Best Way to Tour a Country (e.g., France)

[DGS49]

I have been to Paris a couple of times, done a lot of on-my-own touring, and loved it. The rest of France? Not so much.

I have toured the other European countries to the extent that I want to do it, but I think it's time to "hit" France in some meaningful way, recognizing that at my age (76) this might be my last chance.

I have toured countries in three ways: Driving tour on my own, River cruises, and a couple of bus tours. Driving has the most flexibility (you can extend your stay at one place if you want), river cruise is the most convenient (only unpacking one time), and a bus tour guarantees that you will hit the high spots and you don't have to trouble yourself with driving or booking individual tours to major "attractions" (I hate that term).

For France, I'm thinking about taking the month of July (everyone is on holiday in August), and doing the most that I can. I have identified a 15-day bus tour that looks good, but it seems travel-intense...too much stuff packed into insufficient time. I have driven quite a bit in Europe (NOT Great Britain), so don't think that would be an issue. GPS will serve our navigation needs.

I have no knowledge of the French language, but I'm thinking that I can learn enough "French for travelers" between now and July to get by in restaurants and shops. I'm expecting that once I get out of the big cities, I won't run into as many English speakers as I would in, for example, Germany or Austria. Or Scotland, for that matter.

There are a shit-load of places and things that would be gratifying to see, especially since I get off on spectacular churches & such. A lot of preparation will be required if I'm going to do it by car.

Is anyone reading this familiar enough with France to opine on this? Pitfalls I'm not considering? Driving or cost considerations?

 

[Concerned American]

I have been to Paris a couple of times, done a lot of on-my-own touring, and loved it. The rest of France? Not so much.

I have toured the other European countries to the extent that I want to do it, but I think it's time to "hit" France in some meaningful way, recognizing that at my age (76) this might be my last chance.

I have toured countries in three ways: Driving tour on my own, River cruises, and a couple of bus tours. Driving has the most flexibility (you can extend your stay at one place if you want), river cruise is the most convenient (only unpacking one time), and a bus tour guarantees that you will hit the high spots and you don't have to trouble yourself with driving or booking individual tours to major "attractions" (I hate that term).

For France, I'm thinking about taking the month of July (everyone is on holiday in August), and doing the most that I can. I have identified a 15-day bus tour that looks good, but it seems travel-intense...too much stuff packed into insufficient time. I have driven quite a bit in Europe (NOT Great Britain), so don't think that would be an issue. GPS will serve our navigation needs.

I have no knowledge of the French language, but I'm thinking that I can learn enough "French for travelers" between now and July to get by in restaurants and shops. I'm expecting that once I get out of the big cities, I won't run into as many English speakers as I would in, for example, Germany or Austria. Or Scotland, for that matter.

There are a shit-load of places and things that would be gratifying to see, especially since I get off on spectacular churches & such. A lot of preparation will be required if I'm going to do it by car.

Is anyone reading this familiar enough with France to opine on this? Pitfalls I'm not considering? Driving or cost considerations?

I've traveled a bit in my life and I've been to Europe a few times. I've experienced the ways you've explained and I've found that, for me, the bus tours were the least stessful and the best bang for the buck. I really liked that I didn't have to deal with reservations, finding the best or at least acceptable accommodations and meals and just the ease of not having to worry about anything--knowing what to expect. It was especially helpful with my language limitations. After the horror stories that I've heard about French intolerance for folks that don't speak the lingo, I was pleasantly surprised at the helpfulness I experienced in Paris after making a rudimentary attempt at using the language though. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[odanny]

One thing to remember, the entire month of July is the Tour de France, so there will be a lot of visitors, and you might have a chance to catch one of the stages. You can probably find the entire route online now, or at least very soon.

 

[frigidweirdo]

I have been to Paris a couple of times, done a lot of on-my-own touring, and loved it. The rest of France? Not so much.

I have toured the other European countries to the extent that I want to do it, but I think it's time to "hit" France in some meaningful way, recognizing that at my age (76) this might be my last chance.

I have toured countries in three ways: Driving tour on my own, River cruises, and a couple of bus tours. Driving has the most flexibility (you can extend your stay at one place if you want), river cruise is the most convenient (only unpacking one time), and a bus tour guarantees that you will hit the high spots and you don't have to trouble yourself with driving or booking individual tours to major "attractions" (I hate that term).

