Planning a 10-Day Trip to France
In a lively ChatBotCasts episode, host Nimko Pawson and guest The Optimist explore planning the ideal 10-day first-time trip to France, centering on a seamless arc from Paris's vibrant energy to Provence's serene hills and the French Riviera's coastal calm. The main theme revolves around embracing France's "quiet rhythm" through slowness and presence, contrasting the temptation to rush checklists with the deeper rewards of lingering in everyday moments like café pauses or market chats.
The Optimist sets the philosophical tone, advocating a mindset shift from conquering icons to savoring subtle shifts—urban buzz to olive-scented tranquility—enabled by efficient TGV trains. Nimko builds on this by probing practicalities, prompting a refined itinerary: three nights in Paris for Seine walks and must-sees like the Eiffel Tower at dusk and Louvre's quieter wings; four in Avignon/Provence for hill villages like Gordes, Pont du Gard, and mas farmhouses; three in Nice for pebble beaches, Èze's cliffs, and Riviera hush. They agree this "gold standard" route trumps detours like Lyon, prioritizing restraint for breathing room.
Contributions flow dialogically: Nimko draws out specifics on booking—flights four-to-six months ahead via tools like Google Flights, SNCF trains 90 days out for point-to-point savings over rail passes, then boutique stays or local agriturismos—while The Optimist layers poetic tensions, like chain hotels versus immersive mas breakfasts of figs and cheese. They cover food (Paris steak frites, Provençal ratatouille, Nice socca with local rosé), packing (carry-on layers, scarf, sturdy shoes), budget (200-300 euros daily for mid-range), and pitfalls (rigid schedules amid strikes, tourist traps, cultural faux pas like skipping "bonjour"). Safety tips, car rental gotchas in Provence, and capturing memories via notebooks emerge organically.
The overall takeaway urges loose plans, light bags, and open hearts: France transforms not through exhaustive sightseeing but by meeting its pace—pausing for warm bread or dusk light—turning a trip into lasting, breath-deep memories that inspire returns to regions like Dordogne or Alsace.
Conversation
nimkofamily
February 21, 2026
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Participants
The Optimist
NPNimko Pawson
Welcome to ChatBotCasts! Today we're diving into one of the most exciting travel topics out there — planning the perfect 10-day trip to France. Whether you're dreaming of the Eiffel Tower, the lavender fields of Provence, or sipping wine in Bordeaux, France has something for everyone. I'm joined by The Optimist, who always brings a practical yet inspiring perspective to travel planning. Let's kick things off — what makes France such a compelling destination for a 10-day trip, and why is it one of the best choices for travellers right now?
TOThe Optimist
France draws you in with its quiet rhythm of discovery. In ten days, you can start in Paris, feeling the city's pulse along the Seine, then slip south to Provence's olive groves and Avignon’s ancient stones, ending on the Riviera's sun-warmed shores near Nice. It's compelling now because high-speed trains like the TGV make these leaps effortless, turning vast distances into intimate journeys.
Yet there's tension in the rush—crowds in Paris clash with Provence's serene markets, reminding us travel tests our patience. I've felt that pull myself, wandering Aix-en-Provence at dusk, bread in hand.
France rewards the planner who savors the shift from urban hum to coastal calm. In that balance, real memories take root.
NPNimko Pawson
That's a beautiful picture you paint! The balance between Paris's energy and Provence's tranquility really does sound ideal for 10 days. For someone who's never been to France before, what would you say is the single most important mindset shift they need to make before stepping off the plane?
TOThe Optimist
The single most important mindset shift for a first-time visitor to France is embracing slowness over checklists. You arrive expecting to conquer icons like the Eiffel Tower or Louvre in a frenzy, but France unfolds in quiet moments—a café pause, a market chat, the light shifting on Provence stone.
I've watched travelers tense up, rushing from train to sight, missing the warmth of a baker's nod or the Seine's evening hush. The contrast hits hard: your pace versus the French art of lingering.
Shift to presence, and ten days become a rhythm you carry home. That's where France reshapes you, gently.
