We are going to france on our honeymoon. We will be there for 7 days. We are trying to decide where to go besides Paris and Normandy, as well as how to allocate our time. Is it practical to try to go to Provence? The other possibility is the Loire valley. We enjoy wine, outdoor markets, and hiking and biking. Any and all advice would be appreciated.
Posted by
OP
San Jose, CA, United States
15 posts
I appreciate your help. The problem is that we don't know what we want to see. We will be in Europe for about three weeks. The first several days will be in Amsterdam, then France then off to Ireland. It may make sense to just explore paris and Normandy. I sort of wanted to get a little feel of everything but it may be impractical. Any advice on where to stay in Paris or Normandy? We like boutique style off the beaten tract.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Seven days doesn't give you that much time, especially if this includes travel days. You may want to stick with just Paris and Normandy. For allocation of time... well, it depends on what you want to see. You could probably take a month to explore the Normandy region, but specifically what did you have in mind?
And, because you asked, the Sunday market in Amboise is one of the most amazing I have seen anywhere.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Jeff, nobody knows what they'll like in a new place. The discovery of that is part of the adventure.
The good news is that you've picked some wonderful destinations. The trap is that as you add more and more stops, the more time you will spend in transit and the less doing justice to the places you have traveled so far to see. To the detriment of your trip.
Seven days is enough for a decent, if abbreviated, taste of Paris and one other region. Given your stated tastes, I'd recommend Provence over Normandy, especially if you can find a budget flight from Marseilles to Ireland. Getting there from Paris is a snap on the train, and would add a Mediterranean accent to your otherwise Northern itinerary.
But Normandy is a very fine choice too, and logistically feasible. I just wouldn't try to do both, and Paris, in the time you have.
Have a great trip!
Posted by
Ottawa, Ontario
27 posts
Jeff, to fully appreciate Paris, you should set aside at least 4 days. Also, with only a week, AND your trip being your honeymoon, I'd try to make Paris your focal point. This site (from the Paris tourism office) might provide food for thought: http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-sightseeing/paris-in-1-2-or-3-days/ Rick might also have an itinerary in his Paris book for spending a few days in Paris, you should check it out.
Day trips from Paris? Versailles in and of itself, is almost a day trip. Honest. Fontainebleau is another possibility (or the Loire Valley, as you mentioned). But look at your itinerary in Paris first to decide the number of days you'll have left. Again, Rick's book probably has day-trip ideas. Provence - get there by TGV (France's high-speed train), can be done. Nice takes 6 hours by TGV from Paris, to give you an idea.
Few more words on Paris - try not to go there as the overambitious tourist trying to get "as much done" as possible. With less than a week, try to "savour" Paris instead, and do it in bite-sized chunks. It's your honeymoon, after all, not the Amazing Race.
Best of luck, and enjoy the café scene!
SH
P.S. You should go to the Louvre (or on your next trip), go there early in the morning, or late in the evening (crowds are much more sparse), and don't spend too much time there at a given time. Otherwise, you'll find yourself exhausted and overwhelmed.