I would like to visit the south of France (Provence or Arles) on July 11th to around July 15th. I am concerned about crowds and lack of accomodations due to the music festivals. Can anyone tell me if the festivals will make a trip to the south of France too difficult to make it worth it?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I don't know the effect of the music festivals, but perhaps this will help: mid-July to mid-August is the most crowded (and hottest) time of the year to visit the south of France, because many, many Europeans take their long vacations (on average they get more vacation time than most Americans do) during those 4 or 5 weeks.
Posted by
near NY, NJ, USA
445 posts
The Avignon Festival in July makes that city VERY crowded and all the hotel/restuarant rates go up
But if you stay somewhere else it won;t be as bad. But please note that July and August are HIGH season in Provence and it is very busy and rates at their highest. Are you driving or usual public transportation? This makes a big difference as to where to stay, W/o a car, I usually recommend Avignon (but not in July) due to transportation links and sighteeing tours available to countryside.
You could stay in Arles, Orange or even L'Isle-sur-SOrgue ...all on train lines. With a car, the chices are wider. But if you can avoid Provence in July/Aug. I would suggest June/Sept. as better months to visit. ALL of Europe is on vacation in
August!
Posted by
oregon
131 posts
Ugh- sorry- as a teacher with limited choice as to when I can travel I get annoyed when people say "don't go"! Presumably you have reasons for needing to go that particular week. Anyway- as usual with my work schedule, I traveled all over France in July and August last summer.
Yes it was very warm and there were crowds, but neither stopped me from seeing what I wanted to see and it was the trip of my dreams. Two things: Bastille Day on July 14th is difficult for public tranportation. The fireworks over the Rhone River in Arles that night were unbelievable and it was memorable to be in the crowd surrounded by the French.
In Avignon the theater festival made the old city much more enjoyable for me, personally, than if it hadn't been in full swimg. I was able to get a package online that was two nights and pretty reasonable- lodging is difficult and it is more expensive.
Arles to Avignon by train or bus takes a little longer than RS implies- it's more like half an hour.
Posted by
brielle, NJ, USA
67 posts
I went to Arles and Avignon in October so I am no expert on the summer months but I can recomend an excellent and inexpensive hotel in Arles if you need one and also a cooking school there that has accomodation and takes you around the area to some lovely places to visit local artisans and the like...also I can reccomend a lovely B&B in Avignon...depends what you want to do there...I loved Arles!
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
I was there last July in Provence and French Rivera. It was not as busy and congested as I had expected. Reserving a room was difficult from RS guidebk as they were all full. so I booked larger hotels with success. And later 2 B&B's contacted me before I left home since thay had a cancellations. Therefore go do what you really want but definatelyt have reservations for lodgiing and a car bef you leave home.
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
Vasion La Romain -- in the same area as Avignon, and maybe on less of the tourist track. Certainly well wroth investigating. Check for the various B&B's in the citie medieval. Fabulous Tuesday Market as well.
Also, in the way way south, The Stone House B&B in Caux, France, near Pezenas, about 1/2 + hour from Montepelier. Well worth the visit... And I am sure there is no festival near there, just tranquility!