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4 night stay near MRS

We have a flight from Marseille departing at 7:45 a.m., end of April. We’ll be in Paris and then St. Remy prior to that. I’d rather not stay at an airport hotel the night before we depart if we can find a desirable location nearby to stay for 4 nights. We’ll have a rental car to return that morning but I’ve departed from MRS previously and found that airport and rental return quite simple to navigate.
I’m leaning towards a coastal location if getting to the airport early on departure morning is not too problematic with traffic or other issues. We’ve been to Cassis and the Calanques but that’s my only experience in that location. There seems to be a good selection of apartment/Airbnb rentals nearby. We do not want to stay in Marseille. We’ve not been to Aix so that’s a non- coastal option as well.

Suggestions for coastal or other location that would give easy access to the airport?

Many thanks!

Posted by
1681 posts

Aix-en-Provence to Marseille Provence Airport has 30 to 50 trains per day. Trains leave every 15 to 30 minutes on the average, journey time is one hr 30 mins; it requires one transfer. Cost starts at 13+ Euros if bought in advance. Aix has beaucoup de stuff to do! You are planning on returning a car at the Airport, but timing may be similar. Traffic probably depends on time of day, and day of the week, as this is a major commuter corridor. If you are leaving early am you might be OK!

Posted by
11119 posts

I wouldn't want to stay an hour and 30 minute train ride away from somewhere from which I had a 7:45 a.m. departure.

No way,

Posted by
469 posts

Yep, that length train ride wouldn’t be my choice. But I appreciate the suggestion and information.

Posted by
11503 posts

It’s a twenty minute drive. Aix is a good place to stay for the airport.

Edit: Agree with balso, there's little charm near the airport, more industrial.

Posted by
7705 posts

You won't have any traffic issues at 5:30 AM on your way to the airport, and Aix is a very good base. It is workable with a car, despite traffic challenges, and very central for the area. Other than Aix, I am not a fan of the various towns around the airport, except perhaps Ventabren, which is tiny but cute on the hill (and very suburban beneath the hill - nice suburbs, villas with pools).

Posted by
1507 posts

Reconsider Marseille. It gets a lot of flack but it's really a treasure.

Posted by
469 posts

Many thanks for the replies. We really want to stay in a smaller, less busy area so I doubt we'd select Marseille. Looks like Aix would be a good choice.