Travel in summer or winter?

We've done winter, never summer because of the crowds, plus spring and what you mentioned, late August - September. Our favorite time to go is early September to late or mid October. Crowds are less, the weather is better, prices can be lower or easier to bargain for a lower rate, and fall is a magical time to travel in France. You didn't mention school for your kids if timing is a consideration. January in Paris was great with a number of sunny days but we were lucky with the weather. Not sure about southern France in winter whether there is much to do or see as in the spring and fall. Spring can still be a bit chilly and often rainy. If you are mostly flexible, I'd advise an early fall trip.

I've been in winter, but April-May, September-October months are much more pleasurable.

Nothing worse than to go to Venice in Winter and just about freeze--miserable days.

We go during winter. In fact we are leaving in four days and will be going over my kids' Christmas holiday break. Here is why we choose winter:

Cheaper
So much less crowded
I have one in high school, one in middle, and one in elementary so my high schooler is busy enough in the summer with camps etc that winter is easier
Again, school, so the two and a half weeks they get off is perfect

Christmas is a magical time in Europe! (If you are going during that time)
CHEAPER so you can stay longer
SO MUCH LESS CROWDED -- I know I already said that, but seriously, no two hour lines for the louvre.

Also -- we have been to south of france and the weather was not bad at all and mostly sunny. Paris was not so bad. Normandy was REALLY cold haha but we just gritted our teeth and did it. But I'm also from Florida so everything is really cold to me!

As I'm sure you're already aware, generally south = hotter. I could still be very warm, if not downright very hot in Provence and Nice and the French Riviera.

We did a bike tour in the Champagne region (west and north of Strasboug) one mid-September and had pleasant temperatures, with rain on some days. In September you might experience some of the grape harvest activity, and could be sharing backroads with tractors leaving muddy tracks on the roadway.

Spring and Fall are the best times for this. August can be both crowded and miserably hot (we were there during the infamous 2003 heat wave in Paris that killed over 200 people and was over 100F for about a week. September/October and May are our favorite times for Paris. We have spent two rainy chilly unpleasant Novembers there. Our last November in Paris it was overcast drizzly every single day. We have recently spent two Octobers and each was just lovely. Cool and often sunny.

I normally travel in either the spring or fall shoulder seasons, May / June or Sept. / Oct. and find that to be a really nice time to travel. They weather is usually good but the heat of summer has decreased. While the crowds may not be as thick in the winter, some sights may be closed or operating on reduced hours, daylight will be much shorter, and you'll also have to pack along more cold weather gear (boots, large coats) which probably won't be as pleasant.

Thank-you so much for the replies. Your advice is very much appreciated :)

It's seems that winter is cheaper but we may get lots of rainy days....we don't mind the cold but contrast rain would not be great. We like the idea of smaller crowds and exploring parks/forests but I agree Christmas would be amazing.

We can do either 5 weeks from late August or 8 weeks from mid November - kids will miss 2-3 weeks of school either way (we are from Australia).

If we go 8 weeks we are looking at slow travel from Paris-Nice (2 weeks)-Lyon-Bern-Munich- strasbourg (for Christmas)- paris.

If we do the 4 weeks, we would arrive late August and go the other way with strasbourg first to avoid August crowds in nice and also we would drop Bern and Munich, but add Annecy.

Any tips on how much spending money for food/spending each day is needed? We did 5 weeks in America last year and spent about $120usd/day for the four of us with eating at the unit and out at simple cafes, public transport and entry into activties ect. Are the costs similar?

I much prefer traveling in the winter even than the shoulder season, generally. I won't go in the summer as it is too crowded and too hot. I prefer winter as there are no crowds, people are happy to see tourists, and some accommodations are less expensive. I did go to the UK once in July, but it was to visit a family member in one particular small village, so the crowds didn't matter. I'll say the flowers were lovely to see, but otherwise, I like late October thru March for Europe. Venice was the only wet place that I visited in the winter and it was the coldest place and foggiest place I've ever been...and that even with a family house on Casco Bay! I love Nice in the winter as it is sweater weather for me. Provence would likely be the same. I wouldn't hesitate to do the places you list in France in the dead of winter. The only place I've encountered more than one rainy day in a row is Paris, but that still wasn't bad, and that includes the UK. Maybe we are just lucky, but after years of travel, I don't think so. Go in the winter and have more time!

The latest Nice trips have included a relatively cheap breakfast in our rented apartment of coffee or hot chocolate and croissants from the bakery down the street (French style, not a big breakfast, but save room later for lunch and dinner). Dinner, if not fixed in the apartment (pasta), was at a fairly nice/pricey restaurant. We didn't really track daily meal expenses, and you can spend less depending on the restaurant or café you visit. Of course, soft drinks are often more expensive in France than in the USA - how much is a Coke in Australia, if any of you drink soda pop? Water is free, if you ask for a carafe of water. And (I'm not positive of the procedure in Australia) tips and taxes on meals are generally included in the price, so unlike here in the USA, the price on the menu is the final price, unless you want to leave a little extra. Socca (fried chickpea crisps) in Nice is cheap and is a must while you're there!

