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In what order?

Posted by (East Wenatchee) on

I would be grateful for your perspective if anyone has experienced this itinerary. My husband and I have booked flights into Lyon and out of Marseille in late April 2026. We will have 14 nights and our departing flight to Seattle out of Marseille is a 12:30pm-ish flight.

We have had three great trips in France largely Nice/Riviera (X2), Paris, Avignon, Isle Sur l'Sorgue/St Remy and now this trip.

As mentioned we will be starting in Lyon (looking forward to Traboules, dining, walking, and markets) not set on 3 or 4 nights but we arrive well before Noon into Lyon.
Here's my question- Where do we go next? Our desire is to have 2 nights in Aix, 2 nights in Arles (more at each location??) and 5 nights in Cassis. My concern is the best option for our last stay before we fly out of Marseille, departing 12:30-ish PM. I always get nervous on the last night before flying out and will want to make sure we have a confirmed car service to get us to the airport in plenty of time. What do you all think is the best last night location?
Am I giving the right number of nights in each location? We tend to like wandering time, live like a local and hit lots of great markets and a great boutique or two, live music is a must as well (classical to Jazz).
Any recommendations for dining and lodging would be most welcome. No insistence on Michelin star dining (just great food) and as far as hotel we love quaint with balcony/view and centrally located. (Under $225 per night).
Lastly we will not be renting a car and will be reliant on train, taxi.

Thanks so much!

Posted by
600 posts

You can easily make any of the three the last stop so I would plan based on what you want to do on what days (for example what days are Arles or Aix markets or what days for a concert there). The Marseille airport is small and easily navigable. It is on the west side of the city. So about 1 hour from Arles or Cassis or 1/2 hour from Aix. I don't know anything about Cassis but you could easily spend 3 nights in each of Arles and Aix and never run out of things to do.

Posted by
10 posts

Laurie Ann-Thanks so much! I have literally worn out both my RS Provence book and the RS France book and have over thought this whole thing to death! I am thinking my last stay will be Aix based on your insight. I am sure whatever hotel I book in Aix can arrange car service to the Marseille airport. In Cassis we will be staying in a VRBO property so arranging car service would be clunkier.

Posted by
3024 posts

No car? I would forget Cassis for 5 day., very difficult transportation options and a rather small location.

As you have already explored Provence, yet you are returning to the same basic location. Without a car, I would stay in Avignon and explore the remaining locations of the region: Pont du Gard, Uzès, les Baux de Provence, the Camargue/Aigues Mortes, Gordes, Roussillon, there are still a number of locations to explore.

Posted by
10 posts

Thanks for your input. We have been to the Pont du Gard (FABULOUS experience). We like the sleepy, more remote beach town experience that i am lead to believe is an appropriate assessment of cassis, but perhaps, 5 nights is one night too many? This will be our down time of the trip, perhaps renting a boat and finding our bar to call our place.

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