Aix, or extra days in Paris?
 

Have 8 days planned in Paris, and wish I had 8 weeks. So, I'd like to leave it as is, but am thinking of taking a 2-day trip to Aix, just for a peek, a taste. Am curious about it, but not sure when I'll be planning a France trip again as other destinations are also on the mind. Hard to part with those days out of Paris tho.......What do you think?

There is too much to see in Paris to waste the time elsewhere.

Hi Margie. Have you been to Paris before? If not, you might find that you'll want to spend the entire eight days there. I love Aix, so I think that would be an excellent -- though somewhat far away -- choice if you decided to leave Paris for a couple days. Do you need to decide ahead of time? If not, you could spend a few days in Paris, and then decide if you want to leave for Aix.

margie, stay in Paris. I agree with no, that there is so much to see. The beautiful parcs , themselves would take days to see. I have yet to see it all.

You'll hardly get a taste of Aix that way, anyway, Margie. Too much schlepping. By the time you get there you'll have to turn around and go back. How about a day trip out of Paris? Depending on the time of year, Giverny, would be a nice taste.

I thought Aix was only 3 hours away? I figured I'd get ther by 11, spend the day and night, then leave the following late afternoon, back in Paris by pm.<BR><BR>Capo,yes, I have been to Paris once before, for a week. So I know how much fabulous stuff there is to do! Don't really have to know; would like to tho, so I don't have to think about it anymore & change hotel reservations.<BR><BR>Come on you guys, just a peek? Ok, guess you're right. :-( geez now I have to squeeze another trip into my life!<BR><BR>Thanks all!

Margie,<BR><BR>Aix is only three hours by TGV... there are several TGVs from the Gare de Lyon that would get you to Aix before noon. Avignon is even closer - 2.5 hours by TGV.<BR><BR>You would have to decide if you're willing to give up the two days in Paris for a 'peek'... maybe if it's raining in Paris ?!<BR><BR>PB

OK, I'll give an opposing vote. Since you've been to Paris for a week before, and I'm assuming this entire trip is just for Paris as it stands now, I say give yourself another view of a different side of France. No one loves Paris more than I, but I agree, go get a glimpse of Provence. And yes, taking the TGV for three hours each way is no big thing to give you the better part of two days there and a night in Aix, which I find to have a totally different feel than any section of Paris. Actually though, it would be difficult for me to go just for Aix, I'd want to explore a couple of the pretty towns around there. Maybe spend the first afternoon in Aix, then rent a car for the second day and do a little driving and touring, or see about a bus excursion to some of the smaller towns?

One thing you need to factor in to your planning is how much time [and effort] over and above the actual train ride that you need to factor in. Three hours can easily turn into a day. Then go for it or not!<BR><BR>If you would like a description of day trips out of Paris I can send you one.

I think you should because it isn't that far by TGV if you're going to stay a couple days. Especially since you've been in Paris for a week before and will be there 8 days. I think you would enjoy seeing something different, I think it's very limiting to only see one city in a country when you've spent that much time there. My only qualification if it were me is how that stay would interact with hotel reservations. It doesn't work real well to have that be the end of the stay if you need to depart from Paris and it's kind of a pain to check in and out of a hotel in the middle. I hate changing hotels, though, if that doesn't bother you, I would do it. Maybe it depends when you are going, also. It could also give you a rejuvenation for Paris. I find that sometimes when you stay in a place a long time, because travel can be tiring, you may be not making as good use of your time after a while.

Wow, you've all given me such great feedback and ideas!<BR><BR>Patrick, I thought about that. How it would be hard to not check out the rest of the area, though there certainly isn't enough time to do as much exploring as I'd like. Another trip!<BR><BR>I don't mind changing hotels; someitmes I actually kind of like it! Get to have the perspective of another area. I already found out that I could store my luggage at my Paris hotel, so I'd only be bringing an overnight bag.<BR><BR>Now, if I'd only planned for 10 days instead of 8 I don't think there'd be a question!<BR><BR>Well, either way it's a win win, right?!

Margie, it sounds like you already have hotel reservations for the entire time in Paris. I don't how much you're paying per night in Paris but one thing you might think about -- if you're still considering Aix, that is -- is just keeping your hotel room in Paris and then getting one in Aix. In otherwords, paying double. It would be pricey of course, but it would allow you to be flexible. <BR><BR>We did that in Rome last year. We knew we wanted to go to the Amalfi coast for a side-trip, but weren't sure when we wanted to go. Once we got to Rome, then we decided when to go. We just kept our room at our B&B in Rome, left our main luggage there, and took off for one night in Sorrento. We double-paid for that one night but the flexibility it gave us was well worth it. <BR><BR>I really love Aix. Stayed there for three nights back in the spring of 1994 and agreed with someone who wrote that the Cours Mirabeau may be the most magnificent main street of any town in France.

I like splitting up a Paris stay, just to get out of the big city for a day or two--change of pace and rest on the train. Once we went to La Rochelle for the weekend and in April I'm going to Amboise for a couple of days. And I like changing hotels because I am STILL looking for that perfect hotel in Paris. And since I am still experimenting, that means that if my hotel is a dud, I won't be stuck with it the whole time. If it is great, I'll go back to it next time.

Actually, I'm with Sue, I like splitting up a stay of 8-10 days in one city if I'm unsure of my hotel. At least in a large city as you get to stay in another area and if your first hotel is not so great, you aren't stuck with it for 10 days. I know people talk about cavalierly never making hotel reservations so they can decide daily where to say but boy I sure would like to know how they pull that one off when the hotels I stay in are booked up several months ahead and charge you if you don't cancel 24-48 hrs ahead of time. I just can't imagine any hotel (except one not full and not popular) letting you decide every day whether you were going to check out or not. I wouldn't want to double-pay, though, if you do this trip I don't see any reason why you can't decide ahead of time what days you want to go to Aix. I really liked the 2-star Hotel Cardinal in Aix, it is a wonderful little hotel and within 1-2 blocks of Cours Mirabeau and only a block from the art museum. My room was very charming, and I use that word sparingly as few hotels are IMO, and even though I was in a cheap single, I had a large tiled bath with bathtub and the rooms were lovely (flowered wallpaper, period furniture, etc).

Christina; I have observed that you have a lot to say and I would like to be able to read it more easily. Would you consider breaking your posts up into paragraphs? I'd be much obliged. Thanks.

PARIS!

Okay guys, I keep seeing this message and it's driving me crazy. Can someone tell me how you pronounce AIX??? Thanks!

It's sort of in between "Ex" and "Aches."

"Aches" is also quite appropriate, since there were (and, I believe, still are) thermal baths in Aix. <BR><BR>Also, as the website below notes, the original name of Aix was "Aquae Sextiae", with "Aquae" from the thermal springs and "Sextiae" from the retired Roman proconsul, Ca&iuml;us Sextius Calvinus. <BR><BR>The website doesn't note it, but this Roman proconsul is also famous for his denim toga, often loudly proclaiming: "Nothing comes between me and my Calvinus!" <BR><BR>http://www.ancientroute.com/cities/aix.htm

In Finnegan's Wake, James Joyce refers to the spa town of "Aches-les-Pains."