Paris, note that Air Canada has this year direct flights Montreal-Toulouse until the end of October (5 flights per week)

Air Transat also offers direct flights to Bordeaux

From Toulouse or from Bordeaux it's a 2 hour drive by car to go to the Dordogne.

Remember that no place is a 'must see' for everyone. If Paris was a must for your friends, that's fine. And it may even be a must for you, at some time. But it doesn't necessarily have to be a must on this trip. Listen to your heart, not your friends and go where it feels right for you at this time. As someone else said, Paris will still be there at another time. Paris was a must for me, but it was not included in my first trip to Europe. I waited and have been there twice now - one of those times was an extended month long visit and I'm glad I waited until I could give Paris a good amount of time.

Totally agree with the others, especially Nancy. You can't go everywhere on this trip. Paris is no more essential on this trip than Rome or London would be. I'm a fan of giving cities the amount of time I think I'll really need to accomplish my sightseeing goals. As a result, I've made two trips to France since 2017, totalling about 4-1/2 months, and I've only been to Paris to change trains. I just didn't have enough time on either of those trips to spend two weeks in Paris, which is roughly what I want to do.

There is usually some orientation time needed in a large city, especially one where yours is not the native language. You need to figure out things like the local transportation system. I find having a generous amount of time for a city like Paris helps keep me from being frantic if something goes wrong (and something usually does, at some point). I can roll with the punches, and I can wander down a street just because it looks interesting, without thinking, "Oops--there goes the Musee d'Orsay."

I think you always knew what you wanted to do and I am glad you will! I am a Paris fanatic and I think people who say it is a must are sincere, but it is a must for them. I also think at different points in your life, you need different types of vacations. Paris for you at this time, sounds like a bad idea.

Paris will always be there, and when you are ready, you don't need to feel obligated to see everything on some list. We have been there quite a few times and hit the highlights, but you don't have to to have an enjoyable experience.
We are lucky to have an easy nonstop home from Paris. We always head there at end of our trips and spend a couple of days, before heading home. We stay in the 6th arrondissement and never get on the Metro and rarely a bus. So much is walkable from there and we catch an occasional taxi. You can certainly get the flavor of Paris, and enjoy the Seine, many neighborhoods, museums, galleries, and restaurants in a smaller circle. Have a great trip!

No musts, only wants, and you want a different vacation from your friends. Jolui’s itinerary into either Bordeaux or Toulouse makes the most sense. You can rest the night, visit the city, then rent a car. You are only two hours from the Dordogne. This is the least schlepping.

Lyon is the second largest city in France. I’d skip it and fly closer to where you really want to go.

Edit: This just entered my peabreain and changes my answer

"fly relatively cheaply out of Montreal, round trip to Lyon (direct)"

If you've got good inexpensive direct flight, go for it. You can rest in Lyon, visit the city and travel south by train to Nice. The idea is to avoid the schlep from station to station. Going to the Dordogne first would be better do to it being fall, but you can make this work, too.

Listen to your heart. I enjoyed Nice a lot more than Paris. I went to a mens tennis tournament nearby, listened to the sounds the water made on their pebble beach, very relaxing I had never heard that noise before. Cap-Ferrat and Villefranche-Sur-Mer were amazing day trips. Just walking the trails enjoying being outside, the sun the water. That to me is a great trip. I'm not really into museums or art. I love the outdoors, I also loved Cinque Terre and Sorrento.

I agree with most of the other responses, but I particularly want to compliment you on using the phrase "southern France" rather than the awkward but common "the South of France."

I recognize the latter is a direct translation of the French way to say it, but it's not really the English way to say it (does anyone say "the West of France or "the North of France?").

Perhaps, but I've never heard it. For some reason though, I commonly hear "the South of France" among English speakers. Curious, then, why I never hear English speakers referring to "the car blue" or "the house white."

We felt the same way. We skipped Paris, and spent a week staying with friends who had rented an amazing flat in the center of the charming village of Lourmarin. It's a very well located town--small, pretty, but with enough shops and good restaurants to keep you busy when you aren't visiting the surrounding towns, bigger towns (Aix, etc.) and villages. It was a really good base. Lots of nice walks, hikes, etc. Write back if you have questions.

Another thought, if you are route planning. We flew RT (NS) from Boston to Lisbon, stayed for a night or two there, and then took an inexpensive, 2 hr. flight to Marseille. Our friends picked us up and we spent an afternoon in Aix, then to Lourmarin. After our week with them, we all drove to Cassis, another pretty, small-town with the amazing Calanques and gorgeous harbor. Our friends hiked the Calalanques, we did a boat trip to view them, and met for dinner. They were exhausted, wed were refreshed!! They went back to Lourmarin, and we stayed in Cassis in an inexpensive, good hotel (thanks, RS) overlooking the harbor. I read about Cassis in Rick's book, and read an article by gourmet blogger David Leboviz who lives and writes from Paris. His family stayed in Cassis a few years ago, and he loved it enough to write about it.
After an über ride to the Marseille airport, we flew back to Lisbon, and then home. While in Lourmarin and in Cassis, we heard VERY little English. Mostly French tourists.

For some reason though, I commonly hear "the South of France"

You probably see it on here a lot because of Rick Steves' tour "Loire to the South of France".

We have just booked a direct flight and package to Toulouse with Air Transat, from Montreal. Great prices! The flights with a hotel in Toulouse for a week (convenient to tour Languedoc or Provence) is less than just a flight to Paris (return)! Check it out! AT has direct flights and/or packages to Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille, and Paris. Also direct flights to Bordeaux, that we took very successfully for our last trip to France. Paris is great…but like all major cities, it is busy. It is a very different kind of holiday focus than the smaller towns and rural areas.

Yup, skip Paris this time. You'll enjoy your 12-14 days (make it 14) a lot more if you're not trying to shoehorn one of the world's great cities into your itinerary. A good airfare to Lyon is a bonus, and certainly Lyon is worth some time. The car will give you much more flexibility than trains in Provence and the Dordogne. Since you're seasoned travelers, I'm sure you know that flying "open jaw" into Lyon and back from another city (Bordeaux? Marseilles?) will save you some time, and you don't have to return the car where you got it.

But promise yourselves to see Paris before you become much more "senior." It's more complicated than the smaller cities you'll encounter this trip, but the rewards are worth it. Just take taxis to and from the airport and you can avoid those big stations (unless you want a day trip to Chartres or Giverny or somewhere). The RER and Metro are easy enough to use, buses easier, taxis plentiful, and the city's very walkable with a centrally located hotel.