Airport(s) in Southern France

International airports in Nice, Marseilles, Toulouse, and Bordeaux should help you with whichever plans you make.

I've been looking into the same question. So far I've found that both Delta and Lufthansa fly from Nice to SFO, with decent schedules. Delta has a change at JFK; and Lufthansa, at Munich. Right now both are showing prices for May around $1300 rt. Open jaw shouldn't be much, if at all, more.

Thank you both for your responses! Here is a question for those who have traveled within Southern France. What cities are absolutely not to be missed and what cities to avoid. We like quaint small towns. Rick Steeves used Aux Provence as a home base to explore several cities. We'd probably like to rent a car and use somehwere in So France as our home base after taining from Paris.
We'll have 9 nights (8 days) to explore. Thank you! Brenda

Provence is really two regions, the area close to the Rhone and the Riviera 3 hour east. Riviera = scenic, somewhat glitzy beaches and coastline. Provence is mostly inland, think lavender, Roman antiquities, Luberon hill towns. Based on what little you've said, I should think you'd prefer Provence proper, though you have enough time to visit both. Stay either in a town near the Rhone or in the Luberon (or divide your time). If Aux = Aix, don't stay there, it's too far from things. There is also plenty of what you say you like in the Dordogne and Lot and regions south. It can be stunningly beautiful and features old fortresses form the 100 Years War, prehistoric art, delightful small towns, and great food. You could drive there from Paris, spend 4 or 5 days in a small town along the river, then work your way south to the Lot and further, ending in Toulouse. Finally you could catch some highlights of Provence and the Dordogne by splitting your time. The Dordogne and Provence are at least comparable, but the Dordogne is less traveled by Americans because it is harder to reach from Paris. Because 9 days gives you the time to reach it, I think you should give the Dordogne priority verses Provence, which will be easier to work into future trips because of its great rail connection from Paris. But of course you should follow your travel noses first and foremost. Have a wonderful time!

Hi Brenda; I just got back from 3 weeks in Provence. Marseille Airport is the airport to fly out of if you will be ending in Provence. We flew XL Airways direct from NY to Marseille for much cheaper than other airlines. XL is a French airline that flies into only select US locations: San Francisco is one of them. They also fly out of Paris & Marseille. It may be good for you, check them out.

You may find it easier to begin your vacation by connecting through to Marseille at the start, probably for about the same fare as starting in Paris. The advantage of ending in Paris is that you will have a bigger choice of westbound flights, especially mid-day departures rather than early mornings out of Marseille.

No, don't use XL Airlines, unless you are really prepared to get what you pay for! I had no legroom, and I'm only 5'3. Imagine what my poor 6' husband had to go through! And they charge for a checked bag, though that is not as surprising now as it was a couple of years ago. Then we had a horrible experience coming back. Though I admit this was probably a one off... they had canceled a flight the day before and those passengers were staging a sit-in in Xl's check-in Area at CDG until some accommodation could be made for them. Our flight was delayed for two hours, and NO ONE told us why. Rumors eventually made it up to our part of the line. If you choose this airline, be sure to read up on it so you can be prepared. We might have been okay if we had researched it and been mentally prepared. But, stupidly, we did not, and we vow never to use it again.

I just flew on XL as I mentioned, and we did NOT pay for our 1st checked bag. We felt the legroom was no worse than on other more expensive airlines - it's awful on all of them. Our XL experience was very good and our flights were all on time, if not early. On the other hand my husband and son flew Lufthansa on this trip (because we used award miles and got two free tickets); their flight out of NYC was delayed 4 hours due to engine problems and this caused them to miss their connection out of Frankfurt which caused a whole mess of problems in meeting up with my daugther and I in France. They also experienced delays on Lufthansa on the return. We were right on time coming home on XL. There are horror stories to be had on pretty much all airlines.

Xl has been around for almost twenty years and only coughed up enogh money to buy a half dozen flying machines - - something to consider if you're interested in strength.

Just read the yelp and TA reviews about XL. Educational. What happens when your bag isn't on your flight, but put on the next flight. Only problem is the airline flies to your destination only once or twice a week. That's a new twist.

Thank you all for your replies! I booked our air for last week of Nov & first week in Dec: Flying into Paris. Staying 6 nights. We will have 9 nights in Southern France, ending up in Bordeaux for our flight home. We want to start by taking the train from Paris to Annercy and spending 1 night there. Before we leave from Bordeaux (stay 1 night the night before we leave), we want to spend at least 4 nights in Sarlat. That leaves 3 days & nights to get from Annecy to Sarlat. We'd rather not rent a car until we get near Sarlat (maybe in Brive) unless we have to. Therein lies the problem. Can anyone who has been there & gone from Annecy to Sarlat offer a suggestion for the most efficient itinerary to get from Annecy to Sarlat over 3 days? Can't seem to find a train route unless we return to Paris, which of course, we don't want to do. Thank you! Brenda