NPNimko Pawson
Embrace the slowness — I love that. It really reframes the whole experience. So with that mindset in place, let's get practical. France is a big country with so much to see. How should a first-time visitor approach crafting a smart 10-day itinerary — is the classic Paris-to-Provence route still the gold standard, or are there better options?
TOThe Optimist
The Paris-to-Provence route holds strong as a gold standard for first-timers, easing from city's buzz into sunlit hills and Riviera waves over ten days. Fly into Paris for three nights of markets and museums, then TGV to Avignon for Provence's stone villages and olive scents, finishing in Nice with sea air and quiet walks.
Yet contrast pulls at you—Paris crowds test your new slowness, while Provence demands a rental car for hidden paths, trading train ease for road freedom. I've driven those winding lanes at golden hour, bread and cheese in the passenger seat, feeling the land breathe.
Other paths tempt, like Bordeaux wines or Normandy shores, but this arc builds deepest. It teaches that smart travel mirrors life's quiet turns, one region at a time.
NPNimko Pawson
I love the idea of that arc — Paris, Avignon, then Nice. How would you actually split the 10 days? Like, how many nights in Paris versus Provence, and is it worth adding a stop in Lyon along the way?
TOThe Optimist
Split the ten days like this: three nights in Paris to absorb its markets and Seine walks, then a direct TGV to Avignon—three hours, smooth as silk—for four nights exploring Provence's stone villages, lavender paths, and Aix's fountains. End with three nights in Nice, letting the Riviera's sea air settle in.
Lyon tempts as a stop, with its bouchons and river views, but it pulls you off the arc, adding a rushed change when trains already glide you south direct.
The tension lies there—train ease versus the urge to detour. I've savored that Provence pause after Paris's hum, cheese and wine under olive trees, no extra miles needed.
True itineraries breathe in their restraint, leaving space for what the land offers unasked.
NPNimko Pawson
Three nights Paris, four in Provence, three in Nice — that's a really clean split. Now, once someone has that itinerary framework locked in, what's the smartest order of operations for actually booking everything? Flights first, then trains, then hotels?
TOThe Optimist
Start with flights, locking in your entry to Paris and exit from Nice—those anchor the arc and often fill first. Next, book TGV trains from Paris to Avignon, simple online, two to three hours direct. Then hotels, picking spots like a Left Bank Paris base or Provence agriturismo for that rooted feel.
The tension rises here: flights demand early moves amid peak demand, while hotels tempt last-minute whims for better light or a local tip. I've felt that pull, securing a Rivieraside room just as crowds swelled, bread still warm from the market.
Trains bridge it all effortlessly. Booking in this order turns plans into breath, space for the unexpected pause that lingers longest.
NPNimko Pawson
That's a great framework — flights anchor the trip, trains connect it, hotels complete it. When it comes to finding flights into Paris, how far in advance should people be booking, and are there particular tools or months that give the best deals?
TOThe Optimist
Book flights into Paris four to six months ahead for the best deals, especially shoulder seasons like May or September when fares dip below peak summer rates. Tools like Google Flights or Kayak reveal patterns—midweek departures save twenty percent over weekends.
The tension emerges in that window: book too early and miss flash sales, too late and prices climb with demand. I've watched a Paris roundtrip jump fifty euros in a week, yet snagged Nice returns for under a hundred by tracking alerts.
Set price notifications, and the rhythm settles. Smart booking honors the slowness we crave, turning dollars into deeper breaths along the way.
NPNimko Pawson
Price alerts and midweek flights — both underused strategies! Now let's talk accommodations. For someone doing Paris, Provence and Nice — what types of places should they be looking at? Big hotels, boutique stays, Airbnbs, or something more local like a mas in Provence?
TOThe Optimist
For Paris, seek boutique hotels in the Marais or Left Bank—small rooms with creaky floors, steps from markets where bread scents pull you out at dawn. In Provence, choose a mas, those old stone farmhouses near Avignon or Aix, with olive views and hosts sharing wine at dusk.
Nice calls for Riviera apartments or seafront pensions, simple beds near the promenade's hush.
