What is the best way to get from Washington, DC to Aix-en-Provence.
a) Fly to Paris - Take the train to Aix.
b) Fly to Marsailles (through Paris) - Drive to Aix.

I am trying to minimize time/hassle - I will be traveling with two small kids. But I also want to avoid any very expensive solution.

I think the kids might actually enjoy the train. Does the TGV go to Aix?

Thanks

Hello Rholt,
Well I think the best way is to fly to Marseille(through Paris) and then drive to Aix-en-Provence...
I'm used about TGV and yes that would maybe be a lovely experience for your kids but I think after the flight and the jetlag...I am not sure that's the best idea...Indeed, you would have to get the RER or a cab to go to the train station "Gare de Lyon" to pick up the train going down to the South so...tricky plan...Due to the fact I'm French and as I'm travelling a bit around so here would be my choice: I would rather fly to Marseille via Paris and then drive to Aix...more relaxing and easier with kids...Anyway up to you
Have fun visiting Aix which is maybe one of the most beautiful city in France!!!
Cheers

There are direct TGVs from CDG to Aix at 10h10 and 13h11. I don't think changing planes and then driving can possibly be an improvement on getting off the plane, on the train, and being deposited in the city center ~3 hours later.

Well Robespierre you're right concerning direct TGVs from CDG to Aix but that's still more than 4 hrs by train...I mean sorry but SNCF really su**s...(Prices are way too expensive for the service plus don't forget that Rholt: SNCF is always unpredictable and it rings like strike¨!!!)

Sounds like a tough call. No clear-cut winner.

Let me bother you for one more piece of info - how far is the drive from Marsailles to Aix.

Thanks

Ah that's fun Rholt no worries...Well just count 30 km driving distance(30 mn approx.) to go from Marseille to downtown Aix.
Enjoy your stay

To keep the comparison real, you should add to the 30 min drive the time required to check in and go through security at CDG, fly to Marsailles, rent the car, and figure out the navigation. Now you're getting pretty close to the 3˝ hour (not more than 4) train ride.

If you want to negotiate all that after flying for ten or twelve hours, go for it. Personally, I would use the time between landing in Paris and getting to Aix as a respite from the logistics of travel, not managing more of it.

I'd find out if you can check yourluggage through to MRS. If you do not have to change terminals and can check through, the flights seems easier than the train.
If you'd be required to get luggage, recheck and go through security, I'd opt for the train.
We're going next month and are flying Delta & Air France through Paris to Marseille, which we've done before without problems.

I mean sorry Robespierre, I don't want to argue with you but CDG Airport to Aix is exactly 4h12 by direct train and not 3˝ hour(I did check on SNCF website so..)
I would say Judy is more realistic by saying "I'd find out if you can check your luggage through to MRS. If you do not have to change terminals and can check through, the flights seems easier than the train.....We're going next month and are flying Delta & Air France through Paris to Marseille, WHICH WE'VE DONE BEFORE WITHOUT PROBLEMS"
So there you are Rholt, Judy has done it you see no big deal driving from Marseille to Aix...
Just get some help from that website http://www.mappy.fr/ and you will see it's kinda like "French Mapquest"
Bonne chance

I think either could work, just depends on schedules to some degree (of your flight arrival).

I have done that exact route and flew from Paris to Marseille, and then drove to Aix. My main reason was that I was renting a car, though, and thus it makes sense to pick up a car at a major airport location. It was also easy because my bags were routed through, and both my flights were Air France. I think I did have to change locations at CDG (not officially terminals, but "halls" which can be very far apart, so might as well be terminals), but that wasn't bad without luggage. I think I went from 2C to 2E or 2F. Also, there were many Air France flights a day from Paris to Aix, so missing one wasn't a problem.

IN fact, I did miss the flight I was scheduled for, although not AF's fault -- the flight was late taking off in DC due to weather or the FAA or something, I forget.

I would not do that if I had to change airports (CDG to Orly) or if I were switching carriers or on an airline that didn't have a lot of later flights to Aix. I also might not do it if I weren't going to rent a car down there.

If you are renting a car, I would probably fly and get the car at the airport rather than at the TGV station. In my case, they had a better selection of cars at Marseille airport than in Aix, but that was when the TGV station hadn't been opened that long.

