During one of our stays in Sablet, we took a wine tour with Olivier Hickman, who is half-French (maman) and half-British (papa). He had a successful career in the City in London but moved to Provence in the early 2000s. Olivier is a winemaker who offers all kinds of tours to the wine villages of the Vaucluse ( we did a short one and visited one vineyard in Vacqueyras and the Chateau de Nalys in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, wbere we had lunch and more wine). We're not the most sophisticated wine conoisseurs, but neither are we novices; we learned a lot from him in a short time and had a wonderful experience. Something to think about . . .

https://www.wine-uncovered.com/

And thank you, Sasafrass, for expressing better than I could what makes Aix so special. I quite agree--I too had an instant emotional response to it during a day trip back in 2007 and was hooked. Must admit, thought, that the Cours Mirabeau is diminished by the loss of so many plane trees.

Aix was also very much affected by the fiery destruction of its historic brasserie "Les Deux Garçons" in November 2019.

Le restaurant "Les 2G" en feu dans le centre d'Aix-en-Provence (francebleu.fr)

We "sandwiched" a stay in Aix when we went to Paris. I agree that travel can be less convenient from there but we took a bus to nearby Marseille and trained from there. We also got 2 van tours that picked us up at our hotel. Here's my TR; scroll down to Aix:

Trip Report: A Provence Sandwich

We visited Avignon by train and it didn't take long to walk around. As a base after a day of touring, it might be nice but we found more things to do in Aix.

I wanted to return to Arles. Another train day trip there. Based solely on one day, I thought there was way more to see in Arles than in Avignon.

Please let us know what you end up doing, wolfcreek!

At this moment in planning stage we are going to arrive at Villes sur Auzon have found a very quaint hotel to stay the night and we are heading to Terraventoux winery for a self navigating wine tour amongst the vineyards on a E bike where the host supplies local products and wine at certain points of interest and finish in Flasson village centre for more treats with the host.
Two days at St Remy to do Pont du Gard,Asylum and Les Beaux(Luminers).
Also found a another quaint b&b in town centre of Lourmarin for 2 nites,from here we will experience a Lourmarin market day and discover some other villages we have not seen yet.
Still looking at some of the great tips posters have supplied,if not this trip maybe next.
I have a feeling we will be back,this time spend some length of time in an area and experience real France,we have a beach house and we are considering a house swap for next trip.
Unfortunately running out of time and have only one night for Aix de Provence.
Question are car rental offices open on public holiday weekends in Aix for drop offs as we are catching the TGV to Barcelona.
Ty posters

I know they're open at Avignon-TGV. Don't know about Aix.