I just checked out fares on Easyjet from Rouen to Marseille and got a figure of 6 (yes, six!) Euros for an early morning or late-afternoon flight. Can that be true? Do passengers have to peddle or something?

It's really true Underhill but those prices don't include taxes. Even so, still great & no peddling required but strictness on luggage weight, carry ons etc.

Yes, it's true.

Sometimes it's only 1.99E.

Bad Underhill! Of course I meant "pedal." It must be the wind and the pollen.

What would you do if someone said it isn't true???

Tomorrow that fare could be 74 euro. If you book early, it's cheap.

Also, take any instructions they give you seriously. If you show up 40 minutes before your flight, you don't get to board. They are extremely strict--I showed up once 46 minutes before a flight and got a lecture. You have to be there 45 minutes beforehand.

Be carefull, Underhill, for this price they may give you only wings instead of a whole plane.

Or worse yet, it will be a broomstick, good if new, what if a second-hand?

I know you're kidding, Faina, but in all seriousness EasyJet and Ryanair both have superb safety records. Both make lots of money selling auxilliary products, such as hotels, etc. They also make money from people who wait until flights are almost full and need to buy tickets. The lack of customer service also saves a lot of money. Go and have no qualms.

Just wanted to say that I'm with WillTravel on this one. I know that there are people who have had negative experiences with easyJet & Ryanair (who knows...I might have one myself one of these days) but I have never any difficulties with either. In fact one occasion comes to mind where the much criticised Ryanair check-in staff allowed me to board even although I had missed my check-in time. For those of us who can only travel on a budget, airlines like these have given us a fantastic opportunity which may not have been available otherwise.

Jim

Thanks for all the advice. We've decided, however, to give both the plane and the train a miss and drive south through Burgundy to stay at a favorite spot near Beaune before continuing the next day to Marseille. It's been a while since we have driven to Provence on the Autoroute du Soleil, and I love the scenery.

We flew Ryan Air from Pisa to Brussels two summers ago for 39 euros. The fight was on time and new plane. It was great.

You do, of course, realize that there are taxes and fees yet to be added -- maybe $20 to $30 or even more, but yes it is a real bargain if you book early! Have done it before and will do it again. And despite what they say about being very strict on baggage, I know the two of us were overweight luggage-wise with our three months worth of stuff, but they weighed it, put it through and never said a word.

Why are the taxes and fees so high in comparison to the airfare?

Driving = easier luggage handling.

Sure it's true. You can only have 1 carryon no more than 5kgs, and there are no pillows, blankets, free drinks, or free peanuts. It's like Southwest but worse.

Where is your favorite spot near Beaune?

The taxes and fees are so high in comparison to the fare because they aren't just a percentage of the base fare -- some of them are fixed costs. Some of those cheap airlines make a lot of money on the excess baggage fees and stuff like that, also. I'm still amazed that they can offer a fare for six euro for any flight, because the airline doesn't get the taxes/fees. YOu can't get a cab across town for that.

bih--
Our favorite spot near Beaune is the Hostellerie du Vieux Moulin in the hamlet of Bouilland. The area is known as Swiss Burgundy because of the lovely wooded rolling hills (no alps); Bouilland is about 20 minutes from Beaune, heading out toward and through Savigny-les-Beaune, a nice wine village. We've stayed there half a dozen times from back when it was just a restaurant with rooms (but what a restaurant!) until it gained 2 Michelin stars. At that point the very talented chef, Jean-Pierre Silva, decided it wasn't worth the bother to compete for more and settled down to improve the hotel part of the operation, ultimately choosing to go for a one-star restaurant without all the pressure.

Last fall Silva upped and moved to Provence, where he now has a restaurant near Grasse. But I know of several folks who have stayed at the Hostellerie under its new owners, and they were very pleased. I'm waiting for the 2004 red Michelin guide to arrive so I can check the current rating.

The hotel is not large, but the rooms are good sized and charming; there is also an indoor pool. The area is absolutely bucolic: very peaceful and good for relaxing, with Beaune and Dijon not far off.

Thanks, Underhill!