Provence without a car?
 

Is it possible to enjoy approx 5 days in Provence relying on trains/buses? Although I know certain places will be inaccessible to me, are there enough good destinations I can visit? Interested in picturesque towns, food, wine, hiking, taking in the local flavor. Thanks!<BR>(Unfortunately a car is not an option for me. My choices are to go without car or go somewhere else instead!)

Although many people will disagree, I say "go". You'll have a wonderful trip. We stayed in Aix at the Paul Cezanne. We had a car but didn't enjoy driving, so took the bus to Cassis (a must see!). Next time, we'll stay in Avignon because there are more options for bus excursions.(I don't mean organized tours...I mean our own excursions!!!)You'll just "pick and choose" places that are convenient to get to by bus. You can't "see and do" everything in 5 days anyway.

If you decide to go by bus consider using Avignon as your base. The bus depot is just beside the train station on your right as you exit. It is in the basement of building across the street. No or few signs as I recall. You can probably get schedules there to visit many of the villages in the area. Lots of fun if you are young, patient and have a sense of adventure.

John...just to let you know..we are not young. BUT we are patient and do have a sense of adventure! We find it more fun and relaxing to leave the driving to the bus driver. My husband can video out the window if something looks great. You can meet people and get tips from other travellers. It's lots of fun. Most of our friends rent cars when they are in Europe. They think we are nuts for taking buses. But we have a great time. Because of "pressure" from friends and you wonderful drivers who post here (my hat's off to you...I found it stressful) we finally gave in and rented a car for 1/2 our trip last month. They upgraded us to a little Mercedes...I should have LOVED the car...but my best day was the one I left it in the garage and took the bus to Cassis. The bus was 29 Euros for two, and I felt guilty at first...but that wore off!!!

nutella, spread yourself with some bread...and go! I went for two weeks and it was one of the best trips of my life. From Avignon, I took day trips by boat, car, train. The excursion autobus will take you to the camargue one day, les baux another and so on. One day it didn't show up but as it is outside the train station, I hopped on the next train which was Orange that day.

Mimi, where did you go by boat? That sounds like fun. I think all non-drivers should unite! We need support and ideas.<BR><BR>P.S. Nutella IS delicious. When I buy it (supposedly for the kids) I sneak a spoonful now and then...yes eat it off the spoon..so dangerous for my waistline..lol

LOL I am also a purist when it comes to Nutella, straight out of the jar : )<BR>I'm psyched about Provence now that Im convinced it's "doable" Thanks!

Arlene: Thought I would send you and others an invitation to join my recently formed Provence Group at Yahoo. <BR><BR>If you are interested, send an e-mail to:<BR><BR>[email protected] and just put subscribe in the subject line.<BR><BR>Lots of neat tips, pictures,web references and experiences are being shared.<BR><BR>John B.<BR>Oakville, ON<BR>Canada

Nutella -<BR> We spent a week in Avignon, relying on public transportation & local tours. Easiest European trip we've ever taken! (Got to Avignon by TGV from Paris, a quick comfortable trip - 2nd class was fine - returned on TGV to CDG airport where we stayed overnight at an Ibis hotel, next morning flew back to SFO.)<BR> Twice we went to Arles by train & once by bus to St. Remy & Glanum (Roman ruins).<BR> Through the tourist office we learned about a tour outfit with an office right by the train station. We took their day tour to the Camargue, which was fascinating. They also had tours to Orange, N&icirc;mes (I believe), & other points of interest. Check their schedule.<BR>

Thanks, everyone, for your positive replies on this thread. I want to go to Provence, my husband doesn't, so I will go alone. This means I will be relying on public transportation and excursions.I have been told I will need a car so I am glad to hear I have other options. <BR>And thanks, Nutella for posting this question.

My Daughter and I just returned from Avignon after renting a car 3 days. Do not do that!! My daughter had a terrible time getting in and out of Avignon. You are very wise to take a bus or train to the places you can go. There are a few you may not be able to get to without a car,but there are so many places you can find public transportation to take you. Probably if you got the car at the TGV station and stayed in a smaller place such as St. Remy and avoided Avignon it might be okay with the car. Don't think I will ever get her to drive in a foreign country again ,and I know I will not.

