My husband and I plan to spend two nights in Nice and then travel to Avignon, where we will rent a car and stay 5 nights in St. Remy, traveling to Nimes, Arles, and various small towns in the area. Would it be best to rent the car in Nice, driving to St. Remy? Or to take the train between Nice and Avignon and rent the car in Avignon. What would we miss seeing, if we travel by train? Also, we plan to return the car in Nimes to catch the high speed train from Nimes to Barcelona. Is this a good plan? Or, are there some reasons to reconsider. Thank you.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
What time of year? I have made the drive from Nice to Avignon and it can be lovely with stops in Cannes, or Antibes, or Aix en Provence (or all three) but I have also been stuck in traffic in the middle of the summer that made that trip take almost 5 hours without stops. Returning the car in Nimes is a great idea. Of course, I might be saying that because I did that but in reverse for a trip from Barcelona to western Provence.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
We did a similiar trip in reverse last yr. i would train it from nice to avignon then get your car to enjoy Provence. There is alot to enjoy from nice to avignon but that could be saved for another trip or add more days to your trip to stop and savor. The corniches abv Nice and the wonderful villages that overlook the french riveria.
Posted by
OP
120 posts
I'm sorry. I should have stated we will be taking this trip the last week of September.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I would rent the car in Nice in order to include some small-town stops in Provence. You can get some ideas at http://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/provence-french-riviera-itinerary.