When we first launched this guide, founding father Arthur Frommer gave us a warning: "You can get lost in France." And we did -- and still do on occasion.
If you have unlimited time, one of the world's great pleasures is getting "lost" in France, wandering about at random, making new discoveries every day off the beaten path. But few of us have this luxury, and so below we present both 1- and 2-week itineraries to help you make the most of your time.
France is so vast and so treasure-filled that you can't even skim the surface in 1 or 2 weeks, so relax and don't even try. Instead, we recommend you enjoy the nuggets -- Paris, Versailles, and Mont-St-Michel -- among other allures, saving the rest for another day.
France ranks with Germany in offering Europe's fastest and best-maintained superhighways, and it also has one of the fastest and most efficient public transportation systems in the world, especially in its national train system. For example, the highlights of Normandy and the Loire Valley (the château country) are just 1 or 2 hours away from Paris by train. You can travel from Paris to Nice on the Riviera in 6 1/2 hours -- or fly much more quickly, of course.
The itineraries that follow take you to some major attractions and some charming towns. The pace may be a bit breathless for some visitors, so skip a town or sight occasionally to have some chill-out time -- after all, you're on vacation. Of course, you can use any of these itineraries as a jumping-off point to develop your own custom-made trip.