If you start by staying put in Nice for a week at the end of August, hopefully you would not compete as much with the holiday crush. I think September to mid October is a great time for travel in France.
Week #1 - Nice
Week #2 - Provence
Week #3 - Lyon & Annecy
Week #4 - Burgundy & Strasbourg
Week #5 - Paris

We've been to Nice and Provence in winter several times. You need a wool coat, scarf, and gloves even if the sun is out. The days the cold winds are blowing south out of the Alps are very unpleasant. There are no tables set up next to the sea, some shops and restaurants are closed until March. I'd definitely travel late August-September, starting in the north and ending in the south.

I think it might be the luck of the draw for the weather, but I have a picture of me sitting on the rocky beach at Nice in a jean skirt and a light sweater. I remember being perfectly comfortable. In fact, all my pictures in Nice have me without the unlined trench, I used in Paris on that trip, just light sweaters. However, I'm from New England so maybe that is the difference. I would just suggest you bring gloves, a scarf and earmuffs, just in case. I do travel with them, but seldom need more than leather gloves on the coldest days. I've traveled in the UK, France and Italy in the winter several times each. December, January and February. The heaviest coat I've ever brought to Europe was an unlined leather jacket. Summer heat would be hell for me. I can't see where you're from so...that makes a huge difference I think.

I highly recommend the Loire Valley for 3 to 5 days. Lots of historical chateaux, caves, and activities for children. Beautiful area.

definitely late Aug-Sept. Much better weather. Nov starts rainy. By Sept. kids are in school and tourists are much less. Sept is our favorite time to go to Europe. Hotel rates should also drop after Aug., but not as low as Nov. I would want to pay somewhat more and have lovely weather for touring. Can be still warm (long shorts, capris, light pants, short sleeve tops). But, 8 weeks vs. 5 weeks I might be tempted to do Nov/Dec and spend the rainy time in museums. Food is $$ in France. Dinner for family of 4 is usually $80 per night for us.

We travel in September. The college kids are back in school and overall it's less crowded than summer. But, the weather is still very nice to sit outdoors at restaurants to eat. For us, the number of hours of daylight is a factor because we enjoy more outdoor activities when we travel than being inside.

If you switch, August in Paris, when evryone else is on holiday in the rest of France.

Just a quick note that the 2003 canicule (heat wave) in France killed some 15,000 (yes, fifteen thousand) people, not 200.

http://www.ined.fr/fr/tout-savoir-population/memos-demo/fiches-pedagogiques/la-canicule-d-aout-2003/

According to the National Institute for the Study of Demographics, on the most brutal day of the canicule, Paris and its region saw more than 6 times the 'normal' death rate for that date (as compared to prior years). During the peak three days of the heat wave, deaths across France were one and a half times the normal rate (deaths were more than double normal in Paris and its region, plus the "Centre" region, for the first 20 days of August that year).

http://www1.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/045/article_24804.asp

http://fresques.ina.fr/jalons/fiche-media/InaEdu04584/les-victimes-de-la-canicule-d-aout-2003.html

I have travelled in late fall, end of September to late November and mid to late winter (March). Last fall, I arrived in Paris on Nov 2 and departed Nov 23. There were still MANY tourists around. The lineup for the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre were still considerable in mid-November. For this reason, I would suggest off season travel. In addition, I do not like hot weather; many rentals will not have air conditioning.

I have visited the Nice area from late September, into October and another visit in Mid-March. A bit of rain in March, but nothing to stop me seeing the sites. I stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer when there; the town is on a hill, so pay attention to where the lodgings are. I prefer the old town, closer to the water, train and not far from the bus.

In Paris, beginning in mid-November, the Champs-Elysées hosts a Christmas market. Delicious mulled wine. It was a lot of fun to roam down the avenue, watch people and sip wine. I have the plastic cup from the wine in my bathroom; a daily reminder of Paris. The weather was fine; a few days were balmy and shirtsleeve weather by mid-morning. I brought several layers and thin mittens to keep warm; no problem. Scarves are the travellers friends. It is very easy to shed layers and put them in your day bag. Paris has so many small parks to picnic in. I love the markets; I think the kids would enjoy all the fresh fruit, veggies and the whole fish and chickens with the heads and feet on.

Enjoy France.

I love the long days of summer! We love early June travel, and tourist numbers always seem low.

Just returned from a late December, three week trip to Alsace France, Switzerland, southern Germany and Austria. We had a great time with the Christmas decorations, atmosphere and markets. Not a lot foreign tourists and travel was easy. We were very fortunate that the weather was very mild and mostly sunny - more like early spring. It got dark early, but took that into account when planning our itinerary. Often visited the Xmas markets in the evening so didn't feel disadvantage when it got dark at 5 pm. We traveled by car which was great and didn't cost much, with low rental rates and now cheaper gas. I think, however, that your 8 weeks may be best split between the seasons as your husband suggests so that you can get the best of both times of year.

Anyway, in answer to your original question, I would do the late-August through September trip. You'll get to enjoy so much then, September can be really lovely.