Should I shorten my travel time to France?

Posted by Stew (Blenheim, Ont, Canada) on 03/28/09 04:47 AM

I know this is a personal matter but I wonder If I am overdoing it?

First of all I will be traveling solo. I have done it before but it is not with out its issues like being alone when you don't want too but there should be enough to do to take care of that lonely issue. I did pose a solo thread in the past and people cave some great comments.
Anyways, I was planning on going 35 days.
The fist 5 days in Paris.
Then 6 days to Belgium
Back to Paris for 2 days.
Then down to Provence to bike for about 10 days to the various villages again, this will be alone.
Then 3 days to Nice and area.
Then I would head back to Paris for via Marseille for 7 more days.
I was thinking of doing days trips from Paris those last 7 days or just site around cafe's and read a book and watch the world go around.
I have been wondering if I really should shorten the end?
By them I may be tired and not appreciate those last 7 days?
I appreciate any comments.
thanks

Posted by Gio

Chicago, Illinois, USA

03/28/09 06:43 AM

586 posts

Hey, Stew. My only comment on your plan is that it includes a great deal of movement in and out of Paris...a lot of back and forth travel. You're right in that it's a matter of preference, but I'd rather set things up so that I'd limit time retracing my steps, or consider flying into Paris but out of another city...just a thought. Good luck!

Posted by Stew OP

Blenheim, Ont, Canada

03/30/09 12:41 AM

238 posts

Thats great advise.
I do look forward to spending 9 or so days in Provence using Arles as a home base and biking from there, like Avignon, Pont Guard.
I was thinking once back in Paris take a train to Brittany to Dinan for a night.
I was just concered that near the end(my last 6 days in Paris)(I was going to use paris as a home base for days trips ant the end.) I might be wore out

Posted by Ian

Marseille

03/30/09 07:25 AM

150 posts

If you will be in France for 35 days why not just go to different places as and when you feel like it, rather than deciding right now how many days you will spend in each place and in what order.

Just a suggestion, but you could start in Paris and simply wander around France in a vaguely clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, spending as much time or as little time in each place you come across, going by TGV where available or regional trains where not.

France has quite a varied geography, history and many architectural styles in a relatively compact area, 35 days would be enough to see many of these different aspects of the country.

For example, starting in Paris, you could go to Belgium, then down through eastern France, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley, Provence, across the Pyrenees, up into the Loire Valley, Brittany, Normandy, into the North, and back down into Paris.

That would be feasible in 35 days, and you'd get to see quite a lot of interesting stuff.