I am trying to find out hotel, restaurant,market, transportation information for Aix. It is not listed in the RS France guide. Tell me how to find the information.
Second question.... what is the normal window for arriving at an airport - specifically Marseilles. Leaving from Aix. I want to take the local bus. Is a 3 hour window sufficient?
Thank you,
Terry
The RS guide to Provence and the Riviera has a short chapter on Aix, and other destinations that the overall France guide might skip. And of course there are other guidebooks. I look to my public library for these, and purchase only what I'll be willing to carry along on the trip (usually snipped-out sections of the relevant RS guide). I also find Wikivoyage is sometimes useful. This forum can be very helpful, but it works best at answering specific questions after you've researched guidebooks and other online sources.
Arriving at the airport three hours before an international flight is generally recommended. Two hours if the flight is domestic -- and in Europe a lot of flights are effectively "domestic" because of free movement in the EU and Schengen zone. I don't know what the bus service is between Aix and Marseilles airport, but you'd be wise to allow plenty of time. Aix is a lovely city and good base for the southern parts of Provence.
Hi, I had an early morning flight from Marseille, left Aix around 2 hours and 15 minutes early and had plenty of time. Of course, I was there in April, so it was less busy. Three hours should give you plenty of time. Colde is a great restaurant for breakfast or lunch that I loved, but I have seen hit or miss reviews on it. Stayed at the Hotel Saint Christophe, which is centrally located, very bright and modern. Enjoy Aix, my time there was brief, so I missed out on their amazing markets.
On this site
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/aix-en-provence
For more details you can purchase the RS Provence book or use Google
https://store.ricksteves.com/products/provence-guidebook?variant=46200487870620
Hi,
For restaurants, you should try "le Chastel" which is located just across from the Court of Appeals. It's been some years, but I had one of the best, and most memorable dinners of my life there: traditional Provencal Daube served over ravioli, with a half a bottle of Chateau Cremade from the Palette appellation. It is www.lechastel.fr
Good luck,
We signed up for the Best of Eastern France Tour for next April and we just received the RS France Guidebook. Also included in the mailing was a separate document; a 20 page "Aix-en-Provence Supplement" which is written like a whole chapter from the guidebook. It includes all the topics you asked for, plus maps and logistics info...........very complete. I'm assuming that since this was sent to every tour signee that the RS Office would be able to mail you one if you contact them.
We were in Aix in late May/early June, with a tour run by AHI that was called Pleasures of Provence. We stayed in the Grand Hotel Roi Rene for 7 nights. The hotel is 4* and has a pool. The location is excellent and it is very quiet and safe; there is a bus stop right out front too. There is a small pharmacy and grocery store next door. Breakfasts were wonderful.
We had some excellent meals at Le Chastel, La Tomato Verte and Maurizio. The Granet Museum is a must see.
thank you all for your responses..... I went to the library this afternoon and took out the RS Provence. I must have missed it when I pulled the other books. hopefully I will gete my travel package from RS soon!
Thanks for the advice on the bus to the airport.
Can't wait.
