How Do I Make This Itinerary Work? Paris to Venice

Craig, it sounds as though you are asking for opinions about the following three choices:

(1) "The Rhone" or the French Riviera

(2) Lake Como or the Cinque Terra

(3) Florence or the Dolomites

This really boils down to personal preferences (and I think is a great trip whichever choices you make).

If by "The Rhone" you mean Provence, I'd choose that over the French Riviera because it's culturally and historically richer and more interesting to me.

I'm not sure how I'd chose between Como and the CT, but if I'd just come from one of those two destinations, I'd probably lean towards Florence over the Dolomites, on the principle of moving from a relaxing place to an intense place to vary the pace. (Also, obviously. Florence has magnificent art.)

But you know, that's just me, and I hope that is helpful. I think any combination of these choices adds up to a great trip.

I did a similar itinerary in 1999.
I suggest you get a rail pass france/italy flexipass 4 day and do the following:

3 days in Paris (if you haven't been there before)
Train Day (tgv)
2-3 days in Avignon (for the Rhone base and rent a car)
Train Day (tgv)
2-3 days in Nice
Train Day
2-3 Cinque Terre
Train Day (through Pisa don't stop you don't have time and the leaning tower isn't worth the time)
2 Venice

I hear Lake Como is beautiful but I think that would work much nicer if you were flying out of Milan.

Avignon is a nice town. Make sure you see the roman aquaduct called the Pont du Gard

Nice make sure you go to the old nice area for dinner and make sure you rent a chair at the beaurivage beach area and lay there drinking wine while taking in the view.

Cinque Terre you are going to wish you spent more time here

All in all this is a fast paced itinerary. To slow it down I would cut out Avignon and spend more time in Nice and the Cinque Terre

Thanks guys, this is helpfull. Need to think about stoping in Avignon vs the Rivera. Don't think I'll do both? I love Chinque Terra as we stayed there in 01' for 2 nights in Monterosso.

I like Arles better than Avignon as a Provencal base. But Avignon maybe works better logistically if you are on a tight schedule, I don't know.

Adam, how far is Arles from Avignon? I would likely train into Avignon, right? I'd like to see Chateaneuf Du Pape too.