poss

How easy or difficult is it to drive from Marseilles to somewhere in Provence (or thereabouts) and then after a week or so to drive to Monte Carlo?
Or is there a better way to get to Monte Carlo from Provence?
With a week to spend in the area, which two places might make best base for exploring other towns?

Our preferences: outdoor activities rather than indoor. Love wonderful scenery, long walks, handsome towns. Not interested in shopping at all. Love the sea. Not interested in night life.
Hope to find pleasant, quiet accommodations, spending around $300-350 per night.

Some background: This is asking a great deal, but I'm hoping Fodorites might be able to help me know whether something I'd love to do is feasible for us. In earlier decades, we used to travel in Europe with some frequency, always renting cars, setting out on our own for a couple of weeks, etc. We're at the point now (late 70's) where such excursions seem daunting; yet we're not really interested in joining group tours. We've come to love cruising, but do miss exploring on land. We've got a cruise leaving from Monte Carlo in September ('09 actually), and I would dearly love to spend a week or so in Provence (or vicinity) beforehand. Trying to get a handle on whether this will work for us, or whether it'd be taking on too much.
(Last year, our cruise disembarked in Nice, and we had a splendid 4 days in that city after the cruise. Stayed at La Perouse and did bus trips to various towns. Loved Vence, St Paul de Vence and Eze. Also loved Nice. But would LOVE to see some of the towns in Provence region (where I've not been since my 20's.)

(I suppose an (easier) alternative would be to fly to Nice rather than Marseilles and branch out from there: See some of the coast towns west of Nice and then just scoot over to Monte Carlo to pick up the ship. I would much prefer to do the other area though.)

Many thanks!! (I know I"m asking a lot.)

annhig

Hi poss,

for experienced travellers like you, this trip should be a doddle!

seriously, you could start by searching this forum for "provence" and having a look at some of the posts by Stu dudley who is a real expert on this and other areas in France.

St. Remy is a popular base in Provence; if you then go to www.via-michelin.com, and enter that as your starting point and Monte Carlo as you destination, you should get an idea of a sensible route.

regards, ann

StuDudley

I think I just sent you my Provence itinerary, which gives you some good ideas about visiting Provence.

The Nice airport is 2 1/2 hrs from Avignon (center of Provence).

The Marseille airport is 1 hr from Avignon.

From both airports, it's all freeway till you get to the Avignon area. The Marseille airport is a little easier to get out of than the Nice airport, IMO.

Monte Carlo is about another 20-30 mins beyond the Nice airport from Provence.

Driving in Provence isn't that much more difficult than driving in most areas of the US - easier than some. Since you were last there, they have built parking lots outside the small villages so you don't need to drive into them on roads that were built in medieval times.

If you'll be there for 1 week, I would rent a gite/house/villa. That way you can visit the wonderful markets in Provence, buy food, and prepare/re-heat it at your house for dinner or lunch. We only stay in Gites now (for over 60 weeks total) and we find it much more relaxing than a hotel. Find one with a garden and swimming pool. Every Gite we've stayed in while in Provence was much less per day than your budget.

Stu Dudley

Oscar_James

We flew into Marseille airport picked up a rental car and drove to Avignon. We drove all over Provence and to Nice. From Nice we took a train to Monte Carlo. Visit our site to see why we did not drive into Marte Carlo. Emilyandjim.info

rex

Ding this trip in reverse (quite some years ago), the Montpellier airport served us well. And there were very cheap flights between ORY and MPL. Consider also flying into Nimes (Ryanair? others? see whichbudget.com for more info).

Best wishes,

Rex

rex

Whoops...

Doing this trip... (not "Ding"...)

RoadCrazy

Many car rental agencies won't rent to people over age 70. Make sure you check when you make your reservation. (One way around age limits, yhoung or old, is the buy-back program, but you need to take the car for something like 17 days minimum, which won't work for you.)

gracejoan3

Rent car from Auto Europe..age should not be a problem...not for others that I know. The KemwelNow part of AE) lease buy/back price might be cheaper than a rental with all inclusive and a/c. Just put the 17 days in the rental period and you turn it in earlier..no problem doing that. I have done that before. The lease/buyback was cheaper than the 15 day rental. The service and coverage also better.

The Marseille airport is small and easy to get in/out of. I would also suggest staying in the St. Remy aarea....so many, many lovely places for you to see, Les Baux, Maussane, Eygalieres etc.

Many hotels, nicec B & B's etc. in the area.

Enjoy..........

gracejoan3

Further to the above...

The lease/buyback would probably have to be returned in Nice. That is no problem..take the coastal train to Monte Carlo.

