OK, I'm ready to go. There will be 5 of us heading off to the south of France for 19 days in September 2010. Here are the details:
Airline: Air Transat Montreal-Bordeaux-Montreal, departing on September 2, returning on September 22.
Vehicle: mini-van through AutoEurope, pick-up & return at the airport in Bordeaux.
Accommodations: September 3 - hotel in Beynac September 4-17 - Moulin de Poulican in the Dordogne September 18-20 - rural gite just outside Amboise in the Loire Valley September 21 - hotel in La Rochelle.
Doug, sounds like you've got another wonderful trip planned!
I don't know if you've got your hotel in Beynac lined up yet, but on our walk this summer we spent a night at Hotel du Chateau . This is a simple 2** hotel located just across the road from the river. It's a strenuous walk up to the chateau, though you can drive up and park at the top. We didn't have a car this summer, so Kelly and I walked up. The views were well worth it, and we enjoyed the tour of the castle again too.
We had an excellent dinner at the hotel's restaurant this summer. I especially remember the Tourain du Périgord à l’ail, a special garlic soup of the region. We didn't book our accommodations for the walk ourselves, so it was a nice surprise to be back at a restaurant where we'd enjoyed lunch when we stayed in the Correze in 2005.
Doru - Funny you should mention it. Probably, like many of us, I'm already looking ahead to 2011 - likely September. Three possibilities are: 1) Scotland &/or the Cotswolds, 2) Corsica, 3) Slovenia & Croatia. We already have a couple of friends wanting to join us.
Kathy - Yes, we are staying in Hotel du Chateau. Thanks for the rec. for the restaurant. We land in Bordeaux early in the morning. I decided not to spend the day in Bordeaux, but go about 1/2 way to our 2-week rental. Beynac seemed to be a good option - with a lot of history included - right on the frontier of the Hundred Years' War. We have enjoyed our times in the Luberon and the Drome - sure the Dordogne & a few days in the Loire Valley will add to our wonderful experiences in different areas of France.
Doug, we often LOVE the same things, and I think you will love SW France. You have chosen a great itinerary. WE were just there once, maybe 10 years ago, and we rented in tiny Urval. We are going back in May, to explore Lot and areas closer to the Pyrenees. It's quiet there, and I love the stone buildings. Sometimes it reminds me of the English countryside, which makes sense, as much of it was built by the English. We enjoyed not only the well known cassoulet and duck but also products made with walnuts (there's a wonderful walnut bread) and with truffles.
I chuckle to see that we're not the only ones looking ahead to 2011 already, as we have just too many trips lined up and waiting. All choices are good! Linda
Posts: 935 | Location: Outlying area of Chicago | Registered: 15 September 2004
Originally there were five of us. Now we are seven. Over the weekend another couple asked to join us. Had to make some modifications to our bookings. Change the minivan to a VW minibus & add another room at the two hotels & the gite near Amboise. There was already a vacant bedroom at our two-week rental at Moulin de Poulican.
Everything worked out OK - got the last double room available at the hotel in Beynac. Delay of less than a day in confirming the minibus as AutoEurope had to check on availability at the airport in Bordeaux.
Busy reading about the area - looking forward to the trip.
