We will be skiing in French Alps (Brides-Les-Bains) in March for a week, and then we have 9 days to spend in SF and we fly back from Barcelona. here is our preliminary plan: after skiing we get to Lyon by train, spend 1 or 2 nights in Lyon, take train to Avignon, spend 4 or 5 nights in Avignon with day excursions, train to Barcelona (via Nimes to catch TGV) and 2 nights in Barcelona. My 'OR' means I am not sure how better to split time. Please advise. It is our 1st time in Provence, and we are not sure if it is reasonable to see Provence in March.
We would prefer to take local trips by train or bus, but may consider car rental if necessary. thank you.
Posted by
Savannah, Ga, USA
8 posts
I can't speak for Lyon or for visiting Avignon in March but we spent 4 nights in Avignon in Sept 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed it.We rented a car and found it easy to drive to Les Baux,Pont du Gard,Arles,etc.Bon voyage!
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Elena, compared to the summer and shoulder seasons in March you will find less daylight and shorter hours at attractions. Some buses will run on reduced hours or not at all. This all argues in favor of renting a car for your stay there--to visit more places easily during open and daylight hours. However if you are planning to confine yourself to the rail-line towns of Avignon, Arles, & Nimes, you probably can dispense with a car.
Posted by
Bellevue, WA, USA
811 posts
march is too early for provence - the flowers are not blooming.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
566 posts
I spent a week in Arles and a week in Nice a couple of years ago in March and had a great time. No crowds and everything was open. The wind (Mistrals) was a monster but you will be more than prepared coming from the Alps. You will probably get lucky with a few sunny days. I imagine it wasn't the ideal time to go but if your choice is either go or don't, then go! Your plan sounds good to me. I'd probably spend 1 night in Lyon and add the other to Avignon or Barcelona. I would make my home base in a larger town like you are suggesting in Provence too. The smaller towns like St. Remy were very quiet when the sun started setting and we had a hard time on a few occasions finding a place to eat late in the day. Back home in Arles, no issue at all. We had a car and found it easy to park outside of all the towns but you can find plenty to see in 5 days if only rail is available. Driving is so easy and a joy in this part of France but it can get expensive with the tolls the further south you go, still worth it to me. If it's still Carnival season when you are there like it was when we were there, then there's a lot of street performances, parades, small festivals, etc. and all the local kids will be in costume. It was a fun time to be there.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
I would think that to thoroughly enjoy Provence, you will need a rental car. There is so much to the east and southeast that really takes a car to see. In Avignon, there is a large public multi-story garage about a block from the main train station. See map at this link for the parking garage. http://www.lecolbert-hotel.com/img/le_colbert_hotel_avignon_pedestrian_access.pdf About 20Eu/day to park there but you won't be able to find parking on the many of the streets. The garage has staff so it appears to be somewhat secure.
Posted by
OP
silver spring, md, usa
18 posts
Thank you very much for all your responses. It is very helpful. yes we understand provence is much much better in spring-summer, but we can't ski in the summer :) Leslie, thanks for such a detailed description. we decided now to limit Lyon to one night and add day in Barcelona.
maybe we can use small van tour companies for trips to small towns, which can't be reached by the train. RS book has a couple references. BTW, we 've been to Barcelona before and loved it a lot, but we never took a day trip out of the city, any suggestions? thanks again.