kbb

Ok,my husband and I are making progress with our 12 day travel plans. I have some definite stops but would love some advise about these plans. We don't plan to Rent a car til we reach Provence.

We start with 4 nights in Barcelona. Then we will train/ taxi to begur(aiguaclara)for 2 nights.

We have 2 more days before going to Provence. Debating between cadaques and collioure. Would really like to be on the sea( hotel) for a few days. Not allot of choices at this time.

We will end up in paradou provence in (le mason de paradou) For 3 nights. We fly out of marseille so we could stay in pardou for a 4 th night and drive to catch our flight in the morning( 8:00 flight). Or drive to marseille the day before, stay over there ( hotel recommendations)and get rid of our car the day before so we don't have to hassle with it in the am.
How does the over all timing sound. All plans are negotiable so please advise.

Thanks so much!!!

Christina

What's your budget for a hotel in Marseille.

I don't know where "paradou provence" is, but given MRS is outside the city quite a bit, it sounds like it would be more convenient to drive to the airport and drop off the car there than to drop it off somewhere else (? in Marseille central?) if that is in the city and then figure out how to get to the airport next day. Sure, you can (ie, taxi or the airport bus), but if the idea is to avoid a hassle with the car in the am, I would guess you are creating a lot more hassles getting rid of the car the day before.

kbb

I agree. I think the bigger question is to stay in paradou( 45) min from airport. Or drive somewhere closer to airport so we don't have to drive far in the morning. But, I really have no idea where the airport is, so maybe we are already as close as we can be. Are there any hotels closer to airport? Under 150.00 €..

lincasanova

can you find it on a map.. (viamichelin.com) and check the distance and route?

StuDudley

The MRS airport is abut 1 hr away from Paradou. Returning a car there is easy - at least it was in about '05 when we did it.

To catch an 8am flight, I would want to leave Paradou at 4:30am to allow time for getting lost on the road, trouble with the car return, and any unexpected traffic. I would not want to get up at 4:30.

I would find a hotel in/next the airport and arrive there the day before. Viamichelin will provide you with hotels close to the airport - which is actually in Marignane. My '11 Michelin Red Guide lists two hotels at the airport:
www.pullman-marseille-provence.com
www.bwmrs.com

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

>>I would not want to get up at 4:30.<<

Oops - If you depart at 4:30, you'll have to get up out of bed & haul the bags to the car before then.

Stu Dudley

Kwoo

We stayed at Playa del Sol in Cadaques & loved it. It is right on the sea. Haven't been to Collioure so can't compare. How will you get from Begur to Cadaques? You can click on my name to read my trip report from October 2010 to read about Barcelona & Cadaques.