Since a number of cruises begin or end in Monte Carlo, and maybe a few stop in Marseilles, I wanted to pass along some information about touring in Provence. My husband and I are scheduled to board the Voyager on October 22 (when the 007 group disembarks). We decided to do a pre-cruise of a few days in Provence visiting the smaller towns, markets and historic sites.

We have booked a private tour guide who has put together a lovely three-day itinerary for us. Her name is Catherine, and her web site is www.provence-travel.com. She is located in Aix-en-Provence (recommended by several on this board when I first was researching Provence -- thanks!). Obviously we haven't done the touring yet so I can't give first-hand information, but Catherine has been very helpful and responsive in our planning, including with special requests, so I have high hopes of a pleasant time with her as our guide.

An airline tip for anyone who might decide to do touring with Catherine, or presumably any guide based in southern Provence: Because we were boarding the ship in Monte Carlo, we first assumed we would fly into Nice and meet Catherine at the airport there. After discussion with her, it became clear her drive to Nice and back to southern Provence was an expensive portion of the touring. Therefore, we arranged our flight into Marseilles, which is only about 20 km from Aix, rather than Nice, and Catherine will meet us at the Marseille airport. It improved the price considerably and allowed more touring time as opposed to "road" time. I assume the same would be true in reverse for anyone doing a post-cruise in Provence, i.e., flying home from Marseille rather than Nice. At the end of our touring with Catherine, she will transport us to the ship in Monte Carlo on embarkation day, after some time that morning at the Aix weekly market.

By the way, I'm sure a number of airlines fly to Marseille, although I'm not sure which ones. We wanted to use American Airlines frequent flyer miles overseas, which for us meant either Paris or London Gatwick (the London airport used for direct flights from Dallas). We ended up with London, and from Gatwick a British no-frills airline called Easyjet flies to Marseilles. The Easyjet fare from Gatwick to Marseilles was less than $100 for both of us.

Just wanted to pass this along in case it could be useful to any France-bound travelers. Hope so!

Great info. You will love Provence. If you need a recommendation for a lovely inn, do let me know.

We've booked Tania of ProvenceTours out of Marseilles, and I'm really excited! I bought Rick Steves' book on Provence so I can familiarize myself with the area, and we've got quite a nice tour planned.

That tour happens to fall on Mothers Day, and I'll be traveling with my mother, so I'm hoping we'll have a really nice lunch at some lovely place where we can make it feel special.

I'll report back how our tour goes. :)

Sedona, we're staying in Aix-en-Provence for our three nights in Provence, since that is where our guide is based. Is the inn you like in Aix by any chance?

LeeAnne, I'll be waiting to hear about your touring. Do let me know of any special recommendations. How fantastic to be touring with your mother on Mother's Day!

We will be using her for Nimes and Arles , May 12th. when Silver Shadow docks in Marseilles. I will include the tour in my reports from the ship via KarenS

Priscilla, we have booked with Christine as well for our cruise in May. She is meeting us at the ship in Marseille and taking us to Aix-en-Provence and several places in the Luberon region as well as to a few wineries.

We are also using Aadvantage miles on our trip. You do know that you can fly nonstop on American to Gatwick and transfer to British Airways to Marseille for the same airmiles without paying any additional money, right? The other thing to worry about is the weight restrictions on luggage on Easyjet. The amount of money that the luggage could cost, could be horrendous!!! We looked at that before, because we disembark in Nice and thought of maybe flying into Paris for a post cruise stay. The flight was cheap, but he cost of the luggage was going to cost us two times more than the actual flight. You might want to check into it.

Here is the flight info for the front end.

AMERICAN AIRLINES
50 DFW
Dallas/ Fort Worth 10/18/2005 05:05 PM LGW
London 10/19/2005 08:00 AM

Connect to:
AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS 6692 LGW
London 10/19/2005 11:55 AM MRS
Marseille 10/19/2005 02:50 PM

Hope this helps and that I'm not meddling too much. Just trying to help.

Here is the flight info for the front end.

AMERICAN AIRLINES
50 DFW
Dallas/ Fort Worth 10/18/2005 05:05 PM LGW
London 10/19/2005 08:00 AM

Connect to:
AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS 6692 LGW
London 10/19/2005 11:55 AM MRS
Marseille 10/19/2005 02:50 PM

Hope this helps and that I'm not meddling too much. Just trying to help.

Here is the flight info for the front end.

AMERICAN AIRLINES
50 DFW
Dallas/ Fort Worth 10/18/2005 05:05 PM LGW
London 10/19/2005 08:00 AM

Connect to:
AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS 6692 LGW
London 10/19/2005 11:55 AM MRS
Marseille 10/19/2005 02:50 PM

Hope this helps and that I'm not meddling too much. Just trying to help.

