Jean

Availability perhaps, depending on requirements, but within budget?

Michael

Have you tried Gites de France?

https://www.gites-de-france.com/fr/s...ure=2024-07-13

Traveler_India

Thanks for all the suggestions. I don't see accommodation a problem. I booked Cannes for first 3 nights and Marseilles for next 2 nights. But now I will change based on all the advise I got and Bastille fireworks. So finally finally I think Ill do this

11th July - Moritz to Milan - break the journey
12th July - Milan to Valensole/Marseilles - I can see Ibis Manosque available. Else I can book Marriott in Marseilles
13th July - Valensole/Marseilles - Lavender fields
14th July - Drive via French Riviera to Cannes - Boat tour for Cannes fireworks - emailed them to book - I can see Pullman and Novotel available - will book one of them by today.
15th July - Cannes - Day trip to Nice and Monaco
16th July - Drive to Como - Stop at Menton
17th July - Como
18th July - Como
19th July - Como to Zermatt via Lugano and Locarno

With this I get to be in Valensole early as local people running farm there advised 12th will be better, 18th might be too late in probability. Of course no one can be sure, its all about probability.
And since Cannes fireworks I wouldn't want to miss, so I can get that too.

Thanks once again.

neckervd

I don't understand:
15th July - Cannes - Day trip to Nice/Monaco/Menton (all close together)
16th July - Drive to Como - Stop at Menton

May be you tell us what you plan to do during 2 full day at Como. There is much more to do and to see around Lugano and Locarno.

Traveler_India

15th - I meant I will stay in Cannes and do a day trip to Nice and Monaco.
On 16th, while driving to Como, will do a stop for an hour at Menton.

I saw lugano and locarno. I think I manage in a day, We don't do hiking, I feel there are a couple of few points in both.

Como just interested me. Actually como wasn't in the plan earlier. But looked beautiful.

Green83

Don’t stay in the city of Marseilles because the traffic and parking will be horrendous. Instead stay closer to Valensole such as in the Luberon villages. Or stay in my favorite town Aix-en-Provence which is off the motorway and a lot closer to Valensole and Cannes than Marseilles. Aix is a destination in itself. Make sure to spend a few hours in Aix doing a self guided walking tour. Aix will have traffic but nothing like Marseilles.

neckervd

LUGANO - LOCARNO
Best viewpoint around Lugano: Monte Generoso: count 3 hrs for the cogwheel train ride (RT), the star architect Mario Botta restaurant and the viewpoint to Lakes Lugano, Como, Varese, Maggiore and the Alps from Mont Blanc/Gran Paradiso up to Piz Bernina/Ortler.
Other viewpoints:
Monte San Salvatore: rope railway
Monte Bre: rope railway
Serpiano (Unesco area Monte San Giorgio): gondola
Monte Lema: gondola
Alpe Foppa (Chapel built by Mario Botta): gondola
Mornera (270 m long rope bridge over a mountain gorge): gondola
Cimetta: rope railway, gondola and chairlift
Costa: gondola
Rasa: gondola
Monte Comino: gondola
Piana Vigezzo: gondola

Medieval castles: 3 castles of Bellinzona (Unesco site)

Churches:
Riva San Vitale (medieval, Unesco site)
Santa Maria degli Angeli (late medieval frescoes)
Sant Ambrogio: copy of the Last Supper paint by a disciple of Leonardo
Madonne del Sasso: monastery above Lake Maggiore with splendid frescoes
Pilgrimage church Basilica della Beata Vergine Maria del Sangue di Re

Botanical Gardens:
Brissago Islands
Scherrer
San Grato

Museums
Smuggler museum
open air museum Swissminiatur
plus 45 others

THINGS TO SEE BETWEEN LOCARNO AND ZERMATT
Pilgrimgae church Sacromonte di Domodossol (Unesco site)
Simplon Pass: stunning views to nearby mountains and glaciers
Stockalper castle at Brig (17th century)
Side trip from Brig to Aletsch Glacier (longest glacier of Europe, Unesco site): 3 hrs RT
Open air hot spring thermal spa of Brigerbad
Highest vineyard of Europe (viewpoint), 1100 m above sea level.

Traveler_India

@neckervd - Thanks, that's so kind of your to give all the suggestion. I will look and plan each one in detail. Anything to see in between Milan and Valensole when driving via A/4E64 which goes via Turin?

@Green83 - Thanks, that's great suggestion. So narrowed to 2 choices - Ibis Manosque or Renaissance Aix - I will probably book ibis now and do a price watch on Renaissance. As of not it is 3 times the price, if comes to 2x of Ibis, I will surely book Renaissance in Aix. I have Accor points, so Ibis will essentially be free. Also I have Gold status with Marriott, so usually prefer Marriott.

You guys have been really helpful and considerate about my crazy itinerary..