I need 12 day Itinerary for France and maybe Spain?

Chris It would help if we knew what you are interested in . Then we can help you better. Provence, Paris, and Barcelona are all awesome. And could fit in 2 weeks but . . . need more info from you.

I haven't spent much time in Europe at all. My trip is actually 35 days. I'm travelling with my daughter 14 and son 11. I do want to travel a little leisurely but want to be able to get a taste of the culture and history. 4 days in Rome 7 days in Tuscany 4 days in Venice 11 days on a cruise to Turkey/Greece then back to Venice then I have 12 days left.
Initially I was thinking of passing thru Cinque Terra and then on to South of France for a week. I do enjoy beaches, and I'm not much of a wine connoisseur, but would love to learn. I've heard that Barcelona is a 'must do" but I don't want to be spread too thin. By the way - if you have any thoughts on the above, please let me know - places to stay etc. Nothing is booked yet! Thanks for your help!

Wow! What a fabulous trip for you and your kids! It is really good that you have a long stay in Tuscany and the cruise so you don't feel you are always staying in a different hotel. If you have not booked your air, do so soon. Best is Open Jaw, in one city and out of another. May seem more expensive but you would have to backtrack to the original city and pay, of course. Also, the cruise. as there are not so many triple cabins. What do your kids like to do? If they are into horses, did you know that there are "cowboys" in southern France, in the Camargue? Bet they would love some soft adventure; canoeing, biking, etc. That can be done lots of places. But their interests will help guide you. Also, your kids can help you plan once you get your itinerary more set. Also, how much have your kids traveled? I would give some thought to their potential travel fatigue and what you thing might alleviate it. Also a break from Dad (other than the cruise) might be called for. Arrange for a young English speaking off duty hotel staff member to spend some time with the kids. Maybe someone else has ideas on the itinerary since I seem to have gone off track!

Provence is a great destination, but it's not really about beaches. There are beaches in the Cote D'Azure, but (in my opinion) better ones in French Catalonia, west of Provence. (The ones in Spanish Catalonia, on the way to Barcelona, are supposed to be better still.) I think you can have a really great trip in 12 days. You could even manage Provence + Barcelona + Paris, if you don't mind the pace (not, however, leisurely). I'd want to fly to Paris, though. Otherwise, maybe you'd consider leaving either Barcelona or Paris for another trip. You could split the time between Provence and Paris without running out of great things to see and do, or stop enroute in Burgundy for a few nights. Alternatively, a Paris-free itinerary lets you tour the entire Mediterranean coast as far as Barcelona. This would let you take in the entire South of France; it's a lively and friendly place.

Chris If you are looking for beaches near Barcelona check out the Costa Brava north of there (just south of the French border) and Stiges south. I think you can do a day trip to Stiges. Someone else was asking about the Barcelona beaches and said they were not so nice and very crowded. Lots of roaming vendors and big problems with petty theft.