Jaclyn_Costello

Hello!

I will be arriving at the Aix in-town train station at approximately 15:00 April 20th. I will not be meeting my host until 19:30. I'm lugging two huge suitcases around... and I'm aware that storage is not available at the Aix train station.

My question follows: could anyone please suggest a place/places that I could go (with my luggage) and spend four hours? Any great cafes for people-watching (where it wouldn't be a problem if I sat there for many hours)? Or any other spots?

I really appreciate your help.

Kindly,
Jaclyn

docdan

Hmmm . . are you quite sure there is no luggage service ? Is there any chance you could stop in an intermediary city for four hours and then arrive in Aix at 19:30?

Jaclyn_Costello

Sadly, I already bought the ticket (it was a low-non-refundable fare). I also checked out some other forums about the lockers...and everyone says 'no lockers'. ;(

Mimar

Maybe one of the hotels would keep your luggage for a few hours for a small fee. The in-town train station in Aix is in the center of town, and there are a number of hotels nearby. You could even email them and ask.

Christina

The problem is that you have TWO huge suitcases, I'd say. I wouldn't call that station in the center of town myself, it is several blocks if not more from the center (eg, place de la Rotonde and the tourist office or Cours Mirabeau). And it isn't that nice right around the train station.

It wouldn't be a problem if you got to around place de la Rotonde, there are sidewalk cafes around there (on the side towards Cours Mirabeau) and you could get away with having your suitcases beside you on a terrace, I think. I don't know how big they are, though. That's around 500 meters from the gare to place de la Rotonde. There are probably cafes closer, I just don't remember any because the main street from the gare to place de la Rotonde isn't exactly the kind with sidewalk cafes and things like that, it's more utilitarian and a big street (ave Victor Hugo).

There is only one hotel on there that I can think of, the Cezanne. I've never heard of a hotel keeping bags for tourists during the day, if the Cezanne did that they would have tons of them as they are very close to the gare and it's too nice a hotel to do that, I would think (function as a luggage keep for tourists). Well, you can contact them to ask, but I wouldn't plan on that, it's a 4* hotel.

If you really can lug two huge suitcases around the streets with you, I'd head up ave Victor Hugo, you'll find cafes.

Sarastro

If you have 2 huge suitcases, you have 1½ more than you really need. One 22¨ roll-aboard is all anyone really requires unless you are carrying salesmen samples and you are on a business trip.

Still, try the Office de Tourisme. They are used to people hanging around and there will be a lot more to do and see there than at the train station.

KathyWood

A couple of ideas...

Speaking of the Office de Tourisme, you could e-mail them and ask if they have a suggestion: http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/

You mentioned a host. Could you contact him or her and ask if they have a suggestion? (I'm not sure if this is a similar situation, but my husband attended language school in Aix last fall and was able to drop off his luggage at his host's house several hours before he was supposed to arrive.)

There is a brasserie on the corner of Rue Victor Hugo, closer to the station than the Cezanne. If you look at the street view on Google Maps, you'll see it. This is definitely a different environment than up on the Cours Mirabeau, but you could at least relax there for an hour or two.

Kathy