Is it better to stay 30 days in one place and travel from that one place while enjoying the culture on a daily basis or is it better to spend a week or so in different places? Not sure how to approach the 30 days? Want to totally relax but not miss anything. If 30 days in one place, which place?
Any help is appreciated! Sheryl
France is pretty large so there is no one place you could stay and travel out from to see all the different areas that France has to offer.
As an example I spent a month doing basically a road trip around France by a combo of rental cars and trains. I was able to get to Provence, Normandy, Brittany, Loire Valley, Riviera (Nice area), the Rhone-Alpes and Alsace.
I also spent a month in a rental apartment in Paris, seeing that city in depth and doing day trips by train to several near by cities including Versailles, Chartres, Giverny.
Comparing the two months I will say the the month in Paris was more relaxing, with so much time there was no pressure to see this sight or that sight on a particular day so it was a very loose schedule of sightseeing, and I spent a lot of time just enjoying the ambiance of the different neighborhoods and playing it by ear. On the other hand, I have to say that the month I spent 'on the road' was the most rewarding vacation I have ever taken. Even though it involved a lot of scheduling and timing of transportation and reserving hotels every few days, I was able to see most everything in France that I wanted to see.
It all really depends on what you want to see and where in France you want to go and how you like to travel (your travel style).
Sheryl [or is it Sherryl?], you will probably get more responses if you post this in the France forum, instead of in Trip Reports. But I will at least give you my opinion... I would pick several different locations, in different parts of France, and spend around a week in each. In July 2003 we had a house swap for a wonderful apartment in Paris for 3 weeks; because our lodging was essentially free, we did some 1- or 2- night stays elsewhere [Loire valley, Normandy, Mont St Michel, and Strasbourg] which broke up our time in the city and let us see other parts of France.
And it will be easier to recommend locations to you if you can tell us more about your interests. Beaches? hiking? Roman ruins? medieval sights? WWII? art? just sitting in cafes watching the world go by? There are many wonderful places depending on what you want to do with this trip. Also what time of year; that will affect our recommendations too.
30 days is a long time (lucky you!) So I would choose 4 or so different areas for your week-long home bases and rent a car. You won't be rushed at all and will get to still enjoy a leisurely, cultural trip. Sounds amazing!
This can be a trip of a lifetime if you plan it well. And nobody knows what you like better than you.
If you do spend 30 days in one place, the place would be Paris. But don't do that.
Visit Paris, but also some of the more far-flung regions. Vary the pace. Go fast and slow. Spend a full week someplace nice, such as Provence, with a car to go deep. See cities and countryside. Mix it up. Varying the pace and texture will add contrast and make the trip more memorable.
If you'd like some suggestions, say what you like and when you will be traveling. But nothing will substitute for reading some books and maybe seeing some travel videos and making your own plans. Have fun!
From Nice in the southeast to Calais in the north is over 1200 k.m. It's about the same to the coast of Brittany. In other words, France is pretty big. Pick 3 to 5 locations. There are very fast trains (TGV) that connect the major cities (and some not so major). Do you want to have a car for the month? for part of the time? Or do you plan to use public transportation?
If you speak French reasonably well, you could stay in small towns or villages and relax, perhaps get to know some of the locals a bit, especially if you stay in B&Bs. If not, you're probably better off in the larger towns and cities, where English is widely spoken and there's plenty to see and do.
Thank you so much for all your comments. We are going the end of August through the end of September and flying in and out of CDG and renting a car there for the duration of the trip. I love the idea of complete relaxation in one place, but as you all say, there is so much more to see and the distances are too long not to spend the night out. Thinking maybe a week on each side? Will spend some time in Paris at the end of the trip and want to go through Champagne, Dijon, and maybe several days in Lyon? That would be the start of the trip - fly into Paris and go to the Eastern side of France and just make the loop. Does this sound doable? Thank you all for your help with this.
Your plan is perfectly feasible, and pleasant. However, it's all cities. And there is (to my eye) a glaring omission: Provence.
I'll also add that the loop is not terribly efficient, but it's no great deal. Here's what I would propose.
In place of Dijon, stay in a smaller town and rent a car. Burgundy is beautiful, rural, and not well served by rail; see the sights for a few days. Drive to Lyon and return the car there and spend at least several days.
Take the train to Provence and rent a second car. Rent an apartment in a small town and spend an entire week. There is that much to see and do. Return the car and take the TGV to Paris. I would suggest 7 days in Paris the first time and 3 the second; a week in Provence and the remaining week and a half in your other destinations.
