We will be flying into Marseille and staying in Provence...
what do you suggest-picking up car in Marseille and driving to destination in Provence OR train to Avignon and picking up car at train station?
If you will need the car the first day, and are OK with driving on the first day (some people have a problem with jet lag, the drive is no big deal), then get the car in Marseilles.
I'd pick up the car at the airport. The Marseille airport is far enough from Marseille city that traffic and roads are easy to manage.
We picked up the car at Marseilles airport, it is a small airport easy to find the car rental agencies. Driving to Avignon or in France is not hard at all, my only suggestion is to have a good map.
A GPS is also a good idea.
Driving is easy if you pay attention to the signs. A GPS with the French or European chip is a MUST! We had a Garmin with the European chip and it was a godsend! Brooks