Itinerary change causing headaches!

Hi Sharon, would the flight arrival times work any better if you flew into Nice instead of Marseilles? That’s a longer train time, but it could possibly give you more options for arrival.

Spend the night in Marseille near the Old Port, a short metro ride to Gare St Charles. I’ve been to Marseille 3 times and find it colorful and interesting. Check out the Hotel Carré Vieux Port for great rooms and convenience.

I wouldn't recommend staying right near Marseille-St. Charles station. It's not a very attractive neighborhood. When transiting that station, note that there is a way to get in and out of the station (which is well above street level) without negotiating the humongous flight of stairs.

Staying the night at an airport hotel is the least cumbersome. There are local trains called TER directly from the airport (Vitrolles Marseille Aéroport) to Avignon center every half hour or hour.

This is a small but major airport for the region with people coming from up to a few hours away to use it.

Although Marseille used to be a place I visited frequently, I wouldn't go into town for the night for multiple reasons, especially with the train from the airport.

The Gare Saint-Charles area, while improved, is indeed not where you want to be late at night.

The Holiday Inn Express Marseille Aéroport seems to have a shuttle bus to/from the airport and is within walking distance to the Vitrolles-Aéroport train station for direct trains to Avignon the following morning. It looks like the most convenient choice.

If you fly to MRS, what time do you arrive? The last train from Vitrolles to Avignon Centre departs around 21h00. Are you absolutely sure you cannot make Avignon the night of your France arrival?

If you absolutely cannot, Aix-en-Provence is no farther from MRS than is Marseille. Consider staying in Aix which is closer to Avignon, much smaller than Marseille, easily walkable, and a delightful destination all its own. Proceed to Avignon from Aix-en-Provence.

It is difficult to recommend solutions without knowing from where you’re starting and when. The only non stop flights from the US to France arrive either Paris or Nice. Geneva is another option.

If you leave Greece to go to Avignon on May 30, why don't you take a flight to Paris CDG and then a TGV train to Avignon?

On May 30 there are 2 morning flights Athens-Paris CDG, one with Aegean which arrives at 10.10 am at Paris CDG and the other with Sky Express which arrives at 1.10 pm

From Paris CDG airport there are 5 TGV trains to Avignon TGV station between 12:36 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

On May 30, taking the 07:40 Aegean flight in Athens, and the 12:36 TGV train at CDG, you will be at the Avignon TGV station around 15:30.

We flew into Marseille airport back in November to catch a River boat in Avignon. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Vitrolles, France. The shuttle picked us up at the airport and the next morning took us to the train station. Note the Holiday Inn is across the street from the Holiday Inn Express.
While the train station may be close, I would not recommend walking unless you r familiar with the area, too many twist and turns. We took the TER from Vitrolles to Avignon Centre, take about 1 1/2 hours with no changes, depending on your age 1 way ticket $22.30 pp.

Not sure if you need to get to Avignon Centre or Avignon TGV which is located outside of town.

Thanks everyone for this information. I will be handy when we nail this end of the itinerary. I will possibly come back with more questions in due course !
regards
Sharon