I like to minimize hassles and exhaustion upon arriving for a vacation and the planes, trains and automobiles idea is a bit much for me on arrival -- I narrow it down to only two of those methods. If you aren't renting a car at Aix, but taking a cab to a hotel, that would be fine, also.

I sure wouldn't want to drive after a flight to Paris, then to Marseille. You're going to be exhausted at best, not a good time to drive. The best method is to take the TGV from CDG to Aix and then a taxi to wherever you'll be staying. The TGV station is a bit out of town, but the rental agency there is very nice--still, given parking problems in Aix, I'd put off getting a car until absolutely essential.

rholt, fyi we are flying into Marsailles and driving to Aix to spend the night and get familiar with the city. Lizzy is right, the drive should be only a half hour.

The DB site (I don't know whether SNCF is more reliable, or less) shows:

TGV5110 10h10 - 13h34 = 3h34 enroute
Stops in Lyon, Valance, Avignon

TGV9830 13h11 - 16h30 = 3h19 enroute
Stops in Lyon

Well oh well you better check the OFFICIAL website SNCF(That's the OFFICIAL TGV company so...) and actually it shows that:

EITHER

From CDG 2 TGV 5110 to AIX EN PROVENCE TGV Departure:10h10
- AIX EN PROVENCE TGV Arrival at 13h44 by train
- Then AIX EN PROVENCE TGV 14h00 by bus 49435 (Connection from TGV station to downtown....)
- AIX EN PROVENCE downtown Arrival at 14h15
so TOTAL: 4h05

OR the second one:

- From CDG 2 TGV 9834 to AIX EN PROVENCE TGV Departure:17H03
AIX EN PROVENCE TGV Arrival at 20H44 by train
Then from AIX EN PROVENCE TGV Departure: 21h00
AIX EN PROVENCE DOWNTOWN Arrival at 21h15 by bus.(Connection from TGV station to downtown....)
so TOTAL: 4h12

CHECK THAT LINK http://www.voyages-sncf.com

Anyway believe me does SNCF sound like a great company with a great service, on time, never on strike...
Do you really think SNCF can be considered as reliable as a matter of fact...I don't think so and I gave the main reason.....just MEA CULPA for safety the rest forget about it...

I think my explanation is clear...

PS: By the way what's that DB mean Robespierre please???

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Is this a private punch-up, or can anyone join in?

I'm intrigued that anyone would recommend taking Air France rather than SNCF-TGV on the grounds that strikes were less likely and the service is better.

Strikes me as preferring Aeroflot over Singapore. Or did I miss something?

Thanks Robespierre for the info and Flanneruk you're SO welcome to join in...as for my part I don't consider it as a private punch-up, just more like an "arguing place" like we love to have it here in France...Arguing is so important isn't it???
Just imagine all of us (you, Rholt, Jay, Underhill, Judy, Christina and myself) yes all of us debating at the terrace of a café arguing for hours about many things and yes that's would be so fun
For my part, I would recommend you to take Air France rather than SNCF because the strikes are not so present and the service is excellent.(Sorry to be patriotic for once but yes I appreciate Air France...uhuhu)

Is Air France that bad (as Aeroflot???)? Last winter I flew SFO-MRS with a brief-but-not too-brief layover at CDG. No problem whatsoever.

I was actually going to Aix, but now I don't remember how I got to Aix from MRS. I was by myself, so I know I didn't drive. Shuttle? I do recall that at that time it was only $20 more to fly to MRS than to CDG.

rholt, good luck.

Not necessarily advocating this for you and your family, but there IS a shuttle from the Marseille airport to Aix. It's what I took, and I thought it was very easy, but again, I wasn't toting two children. Here's the link:

http://www.mrsairport.com/eng/acces/acces_bus.jsp

I like Air France as an airline, I have no problems with them at all. It's other people who don't like them, I have always found their flights pleasant and that they were efficient.

It is true that driving a rental car from Marseille to Aix after an all-night flight, plus the transfer flight, was exhausting. I will admit that is not ideal. I was just sort of on adrenalin at that point. The directions from Marseilles airport to Aix were easy, though, and the road well-marked. However, if you then have to figure out your hotel within AIx proper, that will probably be difficult. Driving within Aix is not easy if you don't know the city well. I had a hotel on the outskirts, and did not have to deal with two small kids.

It's not clear from this why you want a car and what you'll do with it or where you are actually staying in Aix. Regardless of whether you fly or take the train down to Aix, you might just take a taxi to your hotel if you don't really need a car.