Marseilles - has anyone used as a base for Provence area?
 

I'm trying to plan a future trip to Provence, and will be using public transportation only. I understand that Marseilles is hub for trains, etc. and convenient to many Provence towns. However, I'm hesistant because it's a big city, with a little bit of a seedy reputation, but looks interesting anyway.<BR>Would I be better off to base in Arles or Avignon?I will be traveling solo. Any ideas?<BR>Hotels?

For using trains, buses, I'd choose Avignon, though I love Arles.

I would definitely say Aix or Avignon would be better. In Avignon, you can get trains to Nimes, Tarascon and there is a tour company that runs day trips to Orange, the Camargue, etc. Likewise in Aix (to my mind more charming than Avignon), there are different daily excursions to the hill villges of the luberon, Apt, etc. From Aix you can also take the local bus to the Sunday market at Ile sur Sorgue.

I just returned from 2 weeks in Provence--beautiful, great food, great wine, markets, etc. We chose to end our trip by staying in Marseille at the Petite Nice since it was close to the airport & the hotel had a great write-up in Fodors & was Relais & Chateaux. This was a mistake. I would absolutely not use Marseille as a base to travel around the region. While the Old Port is nice for about a day & the shopping is good, it is a big city. It was traffic-ridden & hard to get around. If you won't have a car, as other posters have said, you might split your stay between Aix & Avignon. They are cities, but much more manageable & relaxing than Marseille. Arles was also wonderful, but it's even smaller & might not be as easy a hub as the others.

Seedy but interesting. That is a good description of Marseille. Avoid Hotel Lugubre in Rue Obscure. Marseille is not French, it is Mediterranean. <BR>I don´t know your idea of a base, but if you leave your hotel early in the morning and come back at night, what about Tarascon? I have never been there, but I know from the map and time tables that I can take day trips by train to Arles, Avignon, Nimes and Marseille. By bus to St Remy and Pont du Gard. Camargue should also be possible. Tarascon has 12,000 inhabitants and a castle, a youth hostel and probably some OK hotels much cheaper than in the more famous towns. Just a suggestion.

Thanks for the replies. I've decided not to use Marseilles as a base! I had read in Earl Steinbickers "Daytrips France" that Marseilles is convenient base, that's why I was wondering. I'm sure I would enjoy the smaller places more - now I just have to decide which one. They all sound great! Wish I had the nerve to attempt driving, but I'll be alone, and don't want to try that.

If you are going to be in Marseilles, go to a tiny little place called Cassis. It may be a little packed in the summer, but it is really a cute little fisherman's town that offers some nice walking areas, a small pebbled beach and some good places to eat. And Cassis rose (wine) is really good too.

Recently read a news article about the high rate of crime in Marseilles due to large Muslim population. If you go, be wary.

it's been called the Detroit of France. not meant as a ringing endorsement.

Marseille has a ton of charm and is like any other place on planet Earth-some good and some bad. To taste Marseille is to have experienced the unique. If you choose bland you get bland.<BR>Whatever you do choose enjoy the moment.<BR>Francois