Aix Provence
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's Aix EN Provence, and a very nice place to use as a base--depending on just where else you want to go. Have a look at a guidebook for the south of France, such as the Michelin Green Guide, to sample itineraries and get good sightseeing information. Before you choose a base, you really need to do some research and decide just what you want to see and how long you'll have to do it. September is a gorgeous month in Provence, both the western part and the eastern, AKA the Côte d'Azur
#3
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,388
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aix is our favorite city in Provence - but it is NOT a good base for exploring the places most people want to visit in Provence.
If you want to base in a large city - base in Avignon instead.
If you want to base in a smaller village with lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, & hear lots of English - base in St Remy de Provence.
If you want to base in the countryside surrounded by vineyards & lavender fields (late June & July) base in the Luberon near Gordes, Rousillon, Menerbes, or Bonnieux.
Stu Dudley
If you want to base in a large city - base in Avignon instead.
If you want to base in a smaller village with lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, & hear lots of English - base in St Remy de Provence.
If you want to base in the countryside surrounded by vineyards & lavender fields (late June & July) base in the Luberon near Gordes, Rousillon, Menerbes, or Bonnieux.
Stu Dudley
#6
Aix is a lovely city but we found driving in the centre an absolute nightmare. We've driven in a lot of different countries but this place had us tearing our hair out. We booked a hotel smack bang in the middle of things but once we finally got the car parked in the hotel car park we didn't dare touch it until we left. Not that we needed it to explore Aix.
The fresh food open air market there was the best I have ever seen, I really wished I lived there so I could shop there every week. Fabulous, mouth-watering food.
Also something I found out while researching our trip in the area was that each town or village has a market on a different day so you can visit a few if you like markets. The one at Isle sur la Sorgue stands out in my mind as being especially good and picturesque.
I don't think Aix is a good base if you plan to travel out and back in every day.
Kay
The fresh food open air market there was the best I have ever seen, I really wished I lived there so I could shop there every week. Fabulous, mouth-watering food.
Also something I found out while researching our trip in the area was that each town or village has a market on a different day so you can visit a few if you like markets. The one at Isle sur la Sorgue stands out in my mind as being especially good and picturesque.
I don't think Aix is a good base if you plan to travel out and back in every day.
Kay
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay thanks, i will check other locations mentioned. We will leave France for Barcelon via train so I did check Avignon, it appears to a have a good train schedule to Barcelona. St Remy, I have considered and we check.....thanks. We want to do everything of course but will pick and choose what time allows.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"OP is of the kind of posting then not acknoweldging so don't expect feeedback from him nor thanks."
Goodness, it's been just a matter of hours since the OP! Some of us have other things to do besides hovering over the computer waiting for a response. Take a chill pill, Woin!
Goodness, it's been just a matter of hours since the OP! Some of us have other things to do besides hovering over the computer waiting for a response. Take a chill pill, Woin!
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,388
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you have my 32 page Provence & Cote d'Azur itinerary??? We've spent 20 weeks exploring Provence and we are returning for 2 more weeks this June. The itinerary describes our favorite villages, scenic drives, sites, markets - and has a section on Provence fabric. I've sent this itinerary to over 3,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail. Specify that you want the Provence itinerary - I have others.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
#11
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The market in Isle sur la Sorgue is one of my favorites, too, but I wouldn't go there on a Sunday. It is open on Sundays and during the middle of the week (Thursday, I think). The first time we went was on a Thursday, and we loved it! Crowds were manageable and parking was easy. Then we went on a Sunday. What a mistake! The crowds were unbearable, making it a less enjoyable experience, and finding parking was very difficult. Go during the week!
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,831
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I based myself in Aix one summer with a car, but I chose an inn on the outskirts of the town. That way, no parking problems at the hotel and it was an easy drive into Aix proper the day or two I wanted to visit there. But it was on a major N road to the NW so was very convenient for driving to other sites like the Abbaye de Silvacane. I also drove around Mt Ventoux one day for a bit (to the east). But I did not use that location to tour around the Avignon/Luberon area. I stayed there about 3 days probably, then moved on and stayed closer to the other area for the next 4 days. That worked out well. I liked staying in different areas, also.
I had no problem driving in Aix but I wasn't trying to drive right into the center of it (which is a bad idea for tourists, I would never do that). In fact, I don't even know if you can drive in some parts of it in the center. But it was easy to come in from the edges onto bd de la Republique and park in a central garage for the day. The one closest to the Tourist Info site/rontonde is often full, but I parked in one near the gare routiere (bus station) which is only a few blocks from the TI. I don't think it's a good idea for a tourist to ever choose a hotel in the center of a city/town with a car.
Aix is fine as a base if you don't choose a hotel smack in the center of the city, as long as it suits your tourism needs in the area, I had no problem driving in that area even though I was going out and back several days. This is true in any city, I'd guess. My inn was lovely and had a great restaurant so I ate there a couple nights. It was really popular with locals in the neighborhood, also, very good food, so not a sacrifice to eat there.
I planned ahead, also, and found on the internet possible parking garages that would suit me.
I had no problem driving in Aix but I wasn't trying to drive right into the center of it (which is a bad idea for tourists, I would never do that). In fact, I don't even know if you can drive in some parts of it in the center. But it was easy to come in from the edges onto bd de la Republique and park in a central garage for the day. The one closest to the Tourist Info site/rontonde is often full, but I parked in one near the gare routiere (bus station) which is only a few blocks from the TI. I don't think it's a good idea for a tourist to ever choose a hotel in the center of a city/town with a car.
Aix is fine as a base if you don't choose a hotel smack in the center of the city, as long as it suits your tourism needs in the area, I had no problem driving in that area even though I was going out and back several days. This is true in any city, I'd guess. My inn was lovely and had a great restaurant so I ate there a couple nights. It was really popular with locals in the neighborhood, also, very good food, so not a sacrifice to eat there.
I planned ahead, also, and found on the internet possible parking garages that would suit me.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went to Aix by accident. We were driving from a stay with a friend in Nice to a hotel in St. Remy, when I realized we were a day early for our reservation. I called but they had no room that night so I quickly started calling hotels in Aix which was just down the road and I did find a hotel in the centre of town.
I don't remember having any problems driving in or out of town but we did have to be guided into the very tight turn of the hotel parking lot. Beyond that, I don't think we moved the car at all -- just walked everywhere. And boy, what a lucky error on my part because we just loved Aix and would have missed it altogether!
I don't remember having any problems driving in or out of town but we did have to be guided into the very tight turn of the hotel parking lot. Beyond that, I don't think we moved the car at all -- just walked everywhere. And boy, what a lucky error on my part because we just loved Aix and would have missed it altogether!