Air fare to France in September is much higher than August, but I am concerned that the crowds in August will be larger and that in the Dordogne area the driving time from site to site will be much longer. Would really appreciate thoughts. I am thinking that perhaps it is worth the higher airfare to get a better experience in September. We are in our 70's so there wont be do overs for this particular area. help?
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1882 posts
If you centralize yourself in the Dordogne Valley, you will be no more than hour from any sight to visit. I would suggest renting a car in Bordeaux and returning the car there. It is a very easy two hour train ride from Paris to Bordeaux.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14738 posts
How well do you do heat? It won’t likely be a problem in Normandie but in Bordeaux it might. I was in Bordeaux/Dordogne in October and some days felt pretty warm to me. I’m not very heat tolerant so I would avoid August.
Posted by
OP
Texas
37 posts
Thank you for thoughts. We have reinvented our trip. Driving in early September from CDG through Normandy then on to Dordogne. Hoping cfrowds will be a bit smaller and driving times through out Dordogne a bit quicker.
Posted by
87 posts
The summer vacation in France (for schools) ends on September 1, 2022.
So by coming in September instead of August you will avoid major weekend traffic jams on the roads caused by departures on vacation (or returns).
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7167 posts
We were there in September 2018
Paris, Bayeux, Ambroise, Sarlat then down to Provence/Nice
It wasn’t super crowded anywhere.
Loved loved loved Dordogne area
We were not mentally prepared for the wicked heat wave we experienced and very glad a few of our hotels had pools that we didn’t expect to use.
YMMV!
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
I'd choose only air conditioned lodgings, especially in the Dordogne. If you end up in some sort of historic rural rental without a/c, be sure you know how to manage without a/c in case it's hot. (I think it involves keeping heavy shutters closed all day long, but I've never had to do that, because I choose hotels with a/c.)
Posted by
Paris
7303 posts
You'll save a good bit on hotels outside of cities in Sep, and that will probably offset the airfare, or part of it at least. And crowds will be MUCH fewer. Part of Germany and NL are still on summer holidays in early Sep, but that's not a big factor in the Dordogne as far as I know and it's definitely not a factor in Normandy.