My wife and I are going to be on a River cruise in France that concludes in Arles. We'll have 2 days after that before we have to fly back to the US. Does anyone have suggestions as to where to spend those last couple days that would also be a good place to fly out of? Thanks.
Posted by
Fredericksburg, VA, USA
409 posts
Hi, Bob: We're spending our time in Provence later this year in Arles, then driving over to Nice and dropping off our car there. I'm assuming you'll have no car, but I would think the same thing would be possible....spend the last two days in Nice / Monaco and the surrounding area, then flying out of Nice.
Posted by
OP
Wake Forest, NC
6 posts
Sorry, that probably would help. We are starting off in Paris, then to Lyon, then from Lyon down to Arles. The cruise does include time in Arles.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA
206 posts
You could spend a day in Aix en Provence and a day in Avignon. As well as the high speed train, Avignon has an airport. I did a search for "airports in France" and found this helpful site: http://www.aircraft-charter-world.com/airports/europe/france.htm
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Bob: You conclude in Arles but don't say whether the boat trip includes exploring Arles. Assuming it doesn't, one option and a good choice would be to spend the 2 days exploring Arles and flying out of Marseilles/Provence airport.You don't say where you're flying out of and that makes a big difference in the advice we would give: Paris, Provence/Marseille, or Nice. The Provence/Marseille airport would be by far the closest to Arles and therefore give you the most time to explore Arles. To get to St Remy and Les Baux, outside of Arles, you would need a rental car; but there are things to do in Arles itself that could easily take up a day and a half. The drive to Nice, or train to Paris, will take significant travel time, which must be allowed for if you choose those airports for departure.
Posted by
OP
Wake Forest, NC
6 posts
Other than the actual river cruise portion (Lyon to Arles) nothing else has been booked yet. This trip is going to be in Mid-September.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Bob: Okay, it's good you didn't book your departure flight yet. You're ending the river cruise in the heart of Provence, so stay in Provence and enjoy exploring Arles. Fly out of Marseilles/Provence airport. This will maximize your time in Arles/Provence, which you need to do with only 2 days between the end of the cruise and your flight out. You would benefit from more time in Provence, if you can push your departure flight back even one day?