Please sign in to post.

Post Eastern France Ideas?

Posted by (Sapulpa, OK, USA) on

We're booked on the Best of Eastern France tour in 2019. We have our pre-tour itinerary - including the Paris and Heart of France tour - already planned, but I'm pondering what to do after the Eastern France tour. We won't have a lot of time, and that's the main issue.

By the time the tour ends, we will already have been gone about 28 or 29 days, and that's pushing our limit. But we don't particularly want to jump from last day breakfast back home. So what are your favorite things to do if you have only one or two more days in Aix-en-Provence or Marseilles? Another poster mentioned spending a few days in Lyon, then taking the train straight from there to the Paris airport. That's intriguing, especially since it may be easier to fly out of Paris than Marseilles. (I'm still checking on flights.)

I have of course started my reading and research about what to do in France, including Rick's book. I'm just interested in what you folks have done and would recommend.

Thanks.

Posted by
234 posts

Our eastern France tour ended in Marseille. We took an easy train to Arles (I am a Van Gough fan). It was very easy to take the train to the Marseille airport and fly home. I think it was Marseille to Frankfurt to San Francisco. Loved that tour.

Posted by
891 posts

We loved that tour!! Hubby and I flew Alitalia from Nice to Rome and spent time there. Many of our tour mates went straight to Paris and at least 2 couples left the ending day for Lyon and then on to Paris. I guess the bottom line is it depends on how much time you have and what your interests are. Our friends who went on to Lyon
really enjoyed it and were glad they had planned to do it that way.

Whatever you decide have a great time!

Mimi

Posted by
16893 posts

The Aix has street markets most mornings, with the biggest on Saturday, so I would plan time for one. You may find better hotel values by staying put in Aix rather than moving to Marseille. But you can still daytrip to Marseille by local train, 45 minutes, where you might enjoy the North African market area, a museum or two, and a very scenic boat trip to the Calenques, weather permitting. Or if you can stay a couple of nights move to Cassis, a smaller town gateway to the Calenques.

These areas are all covered in Rick's Provence & Riviera book, rather than the France book.

Posted by
891 posts

Jane,

After you decide what to do Post Tour, please come back and let us all know. It helps others who are thinking of taking this tour and it helps people who are traveling independent make plans. And Trip Reports are always fun to read.

I know you'll have a great tour and a great time!
Mimi

Posted by
6291 posts

Aha! I wondered why Marseilles wasn't in the France book! Thanks, Laura.

And thanks to the rest of you for your suggestions. We will probably just spend another day in Aix then return. Our main problem is time. I'd love to be able to take off for 6 or 8 weeks, but it's just not possible right now.

But I'm following up on your suggestions, and I'll let you know what I decide. Mimi, I usually do post trip reports, at least I have for the last few years. I enjoy doing it, and people seem to enjoy reading them.

So thanks to all.

Posted by
383 posts

Another poster mentioned spending a few days in Lyon, then taking the train straight from there to the Paris airport.

It is about a 2 hour trip on the TGV to the airport. I have taken the train to the airport before (from Rouen) but I'd be cautious about doing it from a more distant city. If there is a strike that day or some other reason that prevents you from getting to the airport in time the walk-up ticket will probably be pricy.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.