How to divide time between Provence cities, Luberon and Cotes du Rhone?
May 20th, 2008, 03:17 PM
#1
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How to divide time between Provence cities, Luberon and Cotes du Rhone?
We will be flying to France next May. I need to make decisions how in order to use points to fly miami to Avignon. We will be in France for 15 nights. We love Paris but would also like to explore other parts of France. Our itinerary;
5 nights in St. Remy as a base for Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Les Baux, Orange and Pont du Gard.
2 nights in Vaison La Romaine as a base for Cotes du Rhone.
3 nights in Gordes or Roussillon for Luberon.
5 nights in Paris.
We love all aspects of travel and will have a car; any suggestions?
5 nights in St. Remy as a base for Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Les Baux, Orange and Pont du Gard.
2 nights in Vaison La Romaine as a base for Cotes du Rhone.
3 nights in Gordes or Roussillon for Luberon.
5 nights in Paris.
We love all aspects of travel and will have a car; any suggestions?
May 20th, 2008, 03:57 PM
#2
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I would at least subtract 1 night from St Remy & add it to Vaison. I much prefer both the Vaison area and the Luberon to the St Remy region. You can get to Avignon about equally from all 3 locations. Orange is a lot closer to Vaison than St Remy.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
May 20th, 2008, 04:19 PM
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Well, personally, I've always been restless after 2 days in the Vaison area, though admittedly I've always kind of raced through it. I do think St-Rémy makes a better base for visiting some of the most popular attractions. They are different areas, even though so close to one another, and a lot depends on your geographical land historical preferences.
May 20th, 2008, 04:32 PM
#4
The only thing in Orange to see first is one of the most preserved
Amphitheater that has been now a great place to watch some of the world's greatest Opera Singers. Bedides seeing this Théatre Antique d'Orange, what brought me there (only if it interests you) was the Maison J-H Fabre at Sérignan-du-Comtat. It is the estate, called L'Harmas of the poet but more famous
entomlogist, Jean-Henri Fabre, one of my heros. You can see his lab and an impressive collection of his fungi drawings, alas out of print. been trying for years to find a copy that was printed with these drawings..
His garden is also a look.
Amphitheater that has been now a great place to watch some of the world's greatest Opera Singers. Bedides seeing this Théatre Antique d'Orange, what brought me there (only if it interests you) was the Maison J-H Fabre at Sérignan-du-Comtat. It is the estate, called L'Harmas of the poet but more famous
entomlogist, Jean-Henri Fabre, one of my heros. You can see his lab and an impressive collection of his fungi drawings, alas out of print. been trying for years to find a copy that was printed with these drawings..
His garden is also a look.
May 20th, 2008, 05:34 PM
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We based in Menerbes in the Luberon last year for a full week and we explored Vaison, Les Baux, St. Remy, Isle Sur La Sorgue, Bonnieux, Roussillon, Gordes, Apt, Aix, and several other villages inbetween. I don't see a need for you to stay in three places. Personally I like to settle in to one place - I hate the checking out, locating next place and checking in...I feel like I'm losing valuable time...but that's just me! We would start out early in the morning and be back at the house in Menerbes by 5:00...tired yes but not exhausted. We're going back in October for a week and will finish what we didn't see last trip - we're staying in Roussillon this time for the entire week.
May 20th, 2008, 05:42 PM
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I'd be inclined to subtract one night from the St-Rémy area and add it to Paris. Other than that I think you have a good plan--and I do love the area around Vaison. Staying in several different areas will save you a lot of backtracking.
May 20th, 2008, 06:55 PM
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Good ideas here. I am torn between the convenience of staying in one place and doing day trips versus changing hotels and experiencing different areas. Some sites suggest using a base such as St Remy and a second site in the Luberon such as Gordes in order to experience both areas.
Stu, you sent me your itinerary for Provence months ago but now I can not locate it. Can you resend?
Stu, you sent me your itinerary for Provence months ago but now I can not locate it. Can you resend?
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May 20th, 2008, 08:53 PM
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>>Stu, you sent me your itinerary for Provence months ago but now I can not locate it. Can you resend?>>
Sure. E-mail me at [email protected] & I'll send a copy. Don't wait too long - we're leaving for 6 week sin France in 3 weeks.
Stu Dudley
Sure. E-mail me at [email protected] & I'll send a copy. Don't wait too long - we're leaving for 6 week sin France in 3 weeks.
Stu Dudley
May 21st, 2008, 05:45 AM
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Thanks Stu I will E-mail you when I get back home to my computer.
Caroltis, I understand your inclination for staying in one location. Where would you suggest I stay given my itinerary?
Caroltis, I understand your inclination for staying in one location. Where would you suggest I stay given my itinerary?
May 21st, 2008, 06:29 AM
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My group and I stayed in a guesthouse (www.lelavandinprovence.com)located in Pernes les Fontaines. During our planning, we had somewhat decided the villages/towns we wanted to spend time in and then struck a central point on a map of Provence, which was Pernes. We made day trips around the area and found it very easy to do. Our longest day was a drive to Cassis.
Georgia (the delightful American owner of LeLavandin) would map out our route over breakfast and we would then be off. No unpacking and moving at all -- and the drives were so enjoyable. We went everywhere you noted in your post (except for Les Baux and Orange) and then some!
Don't miss the Sunday morning market in L'Isle sur la Sorgue -- wonderful outdoor market!