Agree with Avignon. Extremely convenient. Walk to the station and hop on a train or bus. Or walk to the Rhone and hop on a boat.<BR>For Arlene:<BR>Here are two companies that do boat cruises:<BR>http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/mireio/gb/index.html<BR>http://www.pnich.com/odyss.htm<BR>The first site has a calendar with destinations for each month.

a P.S.<BR>The bateau bus has dinner/dance cruises.<BR>there are one and a quarter hour excursions 6 times a day during July and august. The voyages outside the train staion are called Lieutaud. These "luxury buse" have 7 different tours, but these are not guided tours,<BR>for instance, going to Les Baux, they drop you off and I went and had lunch and walked around. I forgot the time to return to the bus, so the driver kindly sent a young guy looking for me (thank goodness)

Here's the website of Lieutaud bus tours.<BR>It's a bit old but I bet most of the tours haven't changed much. I see their buses cruising by all the time.<BR>And why not train, bus, boat AND plane?<BR>http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/provence-vue-avion/gb/index.html<BR>Nutella, you can then tell your friends that even without a car, you have seen ten times more than them.. :-)<BR><BR>Sorry Mary Anne you had such bad experience with your car. Avignon is a pain to get in & out by car, even for the locals. With a car, a better place to stay is anywhere around St Remy, and visit Avignon (20 min) on a daytrip.

Mimi, I just looked at Lieutaud's web site; they have a trip for every day of the week (maybe not Sunday) and I want to go on every one! Thanks for the tip.

First I want to thank you all for the great info. Mary-Anne, driving in and out of Aix was also very difficult. One time we were given directions at the hotel front desk, took the wrong street and ended up FAR away. Luckily, we speak French and managed to find someone to direct us back. We started all over again, (like a kid repeating a grade!!!) and this time we got it right. Whenever there was a chance to take the wrong turn...we did it!!<BR>Rhone, thanks for the boat info. We did a one hour boat ride in Avignon, but if we can go to another town by boat, that would be a novelty. Judy, I looked up Lieutaud tours, but all I could find were the plane tours. Could someone please give me the URL? Thanks. Mimi..the young guy who directed you to the bus....hope he was cute!

Arlene, I found it at:<BR><BR> http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cars.lieutaud/<BR><BR>Sorry, I should have posted the web site in my last message. I found it on a Google search .

Wow thanks everyone for all the great responses! Looks like a plan - 5 or 6 nights in Avignon with day trips all around, maybe 2 nights on the coast, then off to Italy for a week or so. Now the fun begins... obsessing over plane fare, hotels, etc, LOL ... will definitely be counting on you guys for more advice soon : )<BR>

Thanks,Judy, I saved the site. I,too, checked out Google, but couldn't find it!!! Mimi, thanks for the idea. A non-tour-tour sounds good to me. I really don't like "tours". Nutella, your plans sound great..you'll have a wonderful trip.

This is a great thread for us newbies.

This thread has me so excited! I had been obsessing about whether to try Provence without a car, where to base if I do, etc., and you guys have certainly given me alot of answers, and made me feel so much better. I know I could never drive over there alone without being totally freaked out and being constantly lost! I was debating between Arles and Avignon, but sounds like Avignon would be better for the bus and train excursions - and the boat sounds fun, which I didn't know about.<BR>Can anyone recommend a convenient Avignon hotel, it doesn't have to be budget, but not 4-star either.

Thanks Mim, I am going thanks to you.

