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Help plan our trip to France!
sylvan8798
6929 replies142 threads Senior Member
in Parent Cafe
We've tentatively decided to take our family group to France next summer. Currently looking at late July so as best to fit everyone's schedules. Our party will consist of myself, H, DS, DD, and both of their BF's. We are thinking 6-7 days together and then each couple can/will go their own ways as desired at their own expense with provision of a flight home at the end. We would like to keep costs within reason, but we're not into staying in hostels or such.
I have started a file for ideas, and know that many here have experiences, both positive and negative, which I'm sure will prove useful. Thanking any and all for their helps!
56 replies I have started a file for ideas, and know that many here have experiences, both positive and negative, which I'm sure will prove useful. Thanking any and all for their helps!
This discussion has been closed.
Replies to: Help plan our trip to France!
Couple of things -
July and August is when most of Europe goes on vacation. If you are planning on doing smaller towns, be sure things are going to be open. We had friends who lived in the south of France and there was about a month + block from mid July to mid/end of August that many shops and restaurants would close for vacation. If you are staying in Paris, you shouldn't have a problem but book your hotel early.
A/C is still hit or miss so be sure that your accommodations have it. Also some of the more budget friendly hotels don't have elevators so if anyone in your party can't do stairs, be sure to ask.
These are just some questions that would make it easier to help you. We went to France every year for 2-4 weeks for about 6 years and have lots to share, provided we know more about you.
The one thing I will recommend is the train system for traveling within the country. Very comfortable, AC! and fast and really pretty affordable.
If you have the option of choosing when to go, don't go in summer peak season.
In Paris so far we're just hitting the biggies: Lourve, Eiffel, Versailles, all of which we are booking ahead of time to avoid ticket lines. Using trains to get around.
I'm finding Rick Steves guidebooks very useful! He has DVDs too but I prefer the books, and the forum.
Start by asking yourself what interests everyone in the group. The coast? Museums? Places with Roman ruins? Castles? Places artists lived or painted? Hiking? Cities? Places famous for food/seafood? Wine regions? The Alps? Exploring the countryside? Then go to sites that offer tours such as Rick Steves https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/france or https://www.roadscholar.org/search?query=france and look at where they go. Tour companies go on routes they think they can find the most customers for, so their trips may give you ideas of what is popular. Spend some time watching videos. Samantha Brown has many shows, you can also watch a bunch online at the Rick Steves site.
This one is longer ago but we also enjoyed the Avignon area. We stayed in a small town (Pernes les Fontaine). I especially remember a visit to a town with an amazing large spring (Font de Vaucluse) and andther day going to a Roman fortress town, still inhabited, Les Baux de Provence.
Like others have said, it will be quite hot there in late July. I was just looking some of these places up to refresh my memory and I see that the town of Carpentras, right by Pernes les Fontaine, now holds the record of highest recorded temperature ever in France (set just last month).
Also look at the free guided walking tours led by volunteers. We did a night tour of Ile de la Cité. Lots of choices and look at TripAdvisor for reviews.
After all the usual highlights, this was one of our best experiences.
Yes, check the weather. Off season is great.
--Seine river cruise (Bateaux Mouches best bet)
--Louvre (we just hit the highlights - it's enormous)
--Musee d'Orsay (our favorite; spent almost a day here--just lovely)
--Luxembourg Garden (nice for a picnic or just to stroll around)
--Saint Chappelle
--Pantheon (make sure to see the crypts)
--Eiffel tower (did it to say we did, very crowded and must buy tix well in advance)
--we took a day trip via train to Normandy, saw the Bayeux Tapestry (excellent) and did a D-Day tour with Overlord Tours (highly recommend)
There are Trip Advisor forums for every part of the country, and the information and advice from the natives and tourists are invaluable.
If you go south I would spend a day in Marseille - it has both an urban and seaside feel. You can find some historical places to visit there too.
We economized on meals, which wasn’t as hard as I thought as even the inexpensive restaurants we ate at were fine to very good. We had a couple nice lunches, but dinner was pizza/falafel/Thai/crepes etc. And yes, we adopted the “goûter” practice most afternoons and enjoyed picking up a treat at a patisserie or boulangerie to enjoy in our room with a cup of tea or glass of wine while we rested our tired feet. We had read that the city of Paris was cracking down on short-term rentals and were nervous about finding ourselves on the street, so we stayed at a hotel, La Clef d’Or (fabulous breakfast included when we joined the affinity program, not sure if that is still the case), and our room had a small frig, microwave, & Nespresso machine.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/pitzman-paris
1. Verdon Gorge
2. St. Tropez
3. Monaco - though not France
4. Normandy