It has been an interesting trip, full of history, new sights and good food. We both agree that the Dordogne area has been our favorite because of the deep history, amazing caves, scenic beauty and gorgeous towns. Our recommendation for other travelers would be to day trip or overnight to Mt. St. Michel from Paris by train or bus. Spend a few days in the Loire Valley and 5 in the Dordogne (rent a car for a few days in Sarlat) then take a train to Chamonix and hike the alps. The south of France is far to get to and unless you enjoy the coastal areas, may not be worth the time. It is probably better combined with a trip to Italy.
Do spend time reading restaurant reviews as there is a big difference in quality; you can pay the same and get a totally different experience. We found dining to be better in northern and central France; it may just be a function of the area and towns we were in, but we enjoyed more exquisite cuisine in those areas. Mot places had reasonable fixed price menus for around $20 euro and up.
We have always found bed and breakfasts to be preferable to hotels. It gives you an opportunity to meet other travelers, and the hosts are usually eager to offer recommendations. Staying in a b&b gives you a totally different experience, one that is more personal and cultural. Trip Advisor has been our best resource for finding lodging. We found this time, that traveling in May, you don’t necessarily need to reserve ahead of time, which gives you more flexibility. Some come with breakfast, others have an add on option. In most cases, breakfasts are much more expensive than going to the nearby patisserie and buying your own, unless a cooked breakfast is offered; however you do lose the
special experience of chatting with other travelers if you eat breakfast on your own.
Weather is totally unpredictable throughout France; the southern part of the country warmer than the north, but sudden rain showers are normal.
We found that English is not the language of choice in any part of France, except maybe Paris. Expect that no one will speak English and try to learn at least a few words, which works wonders in trying to communicate. Menus are generally in French, unless you are in a tourist cafe, so go with a offline based translator. I had downloaded the Laroussse English French dictionary after the translate off line version didn’t work; offline because restaurants don’t have wifi.
Dress is pretty casual these days and there was no expectation to dress up for dining. Tourists were there in gym shoes and hiking clothes. We brought “dressy clothes” and never used them so unless you are planning to go to a 5 star place, leave dressy clothes at home. Walking shoes are a necessity, as walking on cobblestones is hard on the feet.
Travel light – having multiple sets of luggage is difficult. Many times, rail stations, hotels etc do not have elevators or escalators and maneuvering up and down narrow stairs is much easier with a backpack and small suitcase. Besides, the French rooms are much smaller and having all that luggage will become a burden. Bring enough power convertors for charging all your electronic gear.
Most of all, enjoy. The French are delightfully friendly and relaxed people. They seem to enjoy life and the people that have come to visit. We found them to be patient in trying to communicate and eager to help. It is quite modern and you will find all the conveniences of home everywhere you go.