Just returned from a week in Provence WITH a car (husband driving) and getting out of Avignon was a nightmare. The backroads are fine now, but I would guess are really crowded in the summer. <BR><BR>Overall I find it stressful having a car ~ and the person driving misses so much of the beautiful scenery! I love riding the trains and buses. It's a great way to meet local people, too.<BR><BR>Judi ~ sounds like trip # 2 for next year!<BR><BR>Bon voyage

Gail, I hope it is #3! You know I have to go to Nerja as well. :-)

if the choice is go or not go, then by all means go. pick a central spot and find out if they have bus tours to some wineries (or a town, such as Chateauneuf de Pape).... St Remy is nice, you can hike and bike and horseback ride and go see the Roman Ruins and Les Baux is close by (15 mins by car, so if you biked...)

yes he was Arlene, but young enough maybe to be my son, but he and his two friends were fun, they were on two other days with me, and the girlfriend of one was fun. We had the driver stop once so we could take a picture and to ahuhum....and it became like a private party bus as everyone joined in our fun.<BR>they were two Parisians visiting their friend who lived in Avignon. Surprisingly half the bus was French.

Wow! I am so excited to see so many responses! Gail...I thought we were the only ones who found driving stressful...glad to have company! Mimi that no-tour tour sounds better all the time! I, too, would like to know of a reasonably priced hotel in Avignon. Does anyone know anything about the two Mercure hotels?

Interesting thread. Does anyone else have something to add?

I'm just topping, as I am very interested in this thread.

Nutella and other women travelling alone.<BR>I stayed across the bridge from Avignon in Villaneuve because I wanted the feel of village life and not in the city. Every day I could venture to avignon by walking across the boule field and across the bridge, or I could take a commuter boat, or sit by the village fountain with the charming old men waiting for the bus. i wouldn't have done it any other way!

Mimi, could you recommend a hotel in Villeneuve? Are there lots of cafes and restaurants? How convenient was the trip to Avignon? Was it possible to have dinner there and come back at night? How easy was it to get to the train and bus station? Thanks!

Mimi, if you stayed in Villeneuve, was it easy to get to the bus station for day trips outside Avignon? What hotel did you stay at?

Mimi, Hope you'll answer the questions about staying in Villeneuve - getting there from the train station, etc. And the hotel you stayed at. I'm very interested!

ttt

Okay, been doing some reading since you all convinced me to go without a car. Arles sounds nice, and so does Aix. Any opinions on the pros and cons of Arles, Aix and Avignon.. without a car of course? (Could possible break it up into 3 nights in one place, 3 in another).

Hi Nutella! We stayed in Aix at the Mercure Paul Cezanne. We loved the hotel and the city. From Aix, you can take a bus to Cassis..fabulous! I think you can get to some other places, too. But..next time we will stay in Avignon because I think you can take day trips more easily from there. I think it may be more convenient than Arles.

<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B R><BR>I was one nite at the Hotel l'Europe in Avignon and two weeks at the Le Prieure.<BR>Going out at night means bus, cab or walking across the bridge. The commuter boat stops ar 7pm. The tou bus I spoke of its right outside the train station, so no problem, always took one or the other.This is the main train station(old )where the TGV formally stopped at.<BR>Staying in a village you get the real flavor of provence. I'd chat with the old men by the fountain while waiting for the but or go across to the local bar for a drink. The Prieure is featured in Judith Krantz's novel, "Mistral's Daughter". I stayed in the old part of the hotel in an oval room overlooking the dining terrace and herb garden, where I drank my digestif every night after dinner and met my first hedgehog. I think a woman travelling alone for the first time, should stay in a charming safe hotel and not look for cheap Bu there are other decent hotels less expensive but I dont remember the names. i di dine at one other hotel in the village La Magnaneraie.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Mimi, thanks for answering the hotel information. Le Prieure sounds really nice. I had just wondered if it might be too isolated from the village to easily get to the bus stop, or bridge, but sounds not. I agree, the village atmosphere would be nicer in Provence. I'm usually too tired after traipsing around all day to go out at night anyway. And I like places that are quiet at night. I had also wondered about the d'Europe and Le Cloitre St. Louis (since it is so near the train station). But Le Prieure sounds better.<BR>I read Mistrals Daughter years ago, will have to again. Thanks!

Sue, the bus stop is a stone's throw from the hotel.

Hi Mimi! Is that the stop for the bus to Avignon or to other destinations also?