Bonjour, nous prévoyons faire un séjour d'environ 18 jours pour explorer le nord ouest de la France début septembre 2016. Nous arriverons probablement à Bordeaux et voulons absolument voir les plages du débarquement, la Normandie, la Picardie (nos ancêtres) et un petit saut en Alsace. Quelqu'un peut-il me suggérer un circuit. Nous ne savons pas de quel aéroport nous repartirons, nous aurons une voiture de location. Merci à l'avance.
Bonjour à vous. Pourquoi arriver à Bordeaux? Vous serez loin de ce que vous avez l'intention de visiter. Vous pouvez très bien arriver sur Roissy, et de là prendre votre véhicule de location et partir faire votre périple. Nous sommes Picards d'origine (Oise) et habitons maintenant à 100kms nord de Bordeaux. Combien de temps pensez vous rester en France? Comptez en gros 4/5 jours pour visiter les plages du débarquement, il est possible d'y rester plus longtemps en approfondissant vos connaissances sur place. La Picardie comporte trois départements, qu'elles sont vos origines? Là en fonction de ce qui vous plait, il y a de nombreuses visites à faire et vous pourrez également voir beaucoup de lieux de la première guerre, surtout dans la Somme, qui a subit de gros dégâts à l'époque, puisque coupée en deux par la ligne de front. Pour l'Alsace, je laisse les connaisseurs vous informer, mais c'est à l'opposé de vos 2 premiers centre d’intérêts. Je reste à votre écoute pour d'éventuelles questions. Bonne journée à vous (avec le décalage horaire)
À moins d'une bonne raison, je me questionne aussi sur votre désir d'arriver à Bordeaux qui est quand même assez loin de votre but. Pourquoi pas Nantes, air Transat ont des vols directs vers cette ville.
Vous pourriez vous dirigez vers Rennes, Saint-Malo et le mont Saint-Michel pour ensuite vous rendre vers les plages. La ville de Caen et son mémorial sont à voir.
Je ne connais pas la Picardie mais si vous désirez vous rendre en Alsace je suggérerais de passer quelques jours entre Strasbourg et Colmar et voir entre autre les villages d'Obernai, Riquewhir, Turckheim, Ribeauvillé et Eguisheim. Nous avons adoré cette partie de la France.
Merci beaucoup pour vos infos, pour ce qui est de l'origine de mon conjoint, tout ce que nous savons c'est qu'il serait un Picard dit des Trois Maisons. Pour notre arrivée à Bordeaux, puisqu'on ne connaît pas la région et s'était dit que ce serait bien de visiter différents vignobles mais je vais réorienter mes recherches pour d'autres villes pour notre arrivée.
Visiter Bordeaux et Saint-émilion par exemple n'est pas une si mauvaise idée, seulement il me semble que rajouter l'Alsace est beaucoup trop pour 18 jours.
Bonjour,
Je pense aussi que ça fait un peu beaucoup: Bretagne + Normandie + Picardie peut être bien, dense mais faisable :) si vous choisissez d'aller à Bordeaux il faudrait supprimer la Bretagne par exemple (ou survoler). Tout dépend vos centres d'intérêt et votre façon de voyager...à mon sens faites sauter l'Alsace c'est un gros détour alors que visiblement vous ne connaissez pas encore ce qui est juste à côté :)
Notre intérêt est principalement pour l'architecture et l'histoire, bien entendu nous voudrons visite quelques musés en ce qui a trait à la guerre de 1945. Nous aimons également les paysages c'est pourquoi nous voulons éviter les autoroutes et prendre seulement les routes secondaires. Bien sur que si le temps nous manque, nous éliminerons l'Alsace, ce qui est bien dommage mais nous ne voulons pas courir comme des poules pas de tête.
Tout est question d'intérêts et de façons de voyager, mais il est clair qu'il y a suffisamment à faire et à voir en restant à l'ouest. Ensuite, arriver à Bordeaux ou à Nantes dépendra de voter circuit et de ce que vous voulez prioriser.
