Oui, c'est encore la belle France, from the bright lights of Paris to the rocky shores of Brittany/Normandy and the chic vibe of the Côte d'Azur - both deluxe and pas cher.
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The legendary Tour de France!
Tour de FranceWell, there´s no doubt that this is tops in Europe if not the world. From late June through late July, the Tour unfolds over roughly 3,300–3,500 kilometers (2,050-2,175 mi.) in a three-week circuit that changes course annually. And it´s really more than just a bicycle race—starting towns, mountain villages, vineyards and coastlines become waystations in a moving festival of sport. Riders climb high Alpine cols above Mont Blanc, sprint along the lavender-scented roads of Provence,…
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@Maria, Avignon is also an excellent base. I have used both Avignon and Aix as a base to do road trips in both Vaucluse and Bouches du Rhone areas. Avignon is perfect if you want to see the Papal Palace in Avignon, the Roman Théatre in Orange, go to the market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, climb up the water source of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, visit the old standing roman bridge and village ruins at Vaison-la-Romaine, see the orchards at Châteauneuf-du-Pape in addition to Pont du Gard and all the good stuff mentioned below.
If you choose Avignon and do not care to drive, take a look at the local tours offered by Lieutaud.
But Avignon has one logistical issue. There is no nearby accessible airport. So if you want to use Avignon as your base, you may need to move to Aix the night or two before your trip back to the States. Why? Because depending on which airline you take, the flight out of MRS is early in the morning - LH/UA/CO 615AM, AA/IB/BA 7AM, DL/AF 8AM. This is the reason why it is good to be in Aix the night before you return to Miami. Also you cannot just take the TGV back to Roissy since the flights from CDG are also in the morning. The Air France nonstop to Miami leaves CDG at 1115AM.
Provence is more than doable since the TGV from Paris to Avignon is only 2 hours and 10 minutes. My question is whether or not you plan on renting a car once you get there. The suggestion of staying put is excellent and doing days trips. Please remember that July is when most of the festivals take place and depending on what you like and don't, you could schedule a trip focusing on music, art, dance... and ALWAYS food. The markets are a must.
Please access Bonjour Paris and use the search function and enter "Provence."
Bon Voyage.
@Maria, You might be able to squeeze a 5-day trip to Provence, especially if you fly out of (return from) MRS airport (in Marignane about 30 minutes SW of Aix en Provence) back to Miami. I suggest you take a 3-hr. TGV train from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Aix en Provence TGV station (Taxi, about 15 mins from the city) and stay in Aix center (as close to cours mirabeau as you can afford). From Aix you can take day trips to the Luberon an see some of the most beautiful villages in France. Try not to miss Gordes, Roussillon, and Les Baux. You can add Menerbes and Lourmarin especially if you are a fan of Peter Mayle. In addition, St Remy (very pretty city or commune as in French), the Roman ruins of Glanum, and Van Gogh's Asylum, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole are nearby each other. If you have more time (doubtful), then do Arles or Avignon plus the Roman Aqueduct, Pont du Gard. The Aix Tourism office offers tours if you don't want to drive around. You'll find the Aix Tourism Info office in the end of Cours Mirabeau in the right side of the circle (rotunda). Good Luck and enjoy Provence.
Note: The fare from Paris or Provence (open jaw) is usually the same so fly back from MRS airport.
Tony
@Maria, it depends what sort of things you are interested in. Provence is beautiful. There are lavender fields, wineries, art galleries and perfumeries to visit - and more besides. it is also a nice area for walking. Closer to Paris another place of interest could be the Alsace, Strasburg,Colmar and the Vosges National Park - a kind of fairy tale region full of half-timbered medieval villages and vineyards. Or, a little bit on the wild side, Brittany is also very beautiful. This is an area with many megalithic monuments, stone circles and menhirs. And the coast is beautiful, but it is often quite wet. But if you want something more glamorous, head for the Cote Azure, Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez... If you enjoy hiking and climbing the Alp or the Pyrenees would be perfect, though Alps might be easier to get to from Paris if you have so little time. You could fly to Geneve and go from there.
So many places - so little time!
best
Kat
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