poppy_bee
New Member
Hello all,
I'm very glad to have found this forum! I am 34 and I'm afraid I like to travel a bit like a retiree (except I don't have much time to linger on my holidays, which is a shame) so it's great to read your stories...
I apologise in advance for the long post - skip to the questions part below if you like!
We haven't been overseas now for about five years (far too long!) but are intending to get to France every year (or two) at most from now. I love France especially - probably because of the language apart from anything else. I have been loosely trying to perfect my French language skills since high school - but the big gaps between visits isn't helping!
Anyway, we've finally booked another trip - flying in and out of Paris from Sydney this September.
When we travel we like to drive so that we can see all of the little towns and not miss any unusual sites. We choose traditional/authentic accommodation that might not be fancy but that feels like it is of its place. I'm an architect/interior design so love to absorb the buildings. I also love antiques. But mostly we like to take it easy, eat delicious local food, and taste all of the nice wines (and abbey beers!).
On our last trip overseas we spent a week in Istanbul (fantastic), two weeks in Greece in the Peleponnese and around Athens (we really, really loved the Peleponnese and Greek culture - ah the scenery and the food!) and ten days in France (I can't visit Europe without stopping in). In France we spent five days in Uzes and a couple of days based in Aix, before finishing off in Paris. Uzes we loved for it's quieter, big town atmosphere and our days there were made up of exploration of the town as well as some pretty lazy day trips. I lived in Aix for six months in 2010 but when I went back this time I found it too busy - having said that the day trips through Provencal villages were my favourite part of the whole trip - Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Menerbes, Gordes, Roussillon - so beautiful.
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QUESTIONS...
This time we'd like to see some parts of the country that we haven't visited before - I've done a lot of Provence and Paris, but not much else.
We'll mostly eat out at dinner and have a baguette with local cheese for lunch (coffee and perhaps a croissant or fruit for breakfast).
We'll stay in Paris for a few days at the beginning and a night at the end of the trip, so we have around 16 days. We don't really want to move accommodation except when moving regions - I like to unpack and settle in.
BURGUNDY - 5-7 days
Given that we love wine and don't yet have children I thought that it would be a good time to do Burgundy, but I'm not sure where to base ourselves. My partner would ideally like to stay in a big old place, perhaps with a pool, and a serene outlook so that we can make a proper holiday of it. I am happy to drive to wineries as well as do day trips to little villages (half an hour drive or so ideally). In reading some guides (Frommers, mostly) I love the sound of Vezelay but I think it will be too far from the Cote D'Or to be workable as a base.
Although Beaune and Dijon sound lovely we aren't that keen on big cities and will likely stop in for a day instead of staying in the cities.
I also wondered about staying in champagne for a night or two on our way from Paris - too much? If not, any suggestions on a base - perhaps just Reims?
Any advice that you might have on a good little town to base ourselves in Burgundy would be really appreciated.
SOUTH WEST - 5-7 days
I have found a lovely accommodation that seems to be our sort of thing and am considering staying here as a base to visit the area. https://www.cuqenterrasses.com/en
I have never been to this region but have read about it over the years and it sounds lovely - Albi especially. I love the arid landscape of the south and don't mind the heat.
Any suggestions on how long we should stay in this region, what would be nice little towns/villages to visit, and whether this would be a reasonable base would be great.
AND THEN..?
This might be quite enough for what ends up being about 16 days (outside of Paris) - but it crossed my mind that a drive through the Pyrenees for a couple of nights could be a nice addition..?
------
Thanks so much in advance.
Poppy
I'm very glad to have found this forum! I am 34 and I'm afraid I like to travel a bit like a retiree (except I don't have much time to linger on my holidays, which is a shame) so it's great to read your stories...
I apologise in advance for the long post - skip to the questions part below if you like!
We haven't been overseas now for about five years (far too long!) but are intending to get to France every year (or two) at most from now. I love France especially - probably because of the language apart from anything else. I have been loosely trying to perfect my French language skills since high school - but the big gaps between visits isn't helping!
Anyway, we've finally booked another trip - flying in and out of Paris from Sydney this September.
When we travel we like to drive so that we can see all of the little towns and not miss any unusual sites. We choose traditional/authentic accommodation that might not be fancy but that feels like it is of its place. I'm an architect/interior design so love to absorb the buildings. I also love antiques. But mostly we like to take it easy, eat delicious local food, and taste all of the nice wines (and abbey beers!).
On our last trip overseas we spent a week in Istanbul (fantastic), two weeks in Greece in the Peleponnese and around Athens (we really, really loved the Peleponnese and Greek culture - ah the scenery and the food!) and ten days in France (I can't visit Europe without stopping in). In France we spent five days in Uzes and a couple of days based in Aix, before finishing off in Paris. Uzes we loved for it's quieter, big town atmosphere and our days there were made up of exploration of the town as well as some pretty lazy day trips. I lived in Aix for six months in 2010 but when I went back this time I found it too busy - having said that the day trips through Provencal villages were my favourite part of the whole trip - Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Menerbes, Gordes, Roussillon - so beautiful.
------
QUESTIONS...
This time we'd like to see some parts of the country that we haven't visited before - I've done a lot of Provence and Paris, but not much else.
We'll mostly eat out at dinner and have a baguette with local cheese for lunch (coffee and perhaps a croissant or fruit for breakfast).
We'll stay in Paris for a few days at the beginning and a night at the end of the trip, so we have around 16 days. We don't really want to move accommodation except when moving regions - I like to unpack and settle in.
BURGUNDY - 5-7 days
Given that we love wine and don't yet have children I thought that it would be a good time to do Burgundy, but I'm not sure where to base ourselves. My partner would ideally like to stay in a big old place, perhaps with a pool, and a serene outlook so that we can make a proper holiday of it. I am happy to drive to wineries as well as do day trips to little villages (half an hour drive or so ideally). In reading some guides (Frommers, mostly) I love the sound of Vezelay but I think it will be too far from the Cote D'Or to be workable as a base.
Although Beaune and Dijon sound lovely we aren't that keen on big cities and will likely stop in for a day instead of staying in the cities.
I also wondered about staying in champagne for a night or two on our way from Paris - too much? If not, any suggestions on a base - perhaps just Reims?
Any advice that you might have on a good little town to base ourselves in Burgundy would be really appreciated.
SOUTH WEST - 5-7 days
I have found a lovely accommodation that seems to be our sort of thing and am considering staying here as a base to visit the area. https://www.cuqenterrasses.com/en
I have never been to this region but have read about it over the years and it sounds lovely - Albi especially. I love the arid landscape of the south and don't mind the heat.
Any suggestions on how long we should stay in this region, what would be nice little towns/villages to visit, and whether this would be a reasonable base would be great.
AND THEN..?
This might be quite enough for what ends up being about 16 days (outside of Paris) - but it crossed my mind that a drive through the Pyrenees for a couple of nights could be a nice addition..?
------
Thanks so much in advance.
Poppy