Mais peu importe votre choix, ce ne sont pas les suggestions de visites qui manquent.
À partir de Bordeaux, bien sûr Bordeaux et St Émilion. Mais aussi l'estuaire de la Gironde avec de jolis petits villages comme Talmont-sur-Gironde. Saintes et La Rochelle valent aussi un arrêt.
Mais si vous commencez à trop arrêter, vous allez manquer de temps pour le reste. C'est sans doute pour ça que je pense qu'une arrivée à Nantes seraient sans doute mieux. Quelques possibilités en Bretagne sans vous aventurer trop loin non plus. Vous avez Nantes. Si vous voulez visiter des vignobles, vous en avez au sud de Nantes. Toute la région du muscadet. Peut-être une nuit à Clisson vous permettrait une petite virée "vin" sans trop rallonger votre périple.
Sinon pour la Bretagne Vannes, Carnac avec ses alignements de menhirs, Josselin, Dinan, St Malo (où vous avez le mémorial 39/45), Cancale, Fougères, Vitré.
Sinon pour la Normandie, elle offre beaucoup plus que simplement les plages du débarquement. Vous pourriez facilement partager votre temps entre celle-ci et la Picardie qui semblent être les 2 régions que vous priorisez. Bayeux, Arromanches-les-Bains, Sainte-mère-église, Caen pour son mémorial surtout. Barfleur, Beuvron-en-Auge, Honfleur, Rouen, Lyons-la-Forêt, Étretat, Veules-les-roses, Dieppe. Y a tellement à voir ^.^
Une chose par contre. j'ai souvent entendu dire que ça valait vraiment le coup de prendre un tour organisé pour faire les plages du débarquement car l'information qu'on y reçoit nous permet de comprendre encore bien davantage. Plusieurs tours partent de Bayeux.
Une troisième possibilité pour vous serait d'arriver à Paris et de prendre le train jusqu'à Rouen, Caen ou Bayeux où vous pourriez prendre possession de votre voiture de location. Déjà, il est peu recommandé de faire trop de route après un vol de nuit avec la fatigue et le décalage horaire. Plusieurs trains partent directement de l'aéroport Charles-de-Gaule. Tout dépendant du type de train que vous devrez prendre, en achetant vos billets 90 jours avant la date de départ, vous pourrez profiter des meilleures économies. Le site de la SNCF cause parfois des problèmes pour l'acceptation de cartes de crédit étrangères ( attention de ne pas être redirigé vers un site revendeur tiers souvent plus cher). Si jamais vous décidez de prendre cette option et que vous avez des problèmes pour l'achat des billets. Je connais un site affilié à la SNCF qui permet l'utilisation des cartes étrangères. Vous me ferez signe. 😉
Vous pouvez visiter des vignobles du Val de Loire, près de Nantes. Il y en a de réputés autant que les vins de Bordeaux. Et ça vous évitera de vous éparpiller ;)
« Ne soyons plus anglais ni français ni allemands. Soyons européens. Ne soyons plus européens, soyons hommes. - Soyons l'humanité. Il nous reste à abdiquer un dernier égoïsme : la patrie. » Victor Hugo
Pour Bordeaux, ce qui peut être sympa c'est la dune du Pyla et les vignobles si vous voulez.
Vous pouvez remonter la côte en faisant une pause à la Rochelle, puis visiter Nantes et autour (Guérande, Pornic, Clisson selon ce que vous aimez) et la Bretagne (j'aimerais voir la presqu'île de Crozon, sinon j'aime bien Belle île et une petite ville médiévale: Rochefort en Terre).
Le Mont St Michel, Saint Malo, les plages du débarquement...
Pour l'Alsace, c'est loin, vous n'aurez pas le temps de tout voir, il va falloir choisir.
Déjà avec une semaine pour Bordeaux, alentours et Nantes + autour, Bretagne +vers la Normandie, ça fait facilement les 18 jours...
Strasbourg, Colmar et autour c'est sympa mais plus à voir en hiver lors des marchés de Noël.
