We've got a few days in between our RS Paris & Heart of France tour and our AMA river cruise beginning in Lyon. We had planned on spending those two nights in Avignon as we have no car and it's fairly large enough with things to do. We'll already have a few days in Lyon pre cruise so thought that would be enough. Is this plan ok or would you think we'd be better based somewhere else for the two days than in Avignon?
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7802 posts
Avignon would be a convenient location to later head to your river cruise, but is your cruise The Colors of Provence? If so, I would spend your extra days in Paris. There’s so much to do there, and your other stops on both tours are smaller. You will be heading towards the Avignon area with your river cruise.
I also really like Chartres if you wanted to just have a day trip from Paris.
Posted by
OP
14 posts
Our river cruise heads north from Lyon to Dijon with no time in Provence area at all. We’ll have spent about 4-5 days in Paris already pre RS and during tour. Husbands prefer seeing other things. If we were doing Provence area cruise I wouldn’t feel the need to do Avignon extra. I’ve been to Avignon briefly years ago and traveling companions have never been to France at all. Just want something relatively easy to travel in and out of and interesting.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7802 posts
Thanks for the details. Yes, then Avignon makes sense as your next destination after your tour. Have a great time!
Posted by
OP
14 posts
Thanks for the confirmation of our current plans!
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Avignon would be a good base without a car. It has its own sights and there are good train and bus connections to other sights like the Pont du Gard, Arles, and some of the villages. It's an easy TGV from Paris and back to Lyon. A few days in Lyon will be enough, I expect. This sounds like a great overall plan, combining independent travel, and land tour, and a river cruise.
Posted by
OP
14 posts
So we'll be able to easily see Pont de Gard and Arles via train and without car? We're thinking specialized tour might be necessary?