help with itinarry:

We shall be in Paris from 7 Sept - 14 Sept , need advice on 15-17 Sept thinking of going to Dijon 15th and Annecy 16,17th, we have a booking at Lourmarin from 18-22 Sept to do Provance, 23 Sept Carcasanne,24 Sept Montpellier,25 Sept Cassis , 25-29 Sept Nice fly back to London 29 . Should we not have started in Paris 7-14, Le Harve,Mont st Martin, Bordeaux 15th,Carcassanne , Marseille 16th,

Avignon 17th,Loumarin 18th-22, Nice 23-25, Annecy 26th, Champaigne 27th, Strasborough 28th fly back from London 29th. Doing it this way we would see more of the country,but the first way staying in diffirent areas for longer. Is there a nice wine route in the Dijon/Lyon area or should we do a day trip tp Champaigne when we are in Paris for the week............ Please help we would realy like to see France and live it!

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I feel exausted jut looking at the itinerary:-)

It is a common theme in this forum to try and see too much of France in too short a time because you are comming such a long way (we are going to South Africa in December and we fell into the same trap initially).

I would suggest the first plan as you will spend more time in each place.

I would however suggest some modifications:-

Leave Paris on the 14th and drive to Reims for the champagne region. From there it is ann easy drive to Dijon either by aoturoute or N road through the champagne vineyards.

You might like to consider staying to the south of Dijon in the heart of Burgundy either at Nuits St Georges or Beaune - both worth a visit as you make your way south from Dijon.

Annecy is a lovely town but a significant detour if you are making your way to Provence. Personally I would suggest you head south after Dijon breaking your journey in Lyon for a night brfore a comfortable drive to Lourmarin.

Provence is a hugh area. Personally I would skip Montpellier in favour of Nimes - much closer, smaller with as much history and possible to do as a trip from Lourmarin.

Carcassonne is probably a 2 to 3 hour drive from Lourmarin. Again as there is so much to see in Provence unless you like sitting in a car I would suggest missing it and extending your stay in Lourmarin.

Also remember that it is easy to visit Cassis for the day from Lourmarin.

You will still see a lot of France with these modifications but they should free up time to relax into France - one of the many joys of France is finding unexpected places to stop and savor - a drink at the local cafe on market day watching the world go by.

We spend as much time in Provence as we can (and have done over the past 20 years) and we are still finding places we did not know existed.

In short the less you try to do the more you will get out of France.

If you want any help with Provence Itinerary I would be please to help.

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Hi Thank you so much what a relief to hear this. I was just getting in a panic because I was worried that we are missing out on the west side. I can not axtend Lourmarin, it is booked after us but after Lourmarin. I have 10 days how should I spent that, we are flying back from Nice on the 29th to London. Was thinking of staying 4 nights in Nice as base for Cannes,Monte Carlo,Grasse ex.

If you what to visit South Africa agian speak to me.........

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So you check out of Lourmarin on 22nd and fly back on 29th - a longish time.

You need to work east towards Nice. I would suggest a night -or two in Cassis just to unwind and see the Calanques.

Certainly base your self in Nice to visit the area - have a look at the Hotel Westminster as a possible.

I would also post on the Nice forum for more local advice.

Thanks for the SA offer - have spent a year planning and yesterday final internal flights fell into place - so fingers crossed all sorted.

Have a great time - remember not to feel guilty that you may not see everything planned when you come across somehere you want to linger...

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Hi There

Thank you again

We are leaving on a 2 week holiday tomorrow shall write when I am back

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Sounds like you%26#39;ll be covering a lot of country in a rather short time. As far as the Lyon/Dijon area goes, you might try researching Beaune. It%26#39;s in the heart of the Burgundy wine country. Rick Steves has excellent information on the area, both in his guidebooks and on line. Look him up, he%26#39;s quite good.

And good luck!

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Thank you

I shall do so. I am considering spending more time in Provance and Nice skipping the Bordeaux side and rather go to the Champaign side before going to Lourmarin.

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