countryside in France

I know Paris is wonderful even if I haven%26#39;t been, but I understand it is expensive. I would love to travel to the countryside of France for 2 weeks and see all that there is to see. Any suggestions for a budget trip to the countryside of France. Would love to see Normandy for instance. May even retire there if I find it affordable. Any suggestions?

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Gite rental in the French countryside can be very inexpensive. The rentals come in a wide range of options - from converted farm buildings to castles. Most are outside of the larger towns. You typically need to rent for a full week (Saturday to Saturday) although the are gradually getting more flexible.

The national directory of gites for rent is . . .

www.gites-de-france.com/gites/uk/rural_gites

The best way to get around is by car (all the usual rental options are available)

You won%26#39;t be able to see all of the French country side in 2 weeks! France is a big place. I%26#39;d recommend looking into the different areas of France and picking two that intrest you the most (or Normandy and another in your case). Spend a week in each.

The Michellian Green guides are a good source of information.

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Thanks for the information. I will check it out!

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I was in a Parisian suburb this morning and a cafe creme was 2E40. It is 4E00 IN Paris. And this was on a direct metro line, only six stops from the Eiffel Tower. Price do go down once you%26#39;re out.

For suggestions, a gite is absolutely the way to go. Normandy is nice, but I have a soft spot for Brittany. Either way, the views are lovely, there%26#39;s tons of history and food will keep you coming back for more.

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Thanks for the tip. By the way, I am totally jealous! Wish I was in a Paris suburb this morning! Have a great day.

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I, too, love parts of Normandy and also Brittany. However, I love the Languedoc more. Also, less-visited and less spectacular but lovely - Drome Provencale. It%26#39;s probably a bit cheaper than Languedoc, and has been described as like Provence used to be. (Presumably before it was so visited?)

What are your interests, what time of year, any children coming along to visit France etc etc.

Jo

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By the way, a grande creme is about 2€70 in our little, fairly touristy town in the Languedoc. We return at the weekend - yippee!

Jo

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No children, but what I would like to know would be if there are places to rent for months that are reasonable. We would possibly even retire there for a few years if we could afford it. We are looking at some other places that are very reasonable, but to live in France would be dream come true for me. Thanks

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No matter what sort of coffee you%26#39;re drinking - white or black, 1€50 where I am.

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Normandy was beautiful and I intend to return..... I am only saddened that we did this as a day trip from Paris, only in retrospect did I learn of so many other things Normandy has to offer........

However, I loved the Loire and the Chateaux, there%26#39;s just too many to choose from!

Also, Burgundy is beautiful! We spent 2 days in Beaune (go see the Hospice!) but were unable to go into Dijon. I would love to spend a week in Burgundy, just in Dijon, Beaune and Lyon!

It%26#39;s MUCH cheaper to travel outside of Paris. The people are nicer (although that is NOT a slam on people in Paris!) and the welcome is warmer. The bargains on food and wine are better, and the countryside is more %26quot;French%26quot; than Paris.

Leave Paris and explore France, whether it be Normandy, Britainy, the Loire, Champagne, Bugundy, the Dordogne, le Savoie, Provence or Alsace - you will enjoy it - at a bargain as compared to Paris.

I love Paris, but there is so much more to experience and love about the rest of France......

But, if you haven%26#39;t been there - Paris is the place to start almost any French adventure (unless you%26#39;ve been there many times). However, two weeks in France allows 5-7 days for Paris (a MUST for a 1st time visitor) plus a week to spend in Burgundy/Loire of Normandy/Brittany without feeling rushed.

By all means GO! You will love it! Most of us here have already fallen in love with France!

Get your bags packed fellow San-Diegan!

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I%26#39;m heading to Paris and then the countryside for two weeks in a few days. I%26#39;ve done this many times over the past 14 years and love the combination of a few days in Paris and then the luxury of an affordable house rental in the countryside of France. I have found that taking the TGV train to a smaller city and picking up the car there at the train station is easier than driving out of Paris, although I%26#39;ve done that many times, too. I like to stay in a region where although I can have my quiet countryside experience but can also explore a ton during my stay, so I pick areas with stuff to see within a reasonable driving distance. I love Paris, but smaller French cities are the real discoveries and are much easier to explore, particularly because most of them are not on the American tourist route. And discovering little villages or towns or sites in the countryside can be amazing. I like the Charente, Charente Maritime, the Loire Valley, the Sarthe, central Brittany in particular. Also coastal Brittany, the Dordogne, the Gironde/Bordeaux and the Cote d%26#39;Azur, but these are more heavily traveled and so your timing is more important regarding tourists. Renting a house has been fantastic for me, although you have to be ready to find groceries nearby, be brave enough to find your way around country roads, possibly stoke a wood fireplace for heat, etc. For my newest trip I%26#39;m staying in the Sarthe region for two weeks, just outside of the city of Le Mans and near La Fleche.

I want to explore the rivers Sarthe, Mayenne, le Loir, Loire and the cities of Le Mans, Angers (wonderful), Tours, etc.

Let me know if you%26#39;d like more details!