Moi et ma conjointe avons comme projet de visiter la partie sud de la France à partir de Bordeaux. Le voyage serait de vingt-et-un jours et nous prévoyons…
Nous avons loué du 9/08 au 12/08 à Auray et du 12/08 au 19/08 à Pleneuf Val André. Nous souhaitons découvrir un maximum de sites pendant ces 2 périodes mais il…
Voyager en camping-car › France › Est / Suisse / Ouest · 3 replies
Je souhaite partir en camping car depuis la Mayenne dans le jura! Es ce que quelqu'un aurait un circuit préparé (plan) pour parcourir le jura. Nous partons le…
Nous sommes à la recherche des plus beaux trajets en partant de Toulouse et pour aller explorer la région des Pyrénées. Du 19 juillet au 13 août 2019, nous…
Voyager à pied › France › Massif Central · 1 reply
J aimerais faire une premiere partie du circuit saint jacques au depart du puy en velay, depart ce 28 octobre (pas le choix, raisons professionnelles), pour 8…
Bonjour
Je dois organiser un voyage en métropole pour la première fois en famille ( mon conjoint et mes 2 enfants 16 ans et 5 ans). Nous arrivons a Paris Orly le 12 JANVIER au soir et repars le 30 Janvier.
Avez vous des idées de ville a visiter pendant cette période, des hôtels a nous conseiller ?
Nous allons nous déplacer en train et aimerais faire au moins 4 nuits par ville.
Je vous remercie d'avance pour vos suggestions.
Delphine
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Corsica for 12 days:
- One week in Ajaccio
- One week in Porto-Vecchio
I’m renting a car at Ajaccio airport.
Any special visit ideas?
Thanks
I want to rent an economy-class car in France for 12 days. I checked prices on several sites mentioned in this forum, and they’re pretty comparable—around 350 € or $470 CAD.
Strangely, Auto Europe is showing prices between $300 and $330 CAD for an economy-class vehicle. That seems too good to be true. What do you think?
Hello,
I’ve visited Corsica several times with our kids, and we loved the warm welcome and friendliness of the locals as we explored many villages. We’re originally from the JURA region.
Now that we’re retired, we’d like to live somewhere between Bastia and Porto-Vecchio.
Which village or town would you recommend for a peaceful and welcoming lifestyle?
We’ll be back from a river cruise with a stop in Strasbourg for just the afternoon and evening. We’d like to spend the afternoon in either Colmar or Kaysersberg and then return to Strasbourg for dinner and a stroll afterward. I’d love your advice on which spot—Colmar or Kaysersberg—you’d recommend. I’ve noticed there’s a bus line 145 that runs from Colmar to Kaysersberg, taking about 40 minutes and costing around 5 €.
Is there a train or another way to get directly from Strasbourg that’s quick and affordable? I think a taxi would be pretty expensive. The issue is we don’t have much time—our flight is the next morning. We’ve already visited Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé, and Riquewihr about 10 years ago and loved them all. Our river cruise covers the Main, Rhine, and Danube.
We’re really looking forward to seeing places in Germany, like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, among others.
Hello,
We’re planning to spend a week in Cap Corse in early September, and I’d love some advice on renting a car (for 4 adults), hotels, and the must-see spots. Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
This question is for a friend who lives in Munich and needs to come to Paris in May 2027.
Could you share any tips on the easiest way to get to Paris (flight or train) and then to La Défense Arena?
I don’t know anything about it, and my friend is just as lost when it comes to planning her trip.
Thanks in advance if you have any advice! :-)
We’re planning to spend a few days in Valencia and the surrounding area. Can you recommend the must-see sights?
PS: If you know any great restaurants, we’re all ears!
It’s official: our Lyon weekend is confirmed from June 12th to 14th (girls only, no kids!). Do you have any must-see spots to recommend? Are there any exhibitions happening around that time?
Which places do you suggest for going out and having a good time?
Hi,
Our son, currently in Central America, will board a sailboat on 04/16 to cross the Atlantic. He’s expected to arrive around 05/31 in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, and we’d like to welcome him on the day he arrives.
