Hi - I'm planning a trip to Europe this October. I will depart Seattle on the 7th and will return on the 24th. I haven't bought my tickets yet. In Italy, I would like to visit the Cinque Terre villages, Florence, and Rome. I am debating if I should spend a few days in Aix en Provence, France. I have always wanted to go there. I am not sure how to get to Aix (which airport to fly into from Seattle), and how I would get from Aix to the Cinque Terre villages. Does the combination of the two regions seem do-able within two weeks? Any help will be greatly appreciated. It's my first trip to Europe, and yes, I have ordered a copy of Rick Steve's Europe 2010. Thanks!
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
The nearest airport to Aix is Marseilles, which is linked by a frequent direct bus service.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
It is certainly feasible to add Aix in a two-week visit to central Italy. It is a bit out of your way, in that you will have to spend a day traveling from there to your Italian destinations.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32813 posts
I don't know, Serene, I had always wanted to see Aix and this year on our regular driving trip to Monaco and Venice we arranged to stop in Troyes and Aix. We absolutely love the Côte d'Azur and Provence. We weren't sure about the Aix we found. I guess I may have expected Baden Baden in Provence and we got what appeared to be one street in a nice enough town. To us it was neither Provence nor the Côte d'Azur, nor anything like Baden Baden. I'm sure YMMV but we won't make an effort to get there again soon. There was nothing particularly wrong - it just didn't ring our bells.