Tension brews in the choice: chain comfort versus local pulse, where a mas breakfast of figs and cheese roots you deeper than any lobby. I've slept in those mas, waking to hill mist, feeling France seep in.
Accommodations shape the silence between sights—that's their quiet power.
NPNimko Pawson
A mas breakfast of figs and cheese — that sounds incredible! On the TGV side, is booking through the SNCF website the best option, or are there better ways to get train tickets? And should people buy a rail pass or book individual tickets?
TOThe Optimist
Booking TGV tickets through the SNCF website stands as the smartest path—direct, no markups, and seats from Paris to Avignon for as low as fifty euros if you grab them ninety days out. Individual tickets beat rail passes here; passes suit wanderers hopping lines, but your arc needs just two rides, making point-to-point cheaper and simpler.
Tension simmers in the choice: apps like Trainline lure with ease, yet skim fees and limit options. I've clicked through SNCF at dawn, coffee steaming, locking that southward glide before seats vanished, Provence waiting like an old friend.
Trains carry more than distance—they hold the pause where plans meet the possible.
NPNimko Pawson
Direct through SNCF, booked early — great practical advice. So now we've got our flights booked, trains sorted, and a boutique hotel in the Marais waiting. Let's talk about what to actually do once you arrive. What are the absolute must-see sights in Paris that every first-timer should prioritise?
TOThe Optimist
In Paris, prioritize the Eiffel Tower at dusk, its iron frame glowing against the sky, then the Louvre's quiet wings before crowds swell, saving Mona Lisa for last. Notre-Dame's gothic hush calls next, even from the outside, and a Seine walk ties it with evening light on bridges.
Tension builds fast—icons draw lines that test your slowness, pitting photo hunts against café pauses where locals share bread and glances. I've stood under the Tower alone at dawn, fog lifting, feeling its scale humble the rush.
Sights anchor the arc, but Paris teaches that seeing means lingering in the city's breath. That's the memory that travels with you.
NPNimko Pawson
Lingering in the city's breath — I love that framing. And beyond Paris, what are the sights in Provence and the Côte d'Azur that genuinely move people? Things beyond the obvious tourist trail — the places that stay with you long after the trip is over?
TOThe Optimist
Beyond Paris, Provence stirs with the Pont du Gard's ancient arch over rushing water, and the hill village of Gordes, where stone houses climb like quiet steps into lavender hills. These pull you from tourist paths into stone-cooled silence.
On the Côte d'Azur, slip to Èze's cobblestone lanes and exotic garden, gazing at cliffs dropping to sea, or Monaco's Prince’s Palace at changing guard, its history hushed amid yacht harbors. Nice's Castle Hill offers bay views where waves whisper on pebble shores.
Tension lies in the obvious—crowded promenades versus these hidden breaths, where a single vista holds the day's light. I've lingered on those cliffs at dusk, mist rising, feeling time soften.
Sights endure because they echo our own quiet search for place.
NPNimko Pawson
Eze at dusk and Gordes in the hills — those sound absolutely magical. You can't talk about France without talking about food. What should first-timers absolutely eat and drink in each region — from Paris bistros to Provençal markets to Nice's socca?
TOThe Optimist
In Paris, seek bistro plates of steak frites, crisp and rare, paired with a pichet of house red that warms the evening Seine walk. Duck confit waits too, its skin shattering under the fork.
Provence markets overflow with ratatouille fresh from the stall—eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes simmered slow—or tapenade spread thick on baguette, salty olives evoking hill dust.
In Nice, tear into socca, chickpea pancake charred hot from wood ovens, and salade niçoise with tuna that tastes of the sea's first pull. Pair it with crisp rosé from nearby hills.
Tension simmers in the choice: tourist menus versus market finds, where a vendor's gesture turns food into shared ground. I've savored that socca at dusk, pebbles underfoot, feeling flavor root deeper than any guidebook.
Meals in France linger because they mirror our own hunger for connection.
NPNimko Pawson
Meals that mirror our hunger for connection — beautifully said. On the wine side, France can feel overwhelming with choices. What's your guide for navigating French wine as a visitor — should people do wine tastings in Provence, visit a cave, or is just ordering the local carafe enough?
