3 – Is it possible to rent a car and drive to all of the above listed places in a day (the 9/20 day)?

Renting the car that morning will eat up time you don't have, depending on what time the car rental opens--if you could rent the afternoon/evening before it would save several hours, letting you get an early start driving. You can rent a car at the Arles train station but the disadvantage of renting the day before is that you then have to have secure overnight parking. Hotel du Musee can do that but book ahead and specify you have a car. You want secure overnight parking in Arles. And pay for the CDW with a low deductible you're comfortable with, for the short rental it would be a shame for something to happen and it can, some of the "streets" in Arles where you'll have to make 90 degree turns are challenging and many cars have scrape marks on the right rear door.Look at a map and you'll see how much of a deviation to the south the Camargue is, I'd do it another time.With those changes this could easily become a great day's road trip, instead of a desperate and frustrating dash in which you'll be too rushed to see everything, be frustrated at not seeing it all, and not having enough time at any of the destinations. Look at a map at the location of Camargue versus Pont du Gard and you'll see what I'm getting at. And a visit to viamichelin.com will help you although if you don't have a GPS add an hour or two of getting lost.GPS recommended to eliminate losing time getting lost. If that's not possible, get the detailed Michelin map showing that area, a small compass, and a competent navigator in the passenger seat. Re your question #2, you said get to Provence but then you mention Nice as if it's in Provence, it's not in Provence.I'll step aside and let others answer your question #1 and the details of your question #2.

Dear Jinny,
We used St. Remy De Provence as a base and the trip to Camargue was virtually a full day incling the long driving round trip. Le Baux was worth five or six hours by itself. You may want to schedule less and savor more. George, Pittsburgh (grew up in Queens, NYC)

Like most inexperienced travelers you have planned too much for the time you have. Take the advice given here and revise your itinerary.

Start by looking at a map of the area and note the distances between cities.

You will find that you cant travel a fast so it will take more time to move from one to another.

That means you have less time for touring. Allow a couple of hours a day for unexpected delays.

You can always revise your itinerary after you get started and find the required time for your activities.

1. In theory I think you could do something like this (not this, but something like this) if you are both super good travelers, nimble, flexible, and able to live with the inevitable disappointment.

Does that describe the two of you? How realistic is that, especially given that this is your boyfriend's first time?

2. I don't know the best way, but clearly it's a long haul on this route by rail. If you do the NT route you will be in no shape for much the next day. This is kind of the weakest logistical point in your plan.

3. You could hope to see all but the Camargue in a day, if you rent the night before or early in the am and make an early start, and picnic. It's a busy busy day though.

Save the Camargue for when you have more time. It takes time to see the countryside.

I have to ask--is a radical rethinking out of the question? Given your stated priorities and limited time, wouldn't a less-ambitious itinerary be more satisfying (and foolproof)?

For instance, in two weeks see Amsterdam, Rome, and Provence, responding to your and his priorities as stated.

Connecting these dots is still a challenge (maybe you fly), but at least your itinerary permits a whole day on the train should that prove necessary (or a recovery day from a grueling NT connection).

By the way, consider flying into Amsterdam and working your way south.

I do not mean to be discouraging and have answered your questions as best I can, so you can ignore my suggestions and use the information as you see fit.

Hi,

It's certainly very ambitious. For only two weeks with this itinerary you are really putting a lot of pressure on yourself, and having done that myself before, you only end up being dissapointed.

My simple suggestions would be:

1. Start in Amsterdam and work your way down. This way you can explore and if you run short on time you can easily grab a train to Rome and make your flight.

2. You might seriously think about cutting the the itinerary south of Rome. Too much in too little time and you have to double back. Plus you are really cutting Florence short.

3. Florence to Arles with an overnight train is not easy, 4 or 5 connections and half a day of travel time. There are many cheap one way flights, get a one way into Nice and then train it to Arles.

Try this and day trip out of the big cities wiht a car/train combo:

Sept.
11-13 Rome
14-16 Florence
(Fly to Nice, Train to Arles)
17-19 Arles, Provence drive
20-22 Paris
23-24 Amsterdam
25 Fly Home

Thank you all so much for all of your suggestions. I have dramatically changed my plan. The new and much more realistic itinerary is:

3 nights Rome
3 nights Sorrento - day trips to Naples and Ischia - this was a stop I really wanted to make as I had to cut it out of 2 previous trips
4 nights Florence - hit pompeii on the way up and 1day trip to Siena
1 night Lucca
fly from Florence or Pisa to Amsterdam
Amsterdam 3 nights and fly home.

By the time I initially posted we already had tickets for starting in Rome and working our way up to Amsterdam.

I feel much better about this itinerary and hey I will go to Provence on another trip and really savor it.

Just a few detail questions:
1 - how much time should we alot for Pompeii? - should we combine it with a day trip to Naples from Sorrento or make it its own day?

2 - I have been toying with the idea of spending 2 nights in Orvieto and then 3 nights in Florence just daytripping to Siena, so we get some Umbria, some Tuscany. Is this a beter idea than the plan listed above? are there any other good variations?

Thank you so much again for all your feedback and suggestions.

Cheers,

Jinny

HI,

Pompeii is an awsome experience. It's best to get there early in the morning before it gets too hot and all the tourists arrive! You need a good three hours for Pompeii. I believe you can do this in a combo with Sorrento with one full well organized day. Just a tip...if the two granita stands are still there outside of the Pompeii entrance, treat yourself to one of each. The best granita I had in all of Italy!

As for the remainder of your revised itinerary, it looks pretty good. I think you will have a great trip and be a little more relaxed and enjoy it more.

Have Fun!

Personally I think, unless you are hyper, you've bit off more than yuo can chew. but, se la vie.

Arles:
1) Last Fall, we stayed there for 3 nights. Don't drive the streets around the Arena. It cost me 500 Eu for the fender crunch! There is a parking garage on Boulevard Des Lices across from the park. It cost under 20Eu for three days. Ticket machines on the ground floor of the stairwell
2) The drive for Arles to Paris is about 10 hours. I know that map programs claim 6 1/2 hours but it took us ten at the speed limit.

Exploring Provence from Arles:
I'd rent a car in Avignon or wherever you change trains to Arles. Its an easy straight forward route to Arles. renting in Avignon is probably cheaper that Arles.

The Sunday market in Arles is awesome. Go see the bull games if you get a chance, not the bull fight but the "tag you are it" Carmague Feria (SP?) They have both.
Sunday evenings its really ahrd to find a place to eat.

Caution, the shops around the arena will mark things with a sales price but charge the regular price if you are not paying close attention.