I roughly checked for you...the lease/byuyback will cost you about $40 more than a rental. It is much better than a straight rental in so many ways. You will receive the personal attention and service, too. Check it out.

poss

Many thanks for the information and suggestions.
I hadn't even thought abt a possible age problem-- thanks for the heads up. I'll look into the lease option also, though for a week or so, I imagine rental is the sensible way to go.
I imagine that renting a gite is a quite wonderful way to accommodate oneself. Here, too, though I suspect that it'd be practical only for somewhat longer stays. Though we don't relish the idea of packing and unpacking, I think I'd like to split the 7-8 days between 2 places and then branch out from there on day trips. From what I gather, St Remy seems to be a good choice for one of the stays and somewhere near Gordes for the other. Gordes itself? Somewhere nearby? I've also been thinking abt Villeneuve across from Avignon. I have no idea why that idea appeals to me-- I don't know very much abt it-- but somehow it does. Aix is the other place that has appeal for us, in large part because we're both retired university profs. If I could find somewhere just outside the town itself, but within easy waling distance in for dinner, etc. I think we'd like Aix very much. Wish we could afford Villa Gallici (can't remember the exact name-- something like that), but it's out of our price range. Will try to get other suggestions for Aix area (unless that seems not a good idea).
Meanwhile, thanks so much to everyone who's responded so far. Will hope for more input. Merci!

StuDudley

I would stay in Aix - not outside. If you get too far away, you're in ugly urban sprawl. I'm also not a big fan of the area immediatly around Aix - compared to other parts of Provence. What I would do is to stay 2-3 days in St Remy, 2-3 days in the Luberon around Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Menenbes, Goult, etc. Then head towards Monte Carlo and spend an afternoon & night in Aix on the way. Make sure you don't hit Aix on a Sunday or Monday, however.

Stu Dudley

thetravellingmom

Stu,
Why not Aix on Sunday or Monday?? Everything closed. We are heading there June 14-17 (sat afternoon till tuesday morning). Just browsing info. on Provence?

poss

Stu: I'm concerned about trying to drive very far the morning that we arrive (I'm not excited abt driving at all, in fact). I like the idea of maybe taking the bus from the airport to Aix. Then, once we're rested (we tend to jet lag badly), we can go on to explore those other wonderful towns. Is there a simple way, though, to get from the airport to Luberon area or St Remy? If there is, we'd re-consider.
Thanks so much for continued input. So appreciated.

StuDudley

Most shops will be closed on Sunday (maybe all), and most will be closed on Monday morning also (not all). Some will open Monday afternoon - but afternoon starts around 2:30. Usually it's my wife's favorites that don't open on Monday at all.

I'm not familiar with bus service from the Marseille airport.

Its an easy 30 min drive from the Marseille airport to Aix, and its an easy 1 hr drive from the airport to St Remy.

Stu Dudley

DeuceMcKenna

Hi, Poss -

We go to Provence often and really love the area in the Luberon that StuDudley described. Googled Provence and came across a very small group tour that looks like it might be quite suitable for you. It's called Provence Escapes (www.ProvenceEscapes.com). The idea of staying in a gite or villa is a good idea, too - you can do as much or as little as you'd like, when you'd like. We rented a village home in Lurmarin once and found it ideal, also.

Deuce

StuDudley

>>We rented a village home in Lurmarin <<

I case you want to Google it - I think its spelled Lourmarin

Stu Dudley

okay1943

1. The last weeks of August are the busiest tourist season in France. It seems like everyone in France takes their vacation in August. Make your plans early.
2.Yes, driving in France is difficult, especially with jet lag and on freeways.
3.There is an easy, fast train that goes right along the coast, don't know if it starts in Nice or father west and goes to Monaco. easier than driving
4.take a train or fly to a larger city -TGV from Paris to Avignon 3 hours- and then take a taxi to your hotel, Avignon perhaps, or somewhere else? St. Remy? Spend 2 days just walking around and getting your bearings, then get your car.
5.hotel should help with connections, someone to pick you up when you arrive, etc.
6. Stay in Antibes on the water, visit the old town. not Cannes.
7. Buy Rick Steves' guide to Provence and the French Riviera. Great drives to the small towns, walks, tips

EastBayer

If you want to go to Aix from the Marseille airport, there are shuttle buses every half hour (from 5:30am until 11:30pm) that take 30-40 minutes and cost 7.80 euros. They drop you off at the gare routier, a 5-minute walk from the Cours Mirabeau.

Aix is quieter on Sundays and Monday mornings but there is a wonderful produce market near the city hall every morning, including Sunday (and Monday).

You can travel from Aix to Monaco by bus or train.

EastBayer

Just reread your original posting and want to add this: If you love the sea and you haven't yet seen the breathtaking calanques ("Mediterranean fjords&quot in Marseille, I think you would fall in love with them as I have. There are buses every 10 minutes from Aix to Marseille and you can explore the calanques by boat or on foot. You can also go by bus from Aix to Mount Saint-Victoire (the mountain Cezanne painted 67 times), where there are wonderful hiking trails.

poss

I'm relishing every one of these posts and making lots and lots of notes.
(Deuce: I think we'd not enjoy a group tour, though I think they're a terrific idea and know that lots of people value them very much.)