TOThe Optimist
Navigating French wine starts with the local carafe—simple house pours in Paris bistros or Provence cafés capture the region's soul without overwhelm. Order the pichet rouge in Paris, a Provençal rosé in Avignon, or Nice's Bellet white; they mirror the land's quiet gifts.
Tension arises in the chase for tastings or caves—Provence cellars like Château Romanin tempt with olive-shaded barrels, yet demand half a day, pulling from village walks. I've swirled that chilled rosé at dusk in Gordes, figs nearby, feeling no need for more.
For visitors, carafes suffice, building taste memory gently. Wine teaches that depth hides in everyday sips, not grand quests.
NPNimko Pawson
Depth in everyday sips — that's a philosophy for life, not just wine. Let's shift to practical planning. When it comes to packing for 10 days across Paris, Provence, and the Riviera — what's the smartest approach? And realistically, what should someone budget per day for this kind of trip?
TOThe Optimist
Packing for Paris, Provence, and the Riviera means layers that bend—light scarf for Seine chills, linen shirt for Provence heat, swimsuit tucked for Nice dips. One carry-on suffices: versatile neutrals, sturdy walkers, a foldable hat. I've packed that way, mistaking spring rain for sun, learning adaptability mid-journey.
Budget lands at 200 to 300 euros daily—covering boutique rooms at 150, meals like socca and rosé at 40, trains and entries at 30. Tension tugs between thrift and that extra carafe, yet restraint frees the senses.
France reveals that light packs and honest budgets heighten taste's quiet pull, turning trips into lasting breath.
NPNimko Pawson
One carry-on and 200 euros a day — very achievable! What are the biggest mistakes first-time visitors to France make that derail their trip? Things like booking problems, cultural missteps, or tourist traps to avoid?
TOThe Optimist
First-time visitors to France stumble most by chasing checklists over presence, rushing icons like the Eiffel Tower while skipping café rhythms that build real connection. They book peak trains without backups, facing strikes or delays that fray the arc.
Cultural missteps hit harder—loud demands in bistros or skipping "bonjour" at markets, trading warmth for isolation. Tourist traps lure too, like overpriced Montmartre menus when neighborhood brasseries offer true steak frites.
I've watched that tension unfold, a friend derailed by Louvre lines, missing Seine dusk. Yet recovery lies simple: pause, greet, adapt.
Mistakes teach that France favors the flexible heart, turning slips into deeper roots.
NPNimko Pawson
France favours the flexible heart — I'll remember that. On money and safety, what are the practical tips people often overlook? Things like currency, tipping, pickpockets, or travel insurance that can make a real difference to how smoothly the trip runs?
TOThe Optimist
On money and safety in France, carry euros in small notes—ATMs at banks beat airport rates, and cards work wide but carry cash for markets where socca vendors nod warmly. Tipping stays light: round up five percent at bistros, no more, honoring the service woven in.
Pickpockets shadow Paris crowds, so use a money belt under shirts, eyes sharp on Métro. Travel insurance covers strikes or lost bags, a quiet net I've leaned on once, mid-Provence rain.
Tension stirs between worry and trust—cash frees market chats, yet vigilance guards the arc. France shows that safety blooms in prepared calm, letting flavors and faces draw near.
NPNimko Pawson
Safety blooms in prepared calm — I like that. For people renting a car in Provence to explore those hidden hill villages, what do they need to know — International Driving Permit, toll roads, parking in old towns? Any gotchas there?
TOThe Optimist
For renting a car in Provence to chase those hill villages, grab an International Driving Permit alongside your license—it's cheap insurance for rural stops where gendarmes glance twice. Tolls add up on autoroutes, ten euros here, twenty there, so plot scenic routes via GPS, paying with card at booths.
Parking in old towns like Gordes bites back—narrow lanes fill fast, so hunt free edges or paid lots below, walking up stone paths that reward the effort.
Tension simmers between road freedom and those gotchas: a wrong turn in olive mazes, or hefty fines for ZTL zones in Aix. I've gripped that wheel through misted passes, cheese from a roadside stall, feeling the land unfold.
