Interested in anyone's experience of driving this trip and what you thought was great and what could be cut. Love Paris, Normandy, A touch of Loire, Dordogne, Carcarsonne, Provence, Eze, The coast and up through the French Alps. We can skip Burgandy and Alsace as we have been there. We will be traveling about Bastille Day and Carcarsonne on fire looks spectacular. Trying to cut some and add a few days to Provence. Also any must experience festivals? We went to the Rittierturnier Knights Festival in Germany last summer and it was one of the best days we ever had. I found it by googling summer events not to miss. If you know of any incredible gems like this, please let me know as I would plan my trip around something worthwhile.
Posted by
Burlingame, CA, USA
25 posts
Not sure we did Rick's drive around France but we did find a few interesting places. We dropped in on a street performers festival in Avignon held during July. There were several groups dancing in the big open area near the papal palace & passed the hat after their "turn."Lots of small theatre groups but we didn't speak enough french to attend. near Avignon is Les Baux, a city carved into a mountainside, a cathar refuge ? This was fun for our kids because they had replicas of medieval weapons of war. Have a great time!!
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
We have followed bits of it and on the basis of that experience say this: It's not a practical itinerary. You can do it yourself at a rate of 3 days for every 2, if you are nimble and like a fast pace. But to cover that ground in 3 weeks would be very unsatisfying without room and board and transportation and guides all arranged in advanced (as they are on Rick's tours, on which the itinerary is based). This of course makes your question that much harder to answer, because it means you've got to cut MORE that you probably thought to have the best vacation you can in your three weeks. Personally I'd pick 2 or 3 places to spend solid chunks of time--4-5 days in Paris and Provence, say--and then some two-night stands in between to connect things up.
Posted by
washington
837 posts
Carol, I have not read the Steves three week tour recently. However, we did spend 3 weeks a couple of years ago and skipped the areas you mention having been to previously. We flew into Nice, spent 2 or 3 nights. Drove along the coast to St. Tropez and then up to Provence where we stayed 3 or 4 nights. Then to Carcassone for 1 night, Sarlat for 2, Chinnon for 2, by Mont St Michel for a quick look and on to Bayeux for 2 nights, then to Paris via Honfleur and Rouen for a week. It was a lot of driving and a bit tiring, but we saw a lot and I cannot think of anything I would cut or change.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I think the way to use Rick's itineraries is the way that David just described from his own experience, as guides or frameworks to see the sights you want to see. I'd really caution against viewing them as "proof" that it wold be a good idea for travelers on their own to move as quickly as his tours do.