Hi all,

I think I finally have the SNCF website figured out. This is my first time booking trains in France.

My flight lands at CDG on a September Monday at 8:50 a.m. (United Airlines). There is a TGV at 11:57 a.m. to MARNE LA VALLEE CHESSY arriving at 12:06 p.m. Then I would transfer to an OUIGO train that departs at 12:46 p.m. and arrives at Aix-en-Provence TGV station at 15:50 (from there we will catch the bus to city center.)

I have a few questions please:
-Can I make the 11:57 a.m. train? We will be checking bags. There may or may not be required Covid testing at the airport upon arrival.
-Given the notice on the SNCF website that says: "I present myself on the platform no later than 30 minutes before the departure of the train", can I make the OUIGO train at 12:46 p.m.?
-Does it mean I literally have to be standing at the correct platform by 12:16 p.m. (30 minutes prior to my OUIGO departure)? How strict are they? What if my first train is late? Or what if I can't find the correct platform at Chessy quickly enough?

My other choices include
1) A 14:57 non-stop TGV straight to Aix arriving at 18:34 (this will make it a full 24 hours since we left LAX)
2) Booking a flight to Marseilles then find my way to Aix (Air France has a 1pm flight arriving at 2:25p.m.)
3) Will more train routes be released as it gets closer to September?

Thank you in advance! Next time, I will book flights all the way from LAX to Marseilles. ;-)

I think that you should be able to make your train, as there probably be fewer flights arriving in September than in the height of the summer season, speeding up passport control. I never had problems with luggage. But I am not taking into account a possible Covid test. The transfer should be easy, and won't take more than 10 minutes, giving you the thirty required minutes.

Although I like trains, given the circumstances and timing, I would take the flight to Marseille, assume you mean MRS. That airport actually serves Marseille, Aix and Avignon and is fairly close to Aix. It is easy peasy and cheap to take bus shuttle into Aix from right outside the terminal.
However, after such a long haul, I would definitely just bite the bullet and spring for a taxi straight from the airport to my hotel in Aix. Don’t try to save a few bucks at that point. You will thank me.

Where are you staying in Aix? Have you been there before? It is one of my favorite little cities in Europe. Absolutely beautiful and charming and great food.

Is it too late to alter your flight to go on into Marseille?

You should have no problem catching the 11:57. And there's plenty of time to transfer at Marne. The one thing I would encourage you to do before you depart is to study a map of CDG airport. The signage at the airport can be challenging. Definitely find out what terminal you'll be landing at. You may or may not have to take the little free shuttle train (CDGVal) to the TGV station. I've led a few fellow passengers from Passport Control to the TGV station and been told they never would have made it on time without my help.

Also, when you arrive at your TGV platform, you'll see long, eye height signs showing where each car of the train stops. So, know your car number. You'll be able to stand at the spot near where your car will stop. Doing that will prevent you from rushing down the platform to your train car. The trains don't stay long at the platform before leaving again. Knowing where to stand will reduce some of the stress.

Thanks All!

Sass, Aix was recommended by a few people as a place to go “live” for a month. 😊 Our neighbors spent 6 weeks there and 6 weeks in St Remy. Given I will telework most days, it seems that Aix has a lively old town with some “sights”, cafe life and lots of markets. Some said St Remy would get small.

We will rent a car on the weekends to see the Luberon, St Remy, Cassis and train to Avignon for a day.

I’m debating between two apartments, one on Rue Espariat and one on Rue Cardinale near Musee Granet - any thoughts?

Re plane or train, It seems like so many take the train to Provence. Is the bus/shuttle from MRS to Aix a “city bus” or is there truly a shuttle service that I should reserve in advance?

"Given I will telework most days, . . ."

Not strictly legal. Working while in Schengen is not allowed without a special visa. Now, would you be 'caught' - likely not.

The Cartreize Bus 40 is the actual name of the “shuttle “ and it leaves frequently from the TGV station lower level. Comfortable, not expensive, this is what Aix residents use, as well as visitors. It arrives right in the town center.

From Aix-en-Provence TGV railway station By bus the bus will take you to Gare routière Aix-en-Provence (bus station), 5 minutes walking distance from the city centre. Duration: approximately 20 minutes (bus every 15-30 min.) / Price: 4.30€ Bus: 40 Cartreize https://www.lepilote.com/ftp/documen...40-english.pdf

Seems like a nice enough place to live. I think it's far superior to St Remy, good choice. St Remy doesn't even have a train staiton, in case you didn't know. Also more rich people IMO.

