Trip Provence to the Dordgone

Probably, fly into Marseilles or if that is not feasible, deGaulle.

Fly out of Bordeaux or Toulouse.

Sounds like a great trip!

I'm doing a similar trip (1 week Dordogne, 1 week Provence, 1 week Annecy/Chamonix) next summer and have been tracking flights for a while now. I booked flights via Icelandair into Paris and out of Geneva because flying via the carriers that service Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon and Marseille is really expensive. Icelandair was $950 while Flying Delta/AF, KLM, Luft/American, BA, and Iberia are currently sitting at $1,600 each. I intended to fly via Toulouse or Bordeaux and then either Lyon or Geneva.

-Matt

Ideally, I would have a rental car for most of this trip. Is that your plan? Picking it up and dropping it off at different locations within France is no problem and usually no fee.

I agree that driving is the way to go. We've done it several times and you really need a car to see the Dordgone anyway. It is a long drive but a perfect stop enroute is Carcassonne. I picked up a car in Aix en Provence and dropped off In Brive le Galliard. If you fly out of Bordeaux , have the time, and enjoy wine, stop in St. Emillion , a beautiful town and great wine!

Thanks so much for advice. As of now we are hoping air fares come down somewhat. Plan A is to fly to Paris, take TVG to Avignon where we pick up car, drive to rental in St.Remy. 2nd week drive to rental in the Dordogne and then drive to Bordeaux, turn in car, either fly or train to Paris for trip home.
Plan B would be to fly to Marseille, pick up car and proceed as above. Any thoughts? You are all very kind to help.

I'd prefer Plan B, to avoid the 2-1/2 hour train from deGaulle (plus maybe a wait, these trains don't run often) or Paris (which entails the trip into Paris, at least another hour plus transfers with bags).

But I'd do A to save money. If it was enogh money.

It's probably about an hour's drive to St Remy from Marseilles. If your are jet-lag-driving averse you could take a train to Avignon or train or bus to Arles or Aix and pick up a car there.

Hello from Wisconsin,
While in the Dordogne area which is rather highly developed for tourism, drive up the Lott River and you might find rural France. And if THAT tickled your fancy continue up the Celle River.

The Dordogne does have the spectacular castles, the Lott has cattle in pastures, the Celle R is in a canyon of its own making with a cave open to tourists with prehistoric paintings. The real cave, not a mock-up.
wayne iNWI