Tip or splurge experiences in France - Lyon to Nice

[Anonymous]

My wife and I are doing our first ever kids free trip for our 10th anniversary. Flying to Lyon, 9 days in Rhone valley and Riviera, likely Lyon, Avignon and Nice for hotels. Day trips to multiple wine regions and other towns along the way.

For anyone who has done a similar trip, welcome any tips on must-dos/sees along the way, and especially any great splurge type experiences that could take the trip to next level for us!

Thanks

[Anonymous]

From Nice I would consider lunch at the Chevre D’Or if you like splurging on meals (you could scale up or down from that).

From Avignon you could consider day trips to Orange or Nimes/Pont du Gard (probably either can be combined with a visit to Chateauneuf du Pape).

[Anonymous]

From Nice, go to Eze right along the coast. Adorable little village set up in the hillside overlooking the Mediterranean. Great little boutique inns/hotels. So romantic. Monte Carlo is also a fun and easy day trip from Nice or Eze.

[Anonymous]

Don’t forget Marseille, and if you have a day pop to Grenoble. Did a similar leg on a trip to France and they were two of my favorite stops, and an easy train ride from Lyon.

[Anonymous]

From Lyon, we did a day trip via train to Annecy - took a boat ride, had lunch, went to the beach. Lovely place.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you stay in or hang out in the old part of Lyon.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you have air conditioning. It was 104 when I was there. Not typical, but obviously, it can happen!

[Anonymous]

We stayed at this chateau outside of St. Remy -- gorgeous, has a beautiful pool and grounds, and an amazing chef as well:

https://www.chateaudesalpilles.com/en/rooms-and-suites-best-hotels-in-provence

The village of St. Remy is lovely, and you can visit the asylum where Van Gogh stayed as well as Roman ruins of Glanum

[Anonymous]

Take a helicopter from Nice to Monaco. About €150 pp and the views are amazing. Takes 7 minutes! Spend the day in Monaco or better yet a few days.

[Anonymous]

OP here. These are all great recommendations, thank you! Curious if you did trains and guided day trips, or if you rented a car for the whole time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. These are all great recommendations, thank you! Curious if you did trains and guided day trips, or if you rented a car for the whole time?

I'd probably go without a car in Nice, and then if going to Avignon next, pick up the car at Avignon TGV station, or if stopping along the way, pick it up in Lyon on your way out of town.

We did a similar trip a few years ago, without kids. It was glorious. Definitely spend a day in the Luberon, sitting on verandas overlooking the area. La Bartavelle in Goult, such great food. There are also some really cool farm/restaurants in that area in the countryside. We went to one on our trip, but it appears to have closed.

[Anonymous]

Lots of nice restaurants on Rue Merciere in Lyon and Vieux Lyon - the old town is very pretty.

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I am the PP with the St. Remy recommendations -- we loved visiting the hilltop villages in the Luberon. Definitely need a car if you take that route.

We also did a "Wine Safari" with this guide: https://www.avignon-et-provence.com/en/tourist-guides-provence/wine-safari.html

but I can't tell if he is still leading tours? He drove us to several vineyards and wineries and was very personable and knowledgable -- also a nice break for my husband from being the driver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of nice restaurants on Rue Merciere in Lyon and Vieux Lyon - the old town is very pretty.

We've been to 3 star restuarants, but some of our best experiences have been no name restaurants in small towns, outside under the trees. Try somewhere non-famous.

[Anonymous]

Go to cassis and rent a boat for the day and swim in the hidden beaches