For France, I'm thinking about taking the month of July (everyone is on holiday in August), and doing the most that I can. I have identified a 15-day bus tour that looks good, but it seems travel-intense...too much stuff packed into insufficient time. I have driven quite a bit in Europe (NOT Great Britain), so don't think that would be an issue. GPS will serve our navigation needs.

I have no knowledge of the French language, but I'm thinking that I can learn enough "French for travelers" between now and July to get by in restaurants and shops. I'm expecting that once I get out of the big cities, I won't run into as many English speakers as I would in, for example, Germany or Austria. Or Scotland, for that matter.

There are a shit-load of places and things that would be gratifying to see, especially since I get off on spectacular churches & such. A lot of preparation will be required if I'm going to do it by car.

Is anyone reading this familiar enough with France to opine on this? Pitfalls I'm not considering? Driving or cost considerations?

You could do tours. I've not been to France much, but I know the Mont Saint Michel has tours from Paris. So you could go to Paris, do a few things, take a few individual tours when it suits you, then move to somewhere else.

I've done other countries, like Italy, which was super easy, just take the train, book hotels, most of the things to see are big places anyway. No need for tours (but hot in summer).

Other places that are good, Prague, Vienna, etc.

 

[DGS49]

One of my biggest concerns is packing discipline. My wife is insane, and wants to be prepared for any meteorological eventuality from snow to infernal heat. Having to unpack and re-pack every day on a bus tour would require me to take regular doses of controlled substances.

I have found a bus tour, 15 days, at a reasonable cost, and I'm leaning in that direction right now.

As for the Tour d'France, I am an avid bicyclist and I would rather have a root canal without drugs than watch a leg of that awful spectacle.

 

[Concerned American]

One of my biggest concerns is packing discipline. My wife is insane, and wants to be prepared for any meteorological eventuality from snow to infernal heat. Having to unpack and re-pack every day on a bus tour would require me to take regular doses of controlled substances.

I know the feeling. That was the plus side of our bus tours. My wife was forced to exercise restraint, LOL.

 

[sartre play]

Been a while, love France, MUSEUMS 2 DIE FOR. Would not encourage driving.
minor fender benders, people some times don't even stop. Buy a discount book of 2 story red tour bus,
will take you to almost every interesting spot. HAVE FUN.

 

[GLASNOST]

I have been to Paris a couple of times, done a lot of on-my-own touring, and loved it. The rest of France? Not so much.

I have toured the other European countries to the extent that I want to do it, but I think it's time to "hit" France in some meaningful way, recognizing that at my age (76) this might be my last chance.

I have toured countries in three ways: Driving tour on my own, River cruises, and a couple of bus tours. Driving has the most flexibility (you can extend your stay at one place if you want), river cruise is the most convenient (only unpacking one time), and a bus tour guarantees that you will hit the high spots and you don't have to trouble yourself with driving or booking individual tours to major "attractions" (I hate that term).

For France, I'm thinking about taking the month of July (everyone is on holiday in August), and doing the most that I can. I have identified a 15-day bus tour that looks good, but it seems travel-intense...too much stuff packed into insufficient time. I have driven quite a bit in Europe (NOT Great Britain), so don't think that would be an issue. GPS will serve our navigation needs.

I have no knowledge of the French language, but I'm thinking that I can learn enough "French for travelers" between now and July to get by in restaurants and shops. I'm expecting that once I get out of the big cities, I won't run into as many English speakers as I would in, for example, Germany or Austria. Or Scotland, for that matter.

There are a shit-load of places and things that would be gratifying to see, especially since I get off on spectacular churches & such. A lot of preparation will be required if I'm going to do it by car.

Is anyone reading this familiar enough with France to opine on this? Pitfalls I'm not considering? Driving or cost considerations?

Different strokes. I love staying a few days in the tiny French villages to sit at the cafe´s, pâtisseries, and join in a game of pétanque with the locals beneath the shade of tall trees where every little breeze seems to whisper “Louise”. You can keep the cities for yourself ... I won't disturb you. I'll be 79 next month,

 

[GLASNOST]

One of my biggest concerns is packing discipline. My wife is insane, and wants to be prepared for any meteorological eventuality from snow to infernal heat.

Just between me and you - man to man - never take a woman along with you when you travel unless you absolutely must and then [if you must] just give her some money and send her off to do some shopping.