I’m looking for accommodation in the area for a few days around that date, from which we can explore the Camargue. We’ll be bringing our e-bikes.
Could you tell me which towns to look in and which areas to avoid, please? I think Port-Saint-Louis isn’t a great option if we want to avoid the toll for the ferry every time we leave by car.
Thanks for your tips.
Claire
PS: Are there a lot of mosquitoes in late May/early June?
Hi everyone! I’m Loubna, I’m Algerian. My friends and I are planning a trip to France, but we don’t know this region at all. Could you help us out? Thanks in advance!
Hi there, I’m facing a pretty big and important dilemma—I moved to Argentina (Buenos Aires) when I was 20, and now, at 30, I’m coming back to France.
I’m looking for a city to live in and build a life for the next several years. I’m a single guy, so that’s the context.
The thing is, I have quite a few strict criteria...
First and foremost, I *need* a city that’s bustling with people everywhere—I really don’t like quiet, small countryside towns.
Nightlife is super important to me, especially on weekends. It’s crucial that there’s a wide range of options for going out in the evening (mostly bars—I’m not really into nightclubs, but I’d like to be one day if possible).
The social aspect is the *most* important thing (honestly, the *only* thing that matters to me). I don’t care at all about living conditions, safety, cleanliness, or whether things work smoothly.
But I *do* need a place where people are generally "chill"—not cold, rigid, or overly professional, with social norms that don’t make my head spin. I know I’ll never find the same Latin vibe here in France, haha, but I’m trying to survive anyway.
In France, I’ve always lived in Essonne (91), around Bures-sur-Yvette / Les Ulis / Gif / Orsay, etc. I *hate* it—way too quiet, empty streets, and zero activities that suit me. There’s not a single proper bar in any of the surrounding towns, just PMU tobacco shops, and nightlife is nonexistent.
I went to Hossegor once with friends—great vibe, nightlife, bars, beach, etc. But I’m guessing it’s *super* expensive to buy a place there, close to the action (and I’m not even sure if it’s a nice place to live overall).
When I came back to France, I spent 3 months in Paris because I thought it would obviously be the closest to what I was looking for. I still have horrible memories of it—it haunted me so much that I had to escape the capital in a hurry... And I was (I think?) in one of the best neighborhoods for my tastes: Belleville.
So here I am, going in circles because I don’t know enough about French cities. All my friends love quiet, small provincial towns or even living alone in the mountains.
A couple told me about Montreuil, but they were there a long time ago, so I don’t know what it’s like now. They said there was activity, that the city was pretty big, and that there was a good nightlife scene (bars, nightclubs, all kinds of outings), plus the metro (which would make it easy to get to Paris or for people to come to Montreuil from Paris).
So, for now, Montreuil is my only option, but I’m scared and would love other opinions (on Montreuil and other possibilities).
Sorry for the novel, but this is *really* important to me—my future depends on it, in a way ^^'
Thanks so much for reading and for any help you can give!
Hello,
At the beginning of June, we’ll be spending a few days in Sardinia. We’ve decided to return via a detour through Corsica and want to make the crossing from Santa Teresa di Gallura to Bonifacio (2 people and 1 car). There are currently two companies, Moby Lines and Ichnusa Lines, that operate this route. Unfortunately, we don’t know either of them at all. The prices and crossing times are pretty much the same, and we’d like to choose the most reliable one (punctuality/risk of cancellation for a booked crossing) and, if possible, the more comfortable of the two. Could you share your thoughts on either company to help us decide? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Have a great day.
I’m thinking about planning several short trips in France outside peak tourist seasons, especially in spring and autumn.
The idea would be to prioritize:
- fewer crowds at tourist sites
- more affordable accommodation prices
- a more local atmosphere
However, I also have some concerns about:
- attractions or restaurants sometimes being closed
- more unpredictable weather depending on the region
- less frequent transportation in certain areas
For those of you who’ve traveled in France off-season before, what do you think were the main pros and cons?
Are there any regions or specific times that are particularly worth prioritizing?
