| Author |
Message |
    
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1107
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 - 8:55 pm: |     |
Planning a trip to the French Riviera -or- Italy's Amalfi coast (Sorrento-Positano) & Capri.
Has anyone been to either area within the last year or so?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
We want to go in May.
If you could travel anywhere in the world for a week - 10 days, where would YOU go? |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3161
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 - 9:19 pm: | |
We spent 11 days in the South of France this past September. We started in Nice for 4 nights, then travelled to St. Maxime (across the bay from St. Tropez) for 2 nights and then to Arles (in Provence) for 3 nights. We went with our 3 year old daughter and had a fantastic time.
We also considered Italy, but it came down to my comfort level with French over Italian. Sure, most people understood English, but they certainly appreciated the attempt to speak the local language.
Certainly, the scenery, food, weather and people (yes...the French people) were amazing.
Let me know if you want more specific details or recommendations. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1135
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 - 10:09 pm: | |
I have one thing to say: St-Paul de Vence, St-Paul de Vence, St-Paul de Vence..., followed by rambling the old section of Montpellier, followed by Carcassonne, Aigues-Mortes, and the port of Marseille. Then see the cowboys of La Camargue.
It's pretty hard to have a better holiday than in that part of France. I have made that trip at different times (was head-over-heels in love with a girl from Carcassonne at the time).
May should give you all the scents and perfumes of fields in bloom, lots of colours, and you'll be there before most other tourists have even started to think about their holidays.
IMHO. |
Buttercup
Citizen
Username: Buttercup
Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 - 11:15 pm: | |
The Amalfi!!! Italy is heaven on earth and the Amalfi is the Garden of Eden. I am sure the Riviera is nice but Italians are such zesty, friendly people! Make sure to visit Ravello and Positano if you go. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 992
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 8:26 am: | |
If it's Italy , Hotel Amalfi , couple of Vespas , day trip to Revello , Capri , Positano. The town of Amalfi is the best location on the Amalfi coast. If money is no object Hotel Christoper , one of only two that I know of that have a pool on the Med. If it's the Riviera , May is a little early for the full scene in St. Tropez & Nice. If I had 10 days a lap around the Drogne is nice. |
ccm
Citizen
Username: Ccm
Post Number: 70
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 10:43 am: | |
My wife and I went to Provence last Sept. and it was otherworldly. We stayed in the town of Salernes, which is located in the department of Var which is about 35 mins. off the A8 autoroute near the small to midsize city of Draugignan. It was a great launch pad for the whole of the SE of France - we stuck to the countryside and were rewarded amply. Food was fantastic, scenery amazing, and the people were great. We went as far north as the Gorges du Verdon (amazing nature site, and a national park of sorts), as far east as Monaco (quick day trip), south to Bandol and other coastal areas, and east to Aix and Avignon, which were great places to visit. Saint Tropez was interesting, but I prefer to avoid the "scene" when I travel, opting instead for a more authentic "countrified" experience. The wine country drives and vineyard visits in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Bandol and Cotes du Provence AOCs were the highlight for me. It was not expensive and there is a nonstop Delta flight from JFK to Nice, very very convenient. Vive la France! |
pseudonymous
Citizen
Username: Berry_festival
Post Number: 219
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 11:49 am: | |
ccm,
sounds wonderful. did you have a central location? a hotel? a cottage? i'm considering a similar trip and would appreciate lodging recommendations. |
Arsenal
Citizen
Username: Arsenal
Post Number: 42
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 1:42 pm: | |
No question in my mind. The Amalfi coast -(Sorrento-Positano) & Capri is second to none.
|
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1108
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 3:40 pm: | |
Would you have your base in Sorrento, Amalfi or Positano. I'm afraid of all those steps in Positano EVERYDAY if we stay there. How far is Sorrento from Positano? Riding a Vespa is always something I've wanted to do too. I hear the traffic along the winding Amalfi coast roads is a nightmare. It may be better as we'll be there before the busy season.
Still thinking of the French Riviera too... |
Abner Aliger
Citizen
Username: Vichy
Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 9:45 am: | |
Former SO resident now retired to Paris (7thArr);after eight yrs in Provence. The current anti-French balogna in the States is just that - balogna to detract from the real problems. Met few if any rude people here, including here in Paris. Cost of living is high but there are "ways" to control it. A Bientot! |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1113
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 9:59 am: | |
Happy New Years Vichy!
I've been to Paris, and it is a beautiful city! |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1151
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 1:53 pm: | |
Just remember: "Paris n'est pas la France." There are so many beautiful things to see once you venture away from Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Cannes.
This thread has been about the Midi. If you have the time and inclination, for my money, there is no better part of France in which to spend glorious weeks than just inland from the coast of Brittany--- wild beaches, small villages, mystical seashores. Yes, in winter, some wild weather, but je m'en fous, as the French might say. A great place to get to know France. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 184
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 3:45 pm: | |
The original post also asked if there was anyplace in the world you'd like to go, where is it...and I have been dreaming of going to Greece, specifically the beautiful islands. I'm dying to eat oily grilled fish, swim in warm blue waters, see beautiful white stucco buildings dazzling in the sun. To complete the fantasy, I would bring only what I could carry comfortably, and would island hop, staying in little hotels on different islands, totally unplanned, doing exactly as I pleased for ten solid days.
|
Mummite
Citizen
Username: Mummite
Post Number: 193
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 6:50 pm: | |
Don't forget the Amalfi island of Ischia - much less touristy and right next to Capri which is these days a mecca for american tourist groups.
Anywhere in the world...? 10 days in South Africa/Cape town/Garden route/ Safari/Winetasting. All was so outstandingly breathtaking I'd recommend that. |
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 87
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 8:38 pm: | |
Been to both areas and I would recommend the Amalfi Coast. It is just so spectacular, places like Ravello, Sorrento..these towns and the view is just stunning. Add to that, the proximity to Naples, a city most Americans don't spend much time in, but an absolutely glorious place, and a bit further down south, the splendid Greek ruins of Paestum, well, it's a great, great part of Italy and I would vote it ahead of the French Riviera... |
ccm
Citizen
Username: Ccm
Post Number: 71
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 7:35 pm: | |
Pseudonym, we rented a cottage which was on the grounds of a bigger house, and it was perfect. There are a number of house rental websites for the south of France out there - you can't go wrong with that option, in my view. |
js
Citizen
Username: Js33
Post Number: 166
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 - 9:31 pm: | |
I've done both & I'd say rent a canal boat on one of the canals in France is 100% the coolest thing there is to do in the world. The canals were built hundreds of years ago for commerce & they are lined w/ Poplar trees & there are trails b/w the trees & the canals where the horses would pull the barges/boats. Along w/ your boat, you rent a bike (from same co.) & it's always on board & there were times when I would ride alongside the boat b/c the boats go so slow. You can go through locks (which are a lot of fun) or choose not to. It's just the best type of trip in my opinion. - Can be the most romantic trip if that's what you are looking for, or can be a total party if you choose to go w/ a lot of people. There are also boats that are like mini-b&b's. They have a chef, captain..etc. The one we opted for - we captained. - And you don't need to be an expert...trust me! We cooked on our own & would stop at the small villages along the canal to eat or whatever.
If you're interested, here's the info of the company we used:
E-mail: colm@occitan.net
http://www.computours.com (Languedoc Guide)
http://www.midicanal.com (Canal du Midi and Boat Rentals) |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page