Has anyone drivin from Paris to Collioure or Perpignon? My husband and I have a 4 day 3 night hole in our schedule in between our stay in Paris and Barcelona. We are thinking about renting a car and slowly make our way down to southern france. If you have made the drive was it enjoyable? Were there a lot of little towns and options of places to stay and explore along the way? Or would we be better off taking a night train and just getting to Collioure and staying the whole time in the one spot?
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15602 posts
I'll start by saying I haven't been there. Do you know where you can return a rental car in the area and what the drop-off fees are? Try the DK Eyewitness "Back Roads France" guide book for suggested routes and places to see and stay. Most people who post here have said that night trains in Europe are a night mare. What are the dates? The time of year can make a difference.
Posted by
grand blanc
119 posts
Annie, we rented a car at cdg, spent several days exploring Provence while based in St.Remy, and then drove to Barcelona and dropped off the car. Loved having the car and very easy in France. While we did not mind the drop off fee in Barcelona.... We dropped off the car in town( near a main train station as I remember) and that was a traffic ordeal! Still very worth it - for all the convenience it gave us.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The baseline is that you can drive from Paris to Perpignan in eight hours including a lunch stop. I don't know if you can drop a car in Collioure, I know you can in Perpignan at the train station. Assuming you don't want to dork around Chartres or the Loire, the first three hundred miles / four hours isn't that great - - leaving you three pretty good choices: 1. Haul tail to the beach and cool it. The scenery gets good as you go through the Massif Central and you get to cross the impressive Millau Bridge. 2. Do essentially the above, but cut over to Nimes for the night and catch Pont du Gard and Aigues-Mortes along the way the next day. 3. Go as far as Perigueux the first night. Spend the next day in the prehistory area around Les Ezyies and spend the night in Albi. The next day wander the back roads through Castres and Carcassonne (if it rings your bell) and hop on the freeway for the last little dash. If you're a wine freak, you might want to swap Cahors for Les Ezyiers. Other modifications could include Peche Merle or Rocamadour. My drutheres would be the basic Door Three.