We will be traveling by car for 27 days this fall. We leave Paris heading towards Beaune, then Switzerland (Gruyeres/Interlaken), then Italy (Lake Como-Tuscany area-Cinque Terre), then France (Provance area-Lyon. Except for Beaune on first night we don't have any other dates. Any suggestions for where to spend most of our 27 days???
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I think your basic choice is, spend more time in the places you've picked versus visit more places. Probably you want to do some of both.
On the "more places" menu, I'd be strongly tempted by Steve's suggestions, especially the Dordogne. You can easily spend a week in Languedoc and Perigord (together), also a week in Provence. Your Italian destinations might be another 7-10 days or more.
Do you plan to spend time in Paris at the end of your trip? Because if so, you're out of time! Of course there are other ways to do it.
Two points: You've picked some great destinations, do not shortchange them. Another day at most of them will give great pleasure. Second, traveling in the fall means you can travel without advanced reservations, making decision as you go. Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
Encinitas, CA, USA
50 posts
Thanks Steve & Adam. I forgot to mention that we are spending a week in Paris before picking up our leased car and then after the 27 day drive we are spending our final week in Greece. I have Rick's 2010 books on France & Italy and in Switzerland we are there only for Bernard Oberland, hence Interlaken. I also have Rick's 2007 book on Best of Europe. My first time to Europe so it is great to hear from people like you who have been there and/or know so much about Europe.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Assuming you will fly to Greece, you can still follow something like this, if it appeals to you.
If you don't mind a bit of driving, you can rent or lease a car in Provence, use it to see Provence, drive west along the cost, perhaps visiting Perpignan or Collioure, perhaps visiting the Haut Corbieres and Carcasonne, perhaps visiting Albi and St. Cirq with a stop at the Grotte du Peche Merle on the way to the Dordogne.
If you'd rather, you can rent two cars--one in Provence and one in Carcasonne or Toulouse or Albi (which you can visit by rail). A car will be a big plus in the Dordogne and Lot valleys.
You can return that and take the train to the Loire, or drive there, and then swing through Normandy, ending up at deGaulle or Orly for your flight to Greece.
If you skip Normandy and/or the Loire you can travel north by train and fly to Greece from Amsterdam.