My husband and I are in the process of planning our summer trip to France and Italy. We have a total of 16 days and need to spend the last 4 in Tuscany (for a wedding). I have travelled extensively in Italy, so I want to spend the remainder of our trip in France. We are planning on renting a car, but besides that we are pretty open. Any suggestions on how we should divide the remaining 12 days? We want to see as much as possible (ie, dont want to spend too much time in any one place). Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Dallas
1021 posts
Hard to recommend anything without knowing your interests, however to avoid a big drop fee on the car, you could train it to Nice and pick up a car there. Drive around France, then drop it at, say Paris, before the flight home. If the trip is in July or August, the South of France and other popular places will be crowded so you'll need reservations. Use www.viamichelin.com to plot your routes and get estimated drive times and costs.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
So, your 12 days in France come before you will be in Tuscany? You certainly have a lot of options, especially if you arrange to fly to Italy. How much time do you want to spend in Paris, and what sorts of things do you like to see and do? What sorts of travelers are you?
Posted by
OP
Fullerton, CA, USA
12 posts
Yes, we plan on ending our trip in Tuscany. We don't want to spend more than a few days in Paris as we'd like to see as much countryside as possible. My husband is a history buff we definitely Want to visit Normandy. Besides that we r open to suggestions! South France, wine region, etc.
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
France is difficult because every region is great. A lot depends on whether you want to include Paris on this trip. Also, have you been to Paris before, and are you likely to ever go back to France? My wife and I have been all over France, and highlights for us outside of Paris were: Dordogne Normandy Provence
Alpes-Rhone That said, Paris is the greatest and is worth five nights unless you have just been/will go again. If no Paris on this trip, it free up a lot of time for the smaller towns.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9420 posts
Going by your criteria, my suggestion is 3 days each: Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley and Burgundy. Enjoy!
Posted by
Germany, Germany
813 posts
I suggest starting in Paris, heading over to Alsace (my personal favorite-Strasbourg-Riquewihr-Ribeauville), then down through Beaune and Lyon, from there you can cut East a bit into Italy or straight south to Marseilles, then East to Italy.
Posted by
Dallas
1021 posts
OK, Ali, I have my reading glasses on this time. ;-) Knowing some of your interests now, I'll suggest a route which I'm looking at for a future trip. Train from Paris to Bayeux. Stay at the Churchill Hotel. Visit the cathedral and see the tapestries. Tour the beaches; D-Day Battle Tours gets good reviews or pick up a car and drive. Drive to Loire Valley. Visit the châteaux de Chambord, de Cheverny, de Chaumont, de Beauregard. Stay Blois. Morning drive to Burgundy. Lunch Dijon. Afternoon drive down Route des Grand Crus (N74) to Beaune; degustations. (This is perhaps the most famous wine route in the world; 30 km of outstanding wineries.) Stay at L'Hôtel de Beaune. Drive to Avignon. Stay at Hotel La Bastide de Boulbon south of the city. Visit Uzes, Nimes, Arles, etc. The Pont du Gard is nearby, but we've toured it and Avignon before. Drive to the Luberon. Perched villages, wineries, food, etc. One of our favorite places anywhere. Stay l'Auberge de Carcarille near Gordes. Drive to Nice or you could choose to take the TGV Avignon-Nice and then train to Italy. Remember the fee if you drop the car in Italy.