France in October?

This is a lovely time of year in France. We travel to Paris, Burgundy, Provence and the Var during the month of October. Paris is busier than you would think then because it is fashion weeks, and it is hard to get rooms at some places.We were shocked last October when we arrived in Paris-- it was packed from the fashion show, and the world Soccer Finals.Provence is lovely also. We stay in Isle -sur la Sorgue.Weather is geat- gets a little more brisk at the end of the month.

"Only" able to get away in October? It's one of the nicest of times to see these destinations.

Don't worry on that score!

I'll be travelling the last 2 weeks October -- what is the weather like then?

Lauren: where? which part of France?

October is a very good time for the Riviera & Provence as the weather's still warm & the prices are down. The first thing to take care of, as mentioned above, is getting a hotel reservation in Paris due to the fashion shows (9/27-10/5) and the Paris Motor Show (10/4-10/19). It would probably be better to do the South first and Paris last.

I live in the Chicago area...enough said. In order to save money, I'm considering going to France in the off season. Have never taken a winter vacation. Has anyone been to Paris in Nov. or Mar. and is it really bad? Will I still enjoy walking around or will I be looking to run into any harbor from the cold (as we do here in Chgo.)

Bryan, It is probably one of the best times to travel! We are doing a similar trip for three weeks late september with the addition of 3 days in the Loire region. Check into Air Transat's open jaw flights leaving from Montréal to Paris and coming back from Nice. Happy planning!

I've been to Paris three times in March (field trip with the kids' school) and it's been fine. A bit chilly, but nothing you can't handle with a jacket and long pants. Be sure to pack an unbrella just in case. I found that the churches were downright cold, so be sure to pack light mittens/long johns/heavy socks.

Paris -

For the October travellers:
Early October is nice with fall moving in. The temperatures have little variance from the evening to the day - within 10 degrees or so (fahrenheit) from the mid 50s to mid upper 60s. Rain is common but usually more likely in the early mornings and early evenings. No where near unbearable.

Late October to November:
This can be a bit more tricky - because the end of October into November can be mild to icky. Traditionally, Parisiennes complain about November - it is often grey and gloomy. But is still manageable from a tourist aspect. Snow is not common. The past few years from a weather aspect have been mild. Temps cool a bit more - more 50s than 60s.

The significant changes are the cold winds from the North Sea, the diminishing sunlight (on average Paris looses about 5-7 minutes of sunlight per day) thus you find the sunrise at 8h and sunset around 17h.

If you prepare by layering and bring wet weather attire - all is great. The advantage being the minimal tourists, the Eiffel Tower lights are on by 19h rather than 22h (good for the jet lag :o) ). Also - the museums often have new exhibits frequently.

Thanks for all the responses!
We have booked our flights (fly to Paris on Sept. 26 and fly home from Nice on Oct. 10). We booked our 5 nights in Paris at a small hotel recommended by a co-worker.
Does anyone have suggestions for where to stay in Provence and Nice area? We'll probably do 4 nights in each area. Looking for locations that we can get around easily for day trips (train, bus...we won't have a car).

Thanks again, Bryan

Without a car, I would suggest that you stay 3 days in Avignon, and 2 days in Aix en Provence...both towns are great stays in their own right and both have good local tours available by bus. For Nice, we loved our stay at the Mecure de Promenade des Anglais...the hotel was just "good" not great...but the location was spectacular...check out trip advisor, and remember that there are discounted rooms available through the various discounters (Hotel.com, Venere, etc), so don't let the list price put you off.

Bryan,
We have stayed in Arles in Provence twice and enjoyed it immensely. Last October we stayed in Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Riviera for the first time and loved it too. We had a car, but, we parked it, and used the bus to get into Nice. You can get anywhere on the coast,on the bus or train for very little money, and the schedules are excellent. Enjoy your trip!