Hello, we are planning a trip to Paris-Avignon-Marseilles in mid-June and would like advice re: train travel. We are planning on taking the TGV from Paris to Avignon, where we'll be based for 4 days. From Avignon we know we want to spend a day at the beach in Marseilles with the kids. I know the TGV can get us from Avignon to Marseilles, but how would we then get to the beach? Also, what day trips via bus or train would you recommend from Avignon? We are two families with a total of 8 people and would rather travel by public transportation instead of rental car. Also, would you recommend purchasing all the train tix ahead of time? Thanks for any and all advice!

While there are beaches near Marseille, the town itself is more of a port which would complicate going there only for beaches. If you want to go to the beach for a day from Avignon, do what the locals do and go to le Grau du Roi which is available by train via Nimes. The beach of le Grau du Roi is but a 3-5 minute walk from the train station, there is also a sea aquarium you can visit right in town, great for kids. The restaurants in le Grau du Roi are very inexpensive and as this is a fishing port, the seafood is very fresh.

For trips from Avignon, take the bus to Pont du Gard, St Rémy, or Stes Maries de la Mer (via Arles). There is easy access by rail to Arles, Nimes, Aix-en-Provence, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and several other locations. Here is an excellent source of information on Avignon:

http://www.ot-avignon.fr/

From Station Marseille St.Charles, you can take metro to Prado. Then about 15 minutes walk to Prado-Sud beach (Plage de David) on a straight and large Avenue du Prado. From Prado, bus 19 goes there too but it's only 3 or 4 stops. Walk might be easier for you. Probably the biggest beach in Marseille great for families, flat and long, there are also large grass areas.

The following description seems pretty acurate.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/p...alneaire-prado

With only 4 days (is it 4 - or only 3 1/2) in the region, you will be wasting a lot of time taking public transportation. What is wrong with renting a mini-van?

Stu Dudley

Places you can easily go by train from Avignon -- Nimes, Arles, and of course Marseille. You'd have to check bus schedules or tour bus day trips from the tourist office for special things tha tmight be more convenient. Pont du Gard or Les Baux are a couple I can think of which are interesting to see and top tourist destinations so there are probably special trips for them. There are some local buses to these places, of course--at least I know there are to Pont du Gard.

StuDudley, we've driven in France before with a small car, and that was difficult enough to maneuver in the villages, not to mention parking. We really don't want to try it with an 8 person passenger van!