itinerary check for France

I will look into the rail/car deal. I thought we might rent a car for a few days both in the Dordonges and Provence but do the longer trips by train. I don't want a car for the entire time. Although the car gives more freedom, I find it more stressful for the driver (altho I have to admit we've had a few very stressful bus rides in Europe). Do you think we are being too ambitious with the itinerary. Of course if we find we get too tired we can just go slower and not see everything. An excuse for a return trip another time.

I would do the train to Sarlat or Sarlat to Carcassone. I would take the TGV from Paris to Bordeaux, rent a car and drive to Sarlat. It will give you the option of staying near but not in Sarlat and let you explore the area. The route to Carcassone will be easier by car than train and you can stop in Albi on your way. We rented with either Hertz or Avis when we didi this. We dropped the car in Carcassone on our way to Barcelona. Just my opinion.

Lin, I think it is feasible, but with one big condition. Also you've picked some really great destinations. The condition is that for this to work, especially the ambitious Provence part, you will need to rent a car (or hire a driver). Or even two cars, one in the Dordogne and one in Provence. That's what we did on a very similar (and wonderful) trip years ago. The car case in Provence is really clear. If you want a day where you get out into the hills and the countryside and cover a lot of ground, you will need a car, or else an cab. I don't even think there are buses to Les Baux in the spring. And a day like Pont du Gard, Uzes, Nimes, then back home MIGHT be possible to do but you'll be spending a good bit of the day in transit. The Dordogne is not well served by trains or bus, so if you want that canoe ride (or a visit to the wonderful small towns along the river, or to see cave painting) you will need to make arrangements. The trip from Sarlat to Carcassonne is 6-7 hours by train. For the exceptionally lovely parts of rural, small-town France you have chosen, a car will let you follow the kind of ambitious fast-paced plans you want. You might even rent a third car in Alsace, for the same reason. By the way: You can get a French railpass that includes a car too. You pre-buy car days at a very good rate and can use them in small bits. This lets you use the excellent train to get from region to region and cars, rented serially, to explore the regions while there. This used to be a really good deal for a trip like yours back when you could get a 2nd Class rail driverpass. I'n not sure if the 2nd Class option is still available, however, and you might do better point-to-point. Have a lovely trip, these are GREAT places.

I'd say this is pretty busy, but still reasonable. As long as you are okay with just hitting the highlights of Paris and the Dordogne region, it should work. I also think it would work fine to rent a car for Provence and the Dordogne and train the rest. I think you'll want a car for more than one day in the Dordogne, and I would keep it to get to Carcassone.

Would we then return the car at Carcassone or should we then take it to Arles? Is it easy to rent a car in one city and return it to another? Do you think it best to use the car to Carcassone because of the train schedule or is it quicker by car than by train? I get the feeling that getting to the train from Sarlat might be a pain???

just be sure you can drive a stick. Automatics are hard to find except at major airports

Lin, In 2005 while planning our April 2006 trip, I found an okay train from Sarlat to Arles. (Okay as in the duration and number of connections. It was long but managable.) Then the new train schedules came out December 10 and that train was gone! We decided to rent a car rather than take a 12-hour train ride. Picking up the car in Sarlat (at EuropCar) was easy and we got to stop in Rocamadour and Carcassonne for a few hours on our way to Arles. Dropping the car off in Arles was also easy.
We really prefer taking the trains but have also enjoyed driving occasionally.

"Do you think we are being too ambitious with the itinerary." This is fast-paced but feasible, though you might be disappointed without a car in some places. It's the kind of itinerary I might put together. "Would we then return the car at Carcassone or should we then take it to Arles?" Either way works. It's a pretty short trip either way. Keeping the car avoids taking the time to return it and get a new one later, but that is trivial. You can pick up a car for Provence at the train station in Avignon. "Is it easy to rent a car in one city and return it to another?" Yes, inside the same country. You have to arrange your picks and drops in advance, of course, but we've been able to change that with advanced notice. "Do you think it best to use the car to Carcassone because of the train schedule or is it quicker by car than by train?" This is not a choice: I'd choose to drive because the train schedule takes so long. Lin, I am with you. Trains to get from region to region, cars to explore once you are there. It's just that this can break down in SW France where the rail-bus network is so spotty. It may be a bit more driving than you prefer, but consider the alternative. (Plus there are great things to see enroute from Sarlat to Carassonne.)

Thank you for all the imput. It is good to hear from people who have experienced French travel.

I'll just second the advice about a stick shift. We can't drive a stick, so that drastically limits where we can pick up a car (maybe 5-7 cities in France). On the other hand, I've never had a problem with dropping it off elsewhere. I've almost always used either Auto Europe or Kemwel (now under the same ownership), and the rental is usually a Europcar location.

Lin - I agree that you have chosen great places to visit with the exception of the Village of Bories. Not much there, frankly. I agree that you'll need a rental car to see as much as you'd like.