Dress for Southwest France in September

I've done 11 Road Scholar programs, 6 of them International. I've done 2 in France (Brittany and Normandy as well as Provence) and 4 in England. I've never noticed anyone with dressy clothes and certainly there were no occasions that required them.

I also am a travel light advocate. I travel with a 22" carry on and generally go to Europe for a month, doing independent travel for a couple of weeks on either side of a RS program.

I did the Provence Art of Living program in mid-October this year and found some days pretty hot - although I do not tolerate warm temps! I always take a waterproof rain jacket no matter where I travel. I also have horrible feet so I wear athletic shoes for everything including dinners. I do take a couple of scarves but to be honest I don't think anyone notices what you've got on!

I've looked at this itinerary and it looks really good particularly the parts with the cave paintings! Will you plan to arrive a day or two before your program? I love Paris so I generally go there for a week or so to recover from jet lag, lol, then take the train to my meet up city at least the day before the program starts.

~Pam

Thanks so much Pam, for your reply. I will arrive in Bordeaux a day before the trip. This is my first solo trip to Europe, even though I've been many times with my husband or others. Due to my husband's many health problems and being the only child of a very elderly mother, I'm not sure I can be gone longer than the 2 weeks. I have been to Paris before and loved it. We'll see how things go. I might change my mind. Nice to know things are pretty informal on Road Scholar. I also travel with just my 22" carry on. I was drawn to this trip because of the cave paintings. I read about them awhile ago and am really looking forward to seeing them! -Carrie

Oh yes, totally understand having elderly parents and not being able to be gone as long as you'd like. I'm glad you are going a day ahead!

~Pam

Carrie,
I have been traveling to France each year for 3-4 weeks (RS program + independent travel) and agree with PaminIdaho's assessment.

I, too, travel with a carry-on-size suitcase and strive to make sure just about everything goes with everything. And layers. I use t-shirt style tops with shirts for a cover-up. I particularly like the light-weight, quick-drying shirts from Columbia Sportwear. Bring (or buy there) an attractive scarf or two to "dress up" your outfit.

For possible chilly weather I always have a plain sweatshirt style top that folds up easily into a small compression cube and goes into the medium-size backpack I take on the plane as a carry-on.

Like Pam, I stick with very comfortable athletic shoes ("baskets" as they are known in France) and recently found a comfortable pair of light slip-ons that I can use for going out for dinner or as slippers in my hotel room. Okay for short walks but not for day-long treks.

Most people are not going to be judging your outfits; make sure you are comfortable.

Thank you Gerry!

-Carrie

Just curious, Pam, where do you stay in Paris when you are traveling on your own?

Thank you! -Carrie

Carrie, I first stayed in the 7th Arr. on a first trip to Paris with Rick Steves tours. I felt comfortable in that area right around Rue Cler. I love being able to have a dozen or so restaurant choices for dinner so can have wine and just a short walk home, lol! I often stay at Hotel Beaugency on Rue Duvivier but have also stayed at Hotel l'Empereur and Hotel Muguet (both on Rue Chevert and owned by the same company), at Hotel du Champs de Mars (altho they have gotten a bit more expensive lately) and a couple others in the area.

I want to have a hotel that has someone on the front desk 24/7 and where the reception staff recognizes me after a day or two. I want a Metro stop nearby and prefer it to be on kind of a side street. I want to be able to walk places if I want and I love to be able to walk to the Eiffel Tower on the afternoon I arrive. That view tells me I am IN Paris! I want a variety of restaurants to pick from with terraces.

I have stayed in a Best Western on the Right Bank at the end of a Road Scholar tour (Brittany and Normandy) but while it was clean, I did not like the location - street was a main thorofare and very busy and didn't have a lot of charm in my view.  I see some of the Paris tours are now staying in the Marais and it looks like a better location but I generally prefer a smaller hotel.

~Pam

Wonderful! Thank you!

This is not an answer to your question about clothes but a reading suggestion. A friend recommended books by Martin Walker. He lives part of the year in the Périgord region and has a wonderful series of mysteries set in that region. The detective is actually a warm hearted village policeman named Bruno who doesn’t carry a gun, is a great cook who enjoys making traditional meals for friends, and helps local residents rather than arresting them when possible.
I would love to hear about your trip when you return. I’m doing the Living and Learning in Bordeaux for 6 weeks in September-October this year. I’m hoping to visit the caves.