jcg

We are doing an organized Provence tour his June. The groups meets in Marseille on a Monday returning their the following Monday. (We will be based in Avignon for 5 nights) I would like to personally add a night or two in Aix at either end of the tour. Night/day in Paris would be nice (been many times).

We fly out of NYC area..whatever best price we can get....into CDG and returning home via London. Any suggestions on travel itineraries that are cost effective. We are two seniors...we can do the TGV to Marseille or better to buy a train pass as we plan to end up in London.

Train... flights....any suggestions would be most welcomed. We have never done the Chunnel thing..only crossed via ferries pre-Chunnel. So the plan is: Provence tour; Aix, Paris, London few days

Thanks, JCG

Gretchen

Not really quite understanding your in and out--but I "guess" you made it this way for your add ons. Not understanding the "TGV to Marseilles" need at all.
I am personally so not a fan of Aix, but it that is where you want to be, it is your trip. So many more charming places in provence to add on.
Why wouldn't you take the TGV to Paris--so much easier than going to and from an airport.
A train pass may or may not be advantageous. There are others who will know this for sure.

michelhuebeli

Why not fly into Marseille? There is one French airline - www.xl.com/en - that flies nonstop from New York, others do it with connecting flights.

But departing from London will cost you a pretty penny for the extra passenger fees all UK airports tack on. Maybe consider turning your trip around?

If you take the train through the channel tunnel, consider saving a bunch of money by booking a very early or late one - at the more comfortable times the fares go up and up.

I doubt very much that a rail pass will save you money - look at cheap advance-discounted fares and compare at www.railsaver.com and on the rail pass pages of www.ricksteves.com.

Also consider taking one of the many low-cost carriers that fly all over, to airports you may never have heard about - well over half of all flights in Europe are done on those. Just read and adhere to the luggage rules - too much stuff and a budget flight is no longer budget...

PalenQ

No, no railpass is viable for your limited rail travel plans - especially since the Eurostar train Paris to London is not a part of any pass. Best to go to www.voyages-sncf.com and book online those tickets - can get a discount if booking really early and getting the limited in number discounted seats, which however are non-refundable non-changeable so kind of tricky to do when landing at CDG and wanting to get the next train out - you may want to see about flying CDG to Marseilles then returning to Paris via train - two train trips - Marseilles to Aix and Aix to Paris - then the Eurostar - check www.eruostar.com for discounted tickets on that train - again non-changeable non-refundable but a whole lot cheaper than paying full fair.

For lots of great info on these trains check out IMO these superb sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

when checking Eurostar fares sometimes due to the tiered fare structure first class tickets may not cost much more than 2nd class - and first class on that train is a whole lot nicer than 2nd class - and you get a complimentary meal with unlimited wine, etc the whole way. Cheaper Eurosar fares IME are more available on mid-week days

Christina

I didn't think the railpass would work either if you are going to London.

I'm not clear on what the question is, but maybe that's me. YOu can easily take the train from CDG to Provence (and back, if you wish). I like Aix myself but it's not the most convenient location to get back to Paris (Avignon is more convenient for the train). You can do it, of course, and there are some trains from Aix to Paris that don't require transfers, just not as many, so you have to be aware of the schedule.

I really like budget Easyjet airline, and it does have flights from MRS direct to London Gatwick for only 38 GBP and it only takes an hour (probably 2, one is the time change). So that is somethign to consider to save time/money rather than going to Paris for one day or so. I wouldn't bother with Paris with the other things you have to do for one day, especially since you've been there before.

Christina

sorry, that was 38 euro, the price I saw on Easyjet.

Sassafrass

Haven't checked all the places they fly, but we flew XLfrance RT, JFK to Marseilles a few weeks ago for around $600.00. It stopped in Paris. Perhaps you could do something like a multi-city with XL. Fly into Marseilles on XL, tour Provence, fly into London, train to Paris, back to JFK on XL.

jcg

Thanks for all this. I will check out XL and Easyjet.

PalenQ

If you fly each way to Provence/Marseilles you miss out on seeing much of France itself and the countryside anywhere in France is mellow - rolling hills dttec by tiny villages each punctuated by soaring steeples of the parish chruch - the TGV ride goes thru bucolic Burgundy.

I also find the Eurostar train fascinating - not only going under the Channel but going thru lovely Kent on the other side - flying lets you see only tarmacs and airports - see the lay of the land a little in between as you will not see it on a cruise.

jcg

Leaning towards training it on the Continent. We can do Icelandic into CDG and return flight from London. Thanks for your ideas.

Southam

Another route that could be economical: Extend your trans-Atlantic flight with a connection to Marseille for very little extra cost (Delta/Air France, for example.) A day or two extra there, then your tour, then train to Paris with maybe a stop in Lyon for variety. Home from Paris. Leave London until the next time.

jcg

Thanks Southam, He wants to go to Ronnie Scotts. J.

jcg

into Paris and out of london. Please share with me the towns you admire in Provence. Thanks.

Sassafrass

Arles is very interesting for a visit, especially for the Van Gogh connections, small and easy walking with a nice market, and nice for day trips. Les Baux is really pretty and, for me, a nice day trip. Avignon is lovely, a bigger city, interesting. DH and I love Aix with pretty squares, beautiful trees, markets in the squares, etc. We enjoyed the busy cafes, etc. without a big city feel, but (except for Marseilles) not good for day trips.

janisj

You will save a fair amount if you fly into the UK and home from France. UK departure fees are higher.

Alan_CT

Arles is nice for a visit, and you could hit Pont du Gard the same day. So many villages that have a completely different feel from Avignon or Aix. You can find nice descriptions and some lodging options at http://www.beyond.fr/