Wow, Don. Thanks so much! When I talked with American before, I didn't get that information, but maybe I didn't ask the right questions. Now, armed with your information, I will see what I can do. I'll report back. Thanks again!

Priscilla,

Thanks for sharing that info on Provence tours. We will be there the last week of April with a rental car. I may check out what tours they offer and that may be an idea for a day for us. We have never hired a guide before, but it sounds like a great idea.

No problem Priscilla. Good luck. I hope it works out for you. You can also do the same on the return. British Airways from Athens to LHR and either transfer to Gatwick and do the non stop to Dallas on AA or fly AA out of Heathrow and connect somewhere here in the states to Dallas. I'll try not to post this one three times. I must have been tired last night.

Priscilla, No. The inn we loved was in Saint Remy. We stayed in Aix, though, at a Chateau (Chateau de la Pioline). It was interesting, but not great as it was in dire need of repair. The service was average. The food and grounds were nice, but it was away from everything and you needed a car and to deal with parking in Aix (which is a nuisance).

I liked Aix for a day or 2 max, but it is far from other towns. I would prefer to stay in Antibes or Nice or further into Provence in St. Remy, Avignon, or one of the hill towns. Do use Aix as a central spot to visit the rest of Provence. Take the train to Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo (2 hours), so you don't get into too much traffic. You can rent a car and get to the other areas of Provence within about 90 minutes. It is central within Central France, but you have to drive a bit to see any of the other areas in Sthn. France.

Highlights of Aix for us were the wonderful market...be in Aix for this and take the Cezanne walk and visit his studio. Shopping is average. I preferred other towns for purchases. Buy your things at the market. Aix is not as pretty as other areas of Provence. It has a nice boulevard, but you will miss a lot of the Provence flavor if you don't travel to the other areas.

Note: In Aix, supposedlym the Hotel Le Pigonnet is very nice.

The Luberon area is lovely and the small towns delightful. All food is good everywhere. Nimes, St. Remy and Avignon are great. There are wonderful Roman ruins. Make sure you try Pastis while sitting in a small hill town. I enjoyed the lavendar museum. Doug thought it was just ok. If you have time, try REAL Marseilles boullabaise. The fish soup is excellent. We also enjoyed the Calmarges area. Highlights were:

Picasso Museum in Antibes
Glass Blowing demonstration in Biot
Roman history in Nimes and St. Remy
Popes Palace in Avignon
Wine tasting and shopping and scenery in Les Baux
former studio of Paul Cezanne in Aix
Arles is fun to walk around
town of Gordes..lovely

We were in Provence a few years ago. Stayed in a lovely small hotel there, Le Pigonnet,(in Aix) we had a rental car though left if parked at hotel while there, easy walk to The Blvd and Old Town. We also stayed in a little village in the Luberon, Mazan, our accomodations were in a Mas(farmhouse)lovely, very nice breakfast's and dinners. The highlight of our visit to Southern France was our stay in Eze at the Hotel Chevre d'Or, overlooking Cap Ferrat. Everything there was perfection!!I would return in a second!! Very close to Monte Carlo. AuRevoir, Jeanine

Priscilla,

I get an all French website. Is there an English version? I don't see a way to convert to English. Merci.

Ginny,

How odd. When I click on the link in my message above, I get just a French page that doesn't seem to be her information at all. But when I type www.provence-travel.com into my browser window, I get the English site. Let me know if typing the address from scratch helps.

Sedona, thanks so much for all the information. I'll begin checking out your recommendations. It is so valuable to have information from someone like you who has spent significant time in an area. Thanks again!

Don't miss Saint Paul de vence if you are going.. wonderful !

Priscilla,

Typing the name works! Thanks!

You guys are getting me even more excited! Just another month until I'm there...

Our tour with Tania will include Avignon, Les Baux de Provence, & Aix en Provence, among other things.

LeeAnne,

Les Baux is a wonderful town, high on a hill with great artists and shops. We took a Virtuoso tour here and had a great lunch in a restaurant near by. Will the lavender be in bloom? You can buy it reasonably in Les Baux. I bought lots to bring back as gifts.

lAVENDER IS IN BLOOM IN SUMMER.

Catherine is booked for May 12th. when we are in marseilles. Any other tour people. We are looking to go to Nimes and Arles, having been to Aix twice.

Neville, did you try Tania?

http://provencetours.free.fr/

I've heard nothing but wonderful things about her.

Also great is Louisette at
Http://www.taxidurand.com

Also great is Louisette who owns Taxi Durand
Http://www.taxidurand.com
we have used her for touring.

Also great is Louisette who owns Taxi Durand
Http://www.taxidurand.com
we have used her for touring.

sorry 'bout all those same posts.. I don't know what happened

Good luck, Neville. Sorry to hear that Catherine is booked for your day in Provence, but it sounds as if you have a couple of other good recommendations. Keep us posted on what works out for you.