Enjoy!
joy/luvparee
Georgia (the delightful American owner of LeLavandin) would map out our route over breakfast and we would then be off. No unpacking and moving at all -- and the drives were so enjoyable. We went everywhere you noted in your post (except for Les Baux and Orange) and then some!
Don't miss the Sunday morning market in L'Isle sur la Sorgue -- wonderful outdoor market!
Enjoy!
joy/luvparee
May 21st, 2008, 06:38 AM
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I agree with Joy regarding Pernes being a good base location.
We stayed nearby in Venasque and were able to easily branch out from there.
http://www.masdukairos.com/
We stayed nearby in Venasque and were able to easily branch out from there.
http://www.masdukairos.com/
May 21st, 2008, 08:17 AM
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No, I'm not the Caroltis blogger...haven't figured all that blogging stuff out yet!
Obvously we think Roussillon is a good base - Menerbes was wonderful and we're so glad we stayed there last year but the things it lacked were good choices of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, etc. We are staying this Fall in a house in Roussillon that is a short walk into the center of the village.
www.villaquatresaisons.com
and if I remember correctly there were others available on www.VRBO.com
Roussillon is a gorgeous not too small not to big village.
Again, if you stay in a house or apartment for a week your rates are going to usually be better than hotel rooms and you've go so much more privacy and space.
I have to say again that when traveling I absolutely dread the packing and unpacking, settling in process involved in changing locations. For me and my husband - one base is our preference if at all possible.
I think St. Remy would also be a good base, especially if you got something on the outskirts of town so your day trips are not complicated by getting out and back in to a larger city.
I don't think you can go wrong by basing anywhere in the "middle" of the areas you want to explore...my husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how close all these villages are to each other and how they can be grouped easily for day trips. Basing in Luberon works for us.
Obvously we think Roussillon is a good base - Menerbes was wonderful and we're so glad we stayed there last year but the things it lacked were good choices of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, etc. We are staying this Fall in a house in Roussillon that is a short walk into the center of the village.
www.villaquatresaisons.com
and if I remember correctly there were others available on www.VRBO.com
Roussillon is a gorgeous not too small not to big village.
Again, if you stay in a house or apartment for a week your rates are going to usually be better than hotel rooms and you've go so much more privacy and space.
I have to say again that when traveling I absolutely dread the packing and unpacking, settling in process involved in changing locations. For me and my husband - one base is our preference if at all possible.
I think St. Remy would also be a good base, especially if you got something on the outskirts of town so your day trips are not complicated by getting out and back in to a larger city.
I don't think you can go wrong by basing anywhere in the "middle" of the areas you want to explore...my husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how close all these villages are to each other and how they can be grouped easily for day trips. Basing in Luberon works for us.
May 21st, 2008, 09:12 AM
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2 weeks in a Gite just outside of Talloires on Lake Annecy.
3 weeks in the Franche-Comte (north of Lake Geneva) staying:
1 week in the Jura Dept
2 weeks in the Doubs dept - with several trips into Switerland
6 days generally circling Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Stu Dudley
3 weeks in the Franche-Comte (north of Lake Geneva) staying:
1 week in the Jura Dept
2 weeks in the Doubs dept - with several trips into Switerland
6 days generally circling Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Stu Dudley
May 21st, 2008, 11:21 AM
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Stu,
You have written in a prior thread about the advantages of have 2 bases while touring Provence.
The first is St Remy and the second is in the Luberon.
What town would you recommend in the Luberon?
I am looking for accommodation for less than 130E/night preferably with breakfast. Any suggestions?
You have written in a prior thread about the advantages of have 2 bases while touring Provence.
The first is St Remy and the second is in the Luberon.
What town would you recommend in the Luberon?
I am looking for accommodation for less than 130E/night preferably with breakfast. Any suggestions?
May 21st, 2008, 12:08 PM
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We stay in Gites, so I don't have any hotel recs. Near/in the towns of Gordes, Goult, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Menerbes would be fine.
I've visited Kevin several times at his B&B, and it's well located & quite nice.
http://www.masperreal.com/index.html
Stu Dudley
I've visited Kevin several times at his B&B, and it's well located & quite nice.
http://www.masperreal.com/index.html
Stu Dudley
May 21st, 2008, 12:18 PM
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InMiami,
We've stayed at Sous l'Olivier http://www.chambresdhotesprovence.com/ several times and love it. They have a wonderful breakfast each morning and also dinner if you like. Dinner is very special here. The location is so central to everything in the Luberon.
Stu,
What a beautiful area you've chosen! It's smart to stay in France while you're seeing Switzerland! Are you returning again in the fall to another area of France? We'll be in a gite close to Cotignac in early September for 2 weeks!
We've stayed at Sous l'Olivier http://www.chambresdhotesprovence.com/ several times and love it. They have a wonderful breakfast each morning and also dinner if you like. Dinner is very special here. The location is so central to everything in the Luberon.
Stu,
What a beautiful area you've chosen! It's smart to stay in France while you're seeing Switzerland! Are you returning again in the fall to another area of France? We'll be in a gite close to Cotignac in early September for 2 weeks!
May 21st, 2008, 03:33 PM
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Stu and Images2, both the SOUS L'OLIVIER and Le Mas Perreal are beautiful accommodations. However, I was planning on staying in one of the larger towns such as Gordes or Roussillon for their selection of restaurants. Do you think these two properties will be a bit isolated for our 4 night stay?