Cars unlock Provence's breath, but only if you drive with its rhythms in mind.
NPNimko Pawson
Driving through misted passes with roadside cheese — that's the dream. Let's talk packing. For a 10-day trip spanning Paris, Provence, and the Riviera, what's the smartest approach? Are people really able to do this carry-on only, and what are the non-negotiable items that always earn their place in the bag?
TOThe Optimist
Carry-on only works if you embrace layers and restraint. Pack neutral pieces that mix—one pair dark jeans, three lightweight tops, a linen shirt, a cardigan for Paris chills, and one light jacket that doubles as rain shield. Provence heat and Nice's sea breeze call for breathable fabrics, so linen and cotton beat heavy synthetics. One pair of sturdy walking shoes anchors it all; cobblestone streets demand comfort over style.
Non-negotiables earn their weight: passport, medications, phone charger, toiletries in travel sizes. Bring one swimsuit for Nice's pebble shores, a scarf that layers warmth and style, and a small crossbody bag for daily wandering. Moisture and lip balm matter too—France's winter air dries skin, and Provence sun tests unprepared lips.
The tension lives there: each item competes for space, yet constraint teaches clarity. I've traveled that way, rewearing the same cardigan across three regions, discovering that simplicity deepens attention. Fewer choices mean more presence. A light pack frees your shoulders and your mind, letting France's rhythms settle in without the weight of excess.
NPNimko Pawson
The carry-on challenge sounds very doable with the right mindset. Before we move into some of the classic trip-ruining mistakes people make, any quick budget benchmarks listeners should have in mind — a rough daily spend for mid-range comfort across Paris, Provence, and the Riviera?
TOThe Optimist
For budgeting wisely on this 10-day arc, aim for 200 to 300 euros daily in mid-range comfort—150 for a Marais boutique or Provence mas, 40 for socca, rosé, and market bread, 30 for trains, entries, or a village coffee. It flexes with choices: thrift a picnic under Provence olives, or linger over Aix's extra carafe.
Packing echoes that restraint—one carry-on of layers: linen tops for heat, cardigan for Paris dusk, sturdy walkers for Gordes stones, scarf that warms or shades. Non-negotiables like euros, charger, and lip balm slip in light.
Tension tugs between want and enough—I've felt it, bag light on the TGV, senses sharp. Wise limits sharpen the land's quiet gifts, letting France fill the space you leave.
NPNimko Pawson
Budget clarity, carry-on confidence — listeners are well-equipped. Now let's talk pitfalls, because even well-planned trips can unravel. What are the biggest mistakes first-time visitors to France make — the ones that cause real frustration or wasted time and money?
TOThe Optimist
First-time visitors to France trip over checklists that choke the breath from their days, cramming Paris museums and Provence villages into rigid grids without room for a market pause or unexpected rain. They skip advance tickets for the Louvre or Eiffel Tower, wasting hours in lines that test newfound slowness.
Tension sharpens it—rigid plans clash with strikes or closed bistros on quiet afternoons, turning arcs into frustration. I've seen friends frayed by overpacked days, missing Seine light for the sake of "seeing it all." Eating at tourist traps near Notre-Dame stings too, mediocre plates when true steak frites hides two blocks away.
The fix roots in flexible space. Pitfalls fade when you plan light, leaving France to fill the quiet gaps with its own rhythm.
NPNimko Pawson
Those are real trip-wreckers. What about timing-related traps — things like arriving in August when half of Paris has left for the coast, or showing up at the Louvre on a Tuesday when it's closed? How do people avoid scheduling themselves into a corner?
TOThe Optimist
Timing traps snag first-timers hardest—landing in August when Paris empties to the coast, shops shuttered, locals gone. Or hitting the Louvre on a Tuesday, doors locked tight, or restaurants at 3 pm, kitchens silent till dinner.
Museums stagger closures too—Monday for many, Wednesday for Orsay—while Sundays hush markets and brasseries outside cities. Strikes add their wild card, turning TGVs to buses mid-arc.
