Please sign in to post.

Would you rather?

Puzzling together an itinerary and it's leaving me with the following options

A) 1 night Lyon; 4 nights bike touring Rhone Valley (including full afternoon and overnight in Arles where biking ends); 2 nights Florence.

B) 2 nights Lyon; 4 nights bike touring Rhone Valley (including full afternoon and overnight in Arles where biking ends); 1 night Florence.

C) 2 nights Lyon; 3 nights bike touring Rhone Valley (longer days on the bike, late afternoon and overnight Arles); 2 nights Florence.

D) 2 nights Lyon; 3 nights bike touring Rhone Valley (normal length days on the bike, drop off rental bike Arles, immediately rush to airport same day); 2 nights Florence.

All options would finish the same way - four nights apartment in Siena, two nights Lucca.

I will be back to Tuscany in February with my wife and kid for five or six nights. On the one hand it gives plenty of opportunity to visit Florence, on the other hand, I do kind of like previewing places where we will be going as a family.

I've been to Florence but not since 1991. All other destinations I have never traveled to except for train pass-through.

Which would you pick and why? Thanks

Posted by
1498 posts

I'd be inclined to lean to B or C. Not D, I don't like the thought of immediately rushing to an airport.

😪 I wish I could do bike tours.

Posted by
227 posts

Hello,

I would rather do B

OR, I would ACTUALLY rather do E) 2 nights Lyon, 3 nights on the bike, 2 nights Arles, 1 night Florence

Why? Because I would want to absorb more of France while I'm there, especially Arles, which I really like. And because I can fairly easily take a bus back to Florence from Siena for a day if I felt I needed to. But you won't. Because Florence is easy. You don't really need to preview it too much. :)

Oh, wait a minute. My option E has 8 nights instead of 7. Hmmm. Then I guess I pick B.

Posted by
2243 posts

Thanks for replies.

Sunny I am struggling with the more time in France or more time in Italy question. France is lovely, and Arles looks very much like the type of town I like in Europe.

On the other hand, Tuscany seems easy and accessible and relaxing. I want to preserve time to be posted up in an apartment for a while.

Your option E actually has crossed my mind, been considering arriving a day earlier. So it might not be totally out of the running depending on availability, prices, etc

Thanks again

Posted by
227 posts

Hank,

As a retired salesman, I feel certain that I could sell you on Option E.......But this is just a friendly Travel Forum and I don't get a commission for 'selling' my ideas. :)

Plus, I think with B or E, you're a winner either way! Whichever you choose, Enjoy!

Posted by
982 posts

Hank.

You’re covering a lot of territory with 13 nights. When is this trip, BTW? That make a difference, both cycling and visiting.

To me, you’re shorting both Lyon and Florence, but then again you’re returning to Tuscany soon, even if briefly for 5 or 6 nights.

I am not as strong a cyclist as you. Looks like Lyon to Arles is 188 miles by bike, so 3 days in the saddle is about 16 miles per day more distance than 4 days. (63 vs. 47 on average)

I’d take a night away from Lucca and make Lyon 3 nights. But you have considered this throughly, I’m sure.

One other comment … we were in Florence in Sept 2002 and May 2014. Much more crowded and graffitied in 2014. Disappointing. It can only be more so, now.

Bon Voyage / Buon Viagge

Posted by
2243 posts

Fred, I think I could consider taking a night away from Lucca is my departure city, short direct train ride to the Pisa airport. Would not be so bad arriving there before lunch time, dropping stuff at the hotel, spending a long afternoon and evening. I did want to take a bike ride out the river trail from Lucca, maybe to the sea, but I will have done plenty of bike riding on the trip in some really premium spots already.

It is kind of a short trip, 13 nights I think. But it was sort of last minute, was looking at the family calendar and saw a couple of dead weeks and thought maybe go ride a bike in Europe.

I'll think about stealing a day from Lucca to make the rest of it flow better :)

Posted by
10375 posts

Lyon is an interesting city, but I wouldn't spend more than two nights there.

The Rhone Valley is loaded with history. Loved Arles and many of the places between Lyon and Arles.
Don't miss the ancient Roman aqueduct at Ponte du Gard.

Tuscany, love it, love it. Siena is great to use as a base to see many small cities and towns in Tuscany. Don't miss Florence, Lucca, Pisa,
San Gimignano, Cortona, Volterra and Pienza.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g187893-a_contentId.1176477609347172+268261805-Tuscany.html