My husband and I want to visit our daughter who is attending school at Universite de Poitiers, about 3 hours south of Paris by train. Her spring break is in mid-April. We have never been to France and need suggestions on a reasonable itinery for a week.. perhaps heading to central or south regions.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I would shun the coast in favor of the Perigord, especially the Dordogne, Vezere, Lot, and Cele valleys. This is the land of medieval fortresses, cave paintings, and fois gras, among many other lovely things.
You could fly home from Toulouse.
Counterargument for Bordeaux: great wine. But I can't think of another compelling reason to go there.
If you've never been to France, though, maybe you'd rather spend some or all of the time in Paris, one of the greatest cities in the world.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Are you saying that Poitiers is three hours south of Paris by train, or that you want to spend a week traveling by train, or that you want to travel for a week by any suggested means of transportation? It makes a difference.
Posted by
OP
salem, oregon, usa
2 posts
We will land in Paris and take the train to Poitiers. She wants to show us around Poitiers.. so we can see where she hangs out and get a feel for what her routine has been like during the school year. Then, we want to rent a car and spend perhaps 4 days going somewhere. We are thinking perhaps heading towards Berritz, on the south western-most part of the coastline. We would like to find a place to stay put and make day trips.. avoid changing hotels every night.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
There is a town called Bidart just south of Biarritz and a Logis de France hotel there that I have stayed at and recommend. I can't remember the name (Yupa?) but if you google logis de france bidart you are bound to find it. I think there is a Logis de France hotel in or closer to Biarritz, too. (These are small hotels owned and run by families, often with Father as an excellent chef.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The Bayonne -- Biarritz -- St-Jean-de-Luz strip is pretty unremarkable. Biarritz is probably the highpoint and is worth maybe a lunch stop and a two-hour walk. It's also a bit pricey.
Maybe Bordeaux and a bit east? Bordeaux itself is worth a couple days. Saint-Emillion, a wine town on a hill is about twenty five miles east. Another sixty miles east puts you in the Perigord and the small city of Perigueux which is really neat and about twenty miles north of the extensive prehistoric area centered on Les Eyzies. The Lot/Dordogne/Perigord area can keep you busy for months.
Posted by
la frette sur seine
448 posts
Coming in to agree and disagree...If you've never been to France you might want to use the time to go back to Paris by train and skip the rental car..4 days is short and you'll spend it figuring out where you are and how to drive there. Regarding the south of Poitiers, my French husband and i were recently in the Pays Basque and loved St Jean de Luz as a base for going to villages in the foothills and over the border to St Sebastian...Stayed at Hotel de La Plage (nothing to do with it being a Rick suggestion..found it on own)...BUT...never been to France??..I'd go get a taste of Paris..and no matter what you choose it's not too early to book a hotel...Easter , school breaks, etc