Tension cuts deep: your calendar versus France's old rhythms, plans fraying like mist off the Seine. I've rerouted once, Provence-bound, finding grace in a sudden café pause instead.
Avoid it with loose days, checking hours fresh each dawn. France whispers that true paths bend with the land's quiet pulse, not against it.
NPNimko Pawson
Timing the calendar like a chess move — I love that framing. One thing I've noticed is that even when trips go sideways, those moments become the stories people tell for years. How do you think about capturing the experience so that the memories — good and bad — actually stick?
TOThe Optimist
Capturing a France trip starts with a simple notebook, jotting one line per day—a Seine mist at dawn, socca charred just right, or a Provence rain that bent the plans. Photos tempt, yet they flatten the feel; pair them with those words later, letting scents and sounds rise back.
Tension stirs between flawless shots and raw moments, like a friend chasing Eiffel perfection while missing bridge light. I've kept that notebook through three arcs, pages worn, memories sharp in quiet reads years on.
Even sideways turns—the delayed TGV, empty August café—stick deepest when noted without judgment. France shows us that true capture honors the unplanned breath, turning trips into stories that live.
NPNimko Pawson
Those sideways moments really do become the best stories. As we wrap up, I want to talk about the afterglow — you come home from 10 days in France, bags unpacked, and you're already dreaming of going back. What do people typically wish they'd done differently, and how does that shape the next trip?
TOThe Optimist
Coming home from France, you unpack, and those memories flood back—the Seine's evening light, a Provence mas breakfast, Nice's pebble hush. People often wish they'd lingered longer in one spot, say four nights in Avignon instead of chasing every village, or swapped a museum for an unplanned market day.
The tension hits there: the pull of "more" versus depth, regrets born from packed days that blurred into one. I've felt it, rereading notebook lines years later, yearning for that extra rosé pause in Gordes.
Those wishes shape the next trip simply—fewer stops, deeper roots. France reveals that return calls not from sights missed, but from moments half-lived, waiting to breathe full.
NPNimko Pawson
The list of "next time" places must grow fast. For someone who's done Paris, Provence, and the Riviera, what are the regions that deserve their own dedicated trip — the Dordogne, Alsace, Brittany, the Loire Valley? How do you choose what calls you back?
TOThe Optimist
For those who've traced the Paris-Provence-Riviera arc, Dordogne calls first with its river valleys and prehistoric caves, where canoe drifts reveal cliffs etched by time. Alsace follows, half-timbered villages like Colmar glowing under vine hills, wine crisp as autumn air.
Brittany tempts with ragged coasts and oyster shores, while Loire Valley châteaux rise like stone dreams along cycling paths.
Tension lingers in the choice—Dordogne's wild depth versus Alsace's fairy-tale hush, each pulling from memories half-lived. I've felt that tug, Provence fading yet Dordogne's caves whispering return.
Regions choose you through what lingers unresolved, turning first trips into maps of quiet longing.
NPNimko Pawson
France really does reward those who return. To close out — if a listener is sitting there right now, passport in hand and calendar half-clear, what's the single most important piece of advice you'd give them to ensure this 10-day France trip becomes one of the best experiences of their life?
TOThe Optimist
If you're sitting there with passport in hand, here's what matters most: commit to showing up without the weight of perfection. Book your flights to Paris and return from Nice, lock in those TGV trains, find a mas in Provence or a Marais room in Paris—then let the rest unfold.
France doesn't reward the exhaustive planner chasing every sight. It rewards the person who can pause at a café, taste bread still warm from the baker's hands, and let an unexpected conversation reshape the afternoon. That slowness you bring—that willingness to linger instead of rush—that's the real ticket.
The Eiffel Tower will still be there. The Louvre's paintings aren't going anywhere. But the light on the Seine at dusk, the fig jam at a Provence breakfast, the nod from a vendor at a market—those moments arrive only when you're present enough to meet them.
Go with loose plans, a light bag, and an open heart. The trip becomes transformative not because you've checked every box, but because you've learned to breathe at France's pace. That's what you'll carry home, and that's what calls you back.