I will be planning a trip to visit my son while he is doing a semester abroad in Aix en Provence this fall. I was thinking about going around mid to late September, early October for around 2 weeks. After the crowds and weather cools off.
I am not sure where to stay in the area, and I also was wondering about the best way to get there without renting a car. I will be flying from LAX, so I assume that I would fly into Paris.
I would like to spend more time in Europe after I hang out with him in Aix for just a few nights. He won't have time or want me around more than a couple of nights anyway. Any suggestions on side trips from that area. I have spent plenty of time in Paris so I don't need to be there more than needed for travel. Not that I don't think it is a great destination.
Thank you in advance for your valuable information.
Danabob
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2940 posts
It's been a few years, so there might be more recent info, but I walked to a bus station just outside of Aix, which was a short bus ride to the Aix TGV station. Around 3 hours to Paris.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
569 posts
Since you do not plan to spend time in Paris, you might consider flying into Marseille. There are many flights from the USA to Marseille with a connection in Europe somewhere such as London, Brussels, Amsterdam. And it is a very easy airport to navigate. AEP is only a 1/2 hour bus ride from there. Here is another thread on that topic. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/marseilles-to-aix-en-provence You could stay in AEP the entire two weeks and do day trips from there. Or consider other cities nearby that are reasonably linked and offer day trips from there such as Arles or Avignon. Enjoy the planning!
Posted by
Twin Cities, Minnesota
2211 posts
I was in Aix en Provence a couple years ago. I took the train from Marseilles and then after a few days took the bus to Avignon. The bus station is great. Outdoors, but with covered sitting areas, electronic boards with info on which bus is there or arriving soon & where it's going, etc. There is a tourist info office about a block from the bus station (which is in town.) They were very helpful and the building is modern and fairly large. They can help you on all the wonderful places near there and which transportation method is best. Aix itself is charming. I was getting over Covid and mainly sat at a bistro on their main street Cours Mirabeau and watched the world go by. I stayed near there at Hôtel Les Quatre Dauphins. I was very happy with my room and the staff were wonderful. I did not eat breakfast there as I didn't want to expose anyone to Covid, but the breakfast room was charming.
Posted by
OP
136 posts
Thanks for the very useful information. Especially flying into Marseille. Also, hotel recommendations are very helpful.