First post to the forum! The wife and I have been talking about a trip to Europe for some time and decided to finally use all the Amex miles we've accumulated to fly Business class to Paris on Air France. We are in our fifties and have done a lot of travel but this is the first time to Europe for both of us. In our planning we became Rick Steves fans, so much so that we went to see him speak at the L.A. Travel show last month. Much of my planning and preparation was based on his information along with this forum and other forums and a LOT of time on Google maps. I have probably taken an approach which might cost more than a RS purist, but hopefully it will reduce my stress levels. We leave in less than a week and I thought I'd share what I've done to prepare and my itinerary. LAX direct to Paris Three nights in the Marais at a hotel recommended by two friends. TGV to Bordeaux, rent a car and drive to the Dordogne. (Three hours train, two hours driving) Three nights in Dordogne at a RS recommended hotel. Drive to Carcassone and on to Provence. (5 hours driving) 2 nights Hotel in Provence highly recommended by a friend we are visiting. Trains, trains , trains to Florence although it will be through Switzerland and rather scenic I have read. (8 hours) Two nights in Florence. All RS hotels were booked if you can believe it, so I went rogue and picked a hotel researched on Google. Train to Rome stopping in Tuscany along the way. Three nights Rome at a RS recommended hotel. Return flight home. Let me know what you think!
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Sounds great! The only part I question - and not to say it's unreasonable - is going through Switzerland to get from Provence to Florence. Seems like that route would be more than 8 hours. But you have a great itinerary.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Your driving times are a bit over-optimistic. And, you might be able to save a couple of bucks. It's three hours from Bordeaux (St-Jean) to Sarlat or Les Eyzies - - if you can find your way across the Garonne in the first three tries. You can drive from Paris to either one in five hours. Also, you're paying for a train and a car on the same day. You're looking at about eighty bucks in gas and twenty-five in tolls for the trip south vs about sixty-dollars in tolls and gas coming in from Bordeaux. On the Dordogne to Provence run, it's close to seven hours to Aix and about six to Nimes. Whatever software you used for your number probably did not account for the slow-down getting around Toulouse and the reduced speed from Narbonne eastward. The old city at Carcassonne is about twenty minutes off the freeway and parking mignt be rough. You're not going to have too much time to look around.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33781 posts
Sounds nice. Only shame is you're not stopping for the Alps. But you can't do everything. When are you starting the planning for your next trip?
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
1825 posts
Thanks for the input so far. Doug, The times add up to 8 hours of travel although with some short layovers it will be an all day affair. There is no easy way to get from the South of France to Central Italy. Either the Coastal route or through the Alps, both I hear are scenic but require several changes. I hate to burn an entire day traveling but I had to decide on what we really wanted to see and do. I would have loved to book a private sleeper and wake up in Florence which would have left a free night of hotel expense, but they were booked. So I am "stuck" with train rides through France, Lake Geneva, The Rhone and the Alps, how horrible can it be? Ed,
Your information is very sobering and I'll adjust my expectations accordingly. I know it'll be expensive and I hadn't thought in terms of train and car expense on the same day but it makes sense to avoid that combo(next time). As for my times....Specifically we are driving to La Roque which I believe is 30 minutes closer than Sarlat? In Provence we have friends in Tarascon where we are staying which is also slightlly closer than the cities you mentioned. I know what seems easy sitting in front of my computer will be a lot different in reality, I plan on just leaving early in the morning and rolling with it. Thanks for the much needed input, RD
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
La Roque is actually a bit south of of Sarlat/Les Eyzies if you get off the freeway abeam Perigueux, but it's not a killer, maybe fifteeen minutes or so further from Bordeaux. The only Tarascon that I can think of in Provence is across the Rhone from Beaucaire, which makes it a bit more than a half hour from Nimes.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Where in Tuscany are you stopping on the way to Rome? Orvieto could also be a possible stop on the way to Rome. It is a quaint hilltown that is one hour away from Rome. It's very accessible by train. You actually take a funicular from the train station to the top of the town. I'm not saying to stop here in addition to a town in Tuscany. Only stop in Orvieto if your other town is not easily accessible. When planning your train trips, print out your possible schedule and take the copies with you. This will assist you in purchasing your tickets and in planning your trip. I print out the entire train schedule showing all the stops and changes. This will help you to know what stop comes before the one you want to get off at. I also print out the train schedules before and after the time I think I might take the train. You may want to catch an earlier or later train. It helps to have this info with you in case of itinerary changes. Have a good trip. I'm sure you'll be using your AMEX card when you return so that you can return to Europe in a few years.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
"I'm sure you'll be using your AMEX card when you return so that you can return to Europe in a few years." Just an FYI - in case you're not aware, don't plan on your AMEX being accepted anywhere near as often in Europe as it is here! Bring the VISA/MC! (and be sure you've called your credit card issuers and your bank to let them know where and when you'll be gone!!!) Then start using that AMEX card hot and heavy once you return, as Denise said ;-)