That connection should be fine. I think that's your best choice by train, the other one is only about an hour after you land so a bit risky (although I actually have made that timing once, but you never know).

I do usually fly into MRS if going to Provence, seems easier to me. They transfer your bags for you (I fly Air France usually). With UAL, it's a different airline so I'd probalby stick with the trains, actually. Also, I have rented a car from MRS and it's an easy drive out of that airport to Aix as MRS isn't right next to the city, it's out in the boonies a bit but right on a main highway to Provence. But sounds like you don't want to do that anyway (rent a car right away), so I'd stick with the train myself. You aren't going to get to Aix any quicker when you don't have a flight arrive at MRS until 2:30 pm. There is some kind of bus system between MRS and Aix, I believe, but you just aren't going to get there until at least 4 pm, probably. The bus takes about 30 minutes. So you are no better off, and if there is a plane delay, could be worse. It stops at the gare routiere which is near the library near the center of town (but farther than you'd want to walk)..

I think this is the bus company that runs that airport bus as well as others in the area, so you might find it useful.
https://www.lepilote.com/

It says they leave every 30 minutes from MRS.and it's route 40.
https://www.lepilote.com/fr/horaires...2?PartnerId=10

as for the apartments, it really depends where on rue Espariat, that's a long street. Both should be ok, I've stayed on rue Cardinale and like it fine It's pretty quiet, But for a month, Espariat might be more convenient, it is closer to the outdoor market.

It might have changed, but the bus from MRS was a big, comfortable bus (no reservation needed). When we have landed, the bus left as soon as it was loaded, but if there is 30 minutes in between and still a walk to your hotel with luggage, it would take time. That is why I recommend a taxi that first day. The flight seemed simpler, but the train might be more restful, a toss up.

If I wanted to spend a month in Provence, I would also choose Aix, though we rented a little house for just a few days in Arles and enjoyed it a lot because it was convenient to the rail and local bus service and had a great market. Aix has good markets too, and is, IMHO, much prettier. I met several artists who were there for a month or more.

Taking the train between Aix and Avignon is convoluted. Local train means going the wrong direction to Marseille and switching trains, taking the TGV means bus/TGV/local train— 2 transfers. Anyway locals take the bus between these two cities.

Sassafrass Dee_Dee Christina Believe it or not, United has lowered their airfare again and I can now go from Los Angeles to Brussels to MRS for less than taking the OUIGO from CDG. That said, the connection times are 2 hours at Dulles and 2 hours at Brussels airport. I typically leave 4 hours for international connections. What do you guys think?

I think you are going to be exhausted, no help for it though unless you wanted a layover night somewhere.
It is doable (though Dallas can be a zoo at times) if all goes perfectly. Trouble is if your flight from LA is delayed even by a few minutes. Is there a later flight out to Brussels that night, just in case? Longer layovers are so exhausting, but short ones are stressful.

To save a few dollars I would not add another airport! There are so few flights to/from and within Europe right now, if you miss one, you're screwed. Besides, I find the TGV from CDG quite enjoyable. Sit back, relax, get a sandwich and beverage from the food car and watch the scenery fly by.

It is an enjoyable trip

BRU to MRS is a Schengen, not an international connection, so even a connection of one hour would be enough.

Okay, back to Plan A after much Covid backup research and planning. We are booking the original plan that I posted above on June 29th LOL!

• Land at CDG on September 6 at 8:50 a.m. (United Airlines)
• TGV at 11:57 a.m. to MARNE LA VALLEE CHESSY arriving at 12:06 p.m.
• Transfer to OUIGO that departs at 12:46 p.m with tickets and ID in hand
• Arrive at Aix-en-Provence TGV station at 15:50

PHEW! Thanks a ton! I will update this thread on time at CDG, etc. so others may track how long baggage and passport control are taking.

Irice, I think you did the right thing by going back to Plan A. You will enjoy the train trip. Thank you in advance for posting an update on your experience at CDG.

2 hrs at BRU would be plenty, that's an easy airport.

I wouldn't say that TGV ride is all that enjoyable, the scenery is nothing special that I recall. However, given you don't plan to rent a car at MRS, I think I would have done the train also, to be honest. Because the bus etc to Aix is just more hassle and time. Of course you are going to need a taxi from the station to your apt (I took one even in-town to the train station when staying on rue Cardinale due to baggage). The gare routiere is 500 meters to that fountain at the Rotonde.

TGVs can get delayed also, of course. I had one delayed about 2 hrs at CDG.