I’m looking for a ski resort in the Massif Central for a family trip—two adults and three kids (ages 4, 5, and 6)—for a week between late February and early March.
The main goal is to introduce my kids to skiing, so I’m looking for a resort that’s really "family-friendly." But honestly, almost every resort (Super-Besse, Mont-Dore, Lioran, etc.) claims to be family-friendly, so I’m not sure which one to choose. Plus, it’s not always easy to check the location of accommodations on booking sites.
For what I have in mind, we don’t need 30 km of slopes. What would be ideal, though, is a resort that’s mostly pedestrian-friendly, with lodging within a reasonable distance from the base of the slopes and a ski school available.
I’ve read some things here about places like "Chalmazel-Jeansagnière," but the thread is a bit old.
Hi,
We’re heading to Corsica at the end of July, and after a 4-night stay in Zonza, I’d like to head toward Cargèse or Porto to visit the Calanques de Piana. What’s the actual travel time? Maps says 2h40/3h, but I’m wondering if that’s really accurate.
How long does it take to get back to Ajaccio Airport afterward?
Thanks!
I’m planning a trip to Normandy and, after reading quite a few posts here, I still have some questions about the most logical order to avoid spending too much time on the road.
The idea is to have a fairly smooth itinerary, taking the time to enjoy the places, over about ten days (possibly a little more), combining the coast and the inland areas.
I’m particularly wondering about:
– The best starting point (starting with Mont-Saint-Michel or saving it for the end)
– The balance between the coastline and more inland areas
– The areas where it’s really worth slowing down the pace
If any of you have done a route that felt particularly coherent, your feedback would really help me fine-tune the planning.
Hi,
I saw that the first tram from Pont du Garigliano leaves at 5:15 AM, and by taking the RER B at Cité Universitaire afterward, I’d arrive at Roissy at 6:30 AM—2 hours before my international flight.
Is this doable, or not? If anyone’s done this before, I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re about to finalize a booking for late July near the Pink Granite Coast. We’re wondering about the traffic jams that could make our trip miserable, given how famous the place is—we’re excited to see it too. Could it get pretty bad?
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
In June 2020, my wife and I will be visiting Brittany and Normandy. We’d especially love to explore villages that aren’t part of the usual tourist routes. We enjoy traveling off the beaten path.
We’re reaching out to you all to share which villages we should check out in these two regions.
Thanks.
Here’s the account of the start of our 5/7-day trip in Normandy (then off to the neighbors in... Brittany):
Day 01 from Valenciennes to Mont Saint-Michel: Sunday, September 6, 2020.
After a detour through the south of Lille (picking up our son), we head southwest around 10:00 AM, taking the highways via Amiens, the Pont de Normandie, and Avranches to arrive at "the Mount" around 4:00 PM after 515 km.
Parking P3 (14.20 € for 24 hours) for residents and hotels, located 50 meters from the start of the free round-trip shuttle included in the parking price (not too many tourists at this "late" Sunday hour), and we arrive at the hotel around 4:30 PM.
Triple room with a view of the bay at Hôtel Du Guesclin for 1 night.
From 5:15 PM to 6:30 PM, we tackle the complete tour of the ramparts counterclockwise from the Porte de l’Avancée, via the Tour du Nord (near the abbey entrance), passing in front of the abbey to reach the Tour Gabriel, and back to the start: stunning, not crowded, great weather, and amazing views.
Dinner in the beautiful panoramic restaurant of the hotel, with a bay view at a "window" table (such a nice touch!).
Of course, the day isn’t over, and we can then wander through a deserted main street and its unique atmosphere (photos below labeled "night" even though it’s only 9:15/9:30 PM). What a privilege!
Day 02 from Mont Saint-Michel to Saint-Cast: Monday, September 7, 2020.
After a memorable sunrise over the bay and a sit-down breakfast, we climb the steps to the Abbey for our online-reserved time slot (9:30 AM, 11 € per person).
The "masked group" is quite large, though within normal limits, and the one-way Covid-marked route (with a small brochure) prevents crowds. No need to rush, and 1 hour 15 minutes later, we’re done. Sure, it doesn’t have the charm of a guided tour, but we’re not complaining about being there!
