Bart -my real name-
Senior Insider
Hey folks -
Long time, no talk. Tragically, I have no SBH trips planned but I'm looking to take trip to the Mother Ship.
My daughter is doing a semester abroad in Lugano, Switzerland and part of the program allows them to take a week to ten day trips wherever they want to travel. I'm going to join her on one of her breaks and we want hit up the Cote d'Azur and Provence. The problem is, I've never been there and have no idea what to hit, what to skip and where all the cool stuff is!! I have the Lonely Planet guide book for Provence and Cote d'Azur, but damn near everything in it sounds great!!!
I'd like to do the coast as well as inland/the countryside. I'll be over there in late March/early April which I think is too early for beach lounging, but maybe good for outdoor lunches near the beach? I'll probably have around a week to travel.
The current plan is to start in Nice and work our way west to Marseille and then up to Aix-en-Provence and then over to Arles to vibe on the Van Gogh scene. I'd like to do some physical stuff (as simple as a walk on the beach, to hikes along cliffs or through some naturals areas), some long lunches and dinners (not Michelin 3 Star meals, but more mom and pop places or quaint little seaside joints.....think more La Gloriette vs. L'Esprit), see some local culture/art museums and mostly interact with the people (stroll the streets, hit some shops, see the country side, etc). My tastes run more bohemian than opulent and swanky.
The questions I have are:
1) How much time should I spend along the coast? (I realize I can easily spend a week in Nice! but I'd like to hit the highlights and see as much variety as possible without being on a go go go whirlwind)
2) Are there any coastal cities/towns that I MUST see or MUST skip? (As in see Cannes but skip San Tropez, or spend more time in Nice than Marseille)
2a) Should I visit Monaco? How long should I budget?
3) If it happens to be unseasonably warm is there a certain area (like a sheltered cove) where the water may be warmer and wind may be less so swimming may be possible?
4) Is it best to have a home base and do day trips along the coast or travel west to east?
5) Should I get a car or just rely on public transportation (for the coastal segments)?
6) Restaurant and museum advice is always welcome (for instance I was just listening to a podcast on Cote d'Azur and the host was talking about Nice, i think, and her advice was, "if you only have time for one museum, skip the Matisse museum and visit the Chagall museum"
One for Cassidian -
7) Should I plan to visit/stay in Cassis!?!?!
Away from the coast:
8) What cities/villages should I hit? I read that Aix has a boho vibe which appeals to me. And back to aforementioned podcast, the host was surprised that the guest (a recent traveler to the area didn't visit Eze)
9) Is it worth a trip to Arles for Van Gogh? I *think* some things should be blooming in late March(?)
10) Are there any great driving routes that will take us through countryside, through some small villages? Your basic scenic route!
11) I imagine a car is required for what I'm discussing?
Any other suggestions for off the beaten track sites of activities would be appreciated.....Like a great cooking class, or great little restaurant that you'd pass right by if you didn't know better, any local dishes or specialties (think Manu's tomato tarte at Santa Fe. RIP)
Sorry to bombard you all with so many questions, but the France forum has been a little too quiet lately, and I'm just trying pump things up a bit!
Long time, no talk. Tragically, I have no SBH trips planned but I'm looking to take trip to the Mother Ship.
My daughter is doing a semester abroad in Lugano, Switzerland and part of the program allows them to take a week to ten day trips wherever they want to travel. I'm going to join her on one of her breaks and we want hit up the Cote d'Azur and Provence. The problem is, I've never been there and have no idea what to hit, what to skip and where all the cool stuff is!! I have the Lonely Planet guide book for Provence and Cote d'Azur, but damn near everything in it sounds great!!!
I'd like to do the coast as well as inland/the countryside. I'll be over there in late March/early April which I think is too early for beach lounging, but maybe good for outdoor lunches near the beach? I'll probably have around a week to travel.
The current plan is to start in Nice and work our way west to Marseille and then up to Aix-en-Provence and then over to Arles to vibe on the Van Gogh scene. I'd like to do some physical stuff (as simple as a walk on the beach, to hikes along cliffs or through some naturals areas), some long lunches and dinners (not Michelin 3 Star meals, but more mom and pop places or quaint little seaside joints.....think more La Gloriette vs. L'Esprit), see some local culture/art museums and mostly interact with the people (stroll the streets, hit some shops, see the country side, etc). My tastes run more bohemian than opulent and swanky.
The questions I have are:
1) How much time should I spend along the coast? (I realize I can easily spend a week in Nice! but I'd like to hit the highlights and see as much variety as possible without being on a go go go whirlwind)
2) Are there any coastal cities/towns that I MUST see or MUST skip? (As in see Cannes but skip San Tropez, or spend more time in Nice than Marseille)
2a) Should I visit Monaco? How long should I budget?
3) If it happens to be unseasonably warm is there a certain area (like a sheltered cove) where the water may be warmer and wind may be less so swimming may be possible?
4) Is it best to have a home base and do day trips along the coast or travel west to east?
5) Should I get a car or just rely on public transportation (for the coastal segments)?
6) Restaurant and museum advice is always welcome (for instance I was just listening to a podcast on Cote d'Azur and the host was talking about Nice, i think, and her advice was, "if you only have time for one museum, skip the Matisse museum and visit the Chagall museum"
One for Cassidian -
7) Should I plan to visit/stay in Cassis!?!?!
Away from the coast:
8) What cities/villages should I hit? I read that Aix has a boho vibe which appeals to me. And back to aforementioned podcast, the host was surprised that the guest (a recent traveler to the area didn't visit Eze)
9) Is it worth a trip to Arles for Van Gogh? I *think* some things should be blooming in late March(?)
10) Are there any great driving routes that will take us through countryside, through some small villages? Your basic scenic route!
11) I imagine a car is required for what I'm discussing?
Any other suggestions for off the beaten track sites of activities would be appreciated.....Like a great cooking class, or great little restaurant that you'd pass right by if you didn't know better, any local dishes or specialties (think Manu's tomato tarte at Santa Fe. RIP)
Sorry to bombard you all with so many questions, but the France forum has been a little too quiet lately, and I'm just trying pump things up a bit!