We pick up our bags at the hotel, take the shuttle back, grab the car at Parking P3, and head "south" to Dol-de-Bretagne, 26 km/25 minutes away.
Around noon, the small town is very quiet, and parking in front of the Saint-Samson Cathedral** is free. Across the street, the tourist office is generous with info and gives us a great walking map/circuit: Cathedral, a stroll near the ramparts, the historic center** with its typical shopping streets and half-timbered houses, all covered at a leisurely pace in 45 minutes. Then a picnic on-site.
It’s another 50 km/50 minutes to Saint-Cast-le-Guildo and the Armor Conseil agency for the apartment keys (Résidence du Casino, 72 m², 5th floor, 2 bedrooms, beach 20 meters away, insane morning and evening views, bed linen rental at Ohier 50 meters away, Carrefour City supermarket, and a bakery 200 meters away, plus a town center that hasn’t changed much in 25/30 years. Really, really nice.
After settling in, a short walk is a must up to the heights of the Isle neighborhood behind the seaside residence... memories. Strangely, the well-known Crêperie Bretan’Or seems to be closed, as does the venerable Hôtel du Centre et des Plages (formerly "des Voyageurs")??
And for this reunion evening with the resort, a great crêpe/galette dinner at La Régal’ette, just 100 meters away.
Day’s total: 12 km of walking for sightseeing.
I’m traveling alone from my remote Pyrenees home to Roissy Airport, arriving at Austerlitz Station. I’m a bit nervous about getting to the airport—could you suggest a route?
While you’re at it, maybe you could recommend a budget hotel near the airport?
I’m looking into a trip to Paris around mid-February. I’d love to know more about the temperature (weather) in Paris, museum access (closures or anything else), how easy it is to get around on foot (slippery due to ice?), public transport, etc.
Also, are there any events or activities I absolutely shouldn’t miss? I could adjust my dates based on what you know.
On another note, I’d love to catch a hockey game. Are there any around Paris? I’m happy to watch a few games no matter the level 🏒🥅
FYI, I’m not afraid of the cold since I’m from Quebec 😁😆😆🧑🌾
This summer, we’re planning a family trip to Corsica.
We’ve chosen Sari Solenzara because we want to combine: sea, mountain hikes, natural pools, canyoning, and peace and quiet. Does this choice seem like a good one to you?
Second question: which airport should we prioritize to have the easiest roads to access?
Hi everyone,
We’ve wanted to visit Alsace for a long time to see the famous and well-known "Christmas markets."
Apart from the one in Strasbourg, could you give us some tips on other markets (Sélestat, Colmar, Mulhouse)?
Also, any recommendations for hotels, restaurants, or things to see, etc.?
I know my question is a bit "basic," but we really need some expert advice.
Thanks in advance to all.
I’m planning to spend three days in the Annecy region. What would you recommend visiting? Just so you know, I love nature and enjoy walking, but I prefer hikes that aren’t longer than two hours.
My husband, our 1-year-old son, and I have decided to head to southern France in mid-September.
We don’t know the region at all—it’ll be our first time.
We only have 9 days, and we’re really torn between Provence for its gorgeous villages, its "slow" vibe, Provençal markets, flavors, and colors, and the famous French Riviera for its beaches, ports, and because it’s intrigued us for so long.
I found a beautiful place to stay in a *mas*, but it’s not in the region at all (it’s in the Gard).
My husband found a place he really likes in Saint-Aygulf, but before booking, I’m hesitating and wanted to get some advice.
Obviously, with only 9 days, we clearly have to choose. I thought about splitting the trip in two, but that seems like a bad idea for two reasons: first, we’re traveling with a little one, and second, if we spread ourselves too thin, we risk not seeing anything properly.
Since we don’t know the area at all, I’m worried the coastline might be too built-up with big buildings, etc., like Lloret de Mar (no offense to anyone who loves it—it’s just not what we’re looking for).
Anyway… what would you recommend for a first 9-day trip to the south?
