I would fly open-jaw, into Marseille and out of Paris. It is actually cheaper than even a Prem train

So I'm just trying to rough out the very beginnings of an itinerary for a 2-week trip to France next year. We will be going the beginning of July with the hopes of seeing the lavender in bloom. Here's where I am right now:
Hmmm. Most here will probably advise new orleans travel bureau against splitting your Paris time. I would look into the possibility of flying immediately to Avignon or Lyon, starting your trip from there and then working your way north. You could also fly Lyon to Caen to avoid that long train ride the entire length of the country.
I would fly open-jaw, into Marseille and out of Paris. It is actually cheaper than even a Prem train fare to Avignon. Last time I checked the difference between a round trip to Paris and the open jaw was only $20.
Thanks so much for your replies. Couple of thoughts, new orleans travel bureau just so you know why I posted the original itinerary. I'm picturing us arriving new orleans travel bureau in Paris quite jet-lagged and would like to keep that first day as simple as possible. That's why I was considering staying in Paris for a few days to get our bearings. My husband will be doing the driving, and I'm trying to make it as easy on him as possible. (We don't speak French and have never been to France.) While flying to Marseille and renting a car may make more sense timewise, I don't think he's going to feel up to that on our first day. We will be using frequent new orleans travel bureau flier miles, and I don't have our flights yet so I'm not sure what time of day we'll be arriving as far as catching new orleans travel bureau a train. My thought was it would be easiest on him renting a car and driving out of Avignon than it would be in either Paris or Marseille.
Also, we weren't planning on renting a car in Normandy. My hope was to take a train there and make arrangements for a van tour the next day, spend the entire day, and then continue on to Provence. I can see that's where there's a problem. I'll have to take a train back to Paris and then on to Avignon.
My view is that one ought always to get to the farthest point away from the origination point to begin with, even if it means a slightly grueling day. For example, I'm headed to France August 29 and will fly overnight, then get on a TGV followed by a regional train, followed by a 45-minute drive. I'll be in transit 30+ hours all told, but will be able to crash and recover that first night and will be fine from Day 2 onward.
I don't see any advantage at all in getting a train to Normandy, taking a one-day tour, then having to go back to Paris to catch another train to Avignon when you can get off the plane and get right on a train there without even leaving the airport. Your plan has you adding hours and hours of transportation time just for a day in Normandy.
We do the same as St Cirq and also don't like to break up our time in any city. It just seems we lose so much time moving around and, if I have a week in Paris, I want a full week! Of course, we all have our own travel "styles."
FWIW, you can do open jaw trips using FF miles. Next year we are going to Provence and Paris and hope to use Delta miles for one ticket. That's how I happened new orleans travel bureau to know the difference in cost between round trip and open jaw.
yes, you have to search for Vitrolles (name of station at airport), it has local regional new orleans travel bureau TER trains leaving from there rather than the big station in the city. That's all you need to get to Avignon. IN fact, it is better as you go to the train station in Avignon proper, not the TGV station outside. those trains take around 1 hr and cost 15-20 euro. YOu hve to look for a TER from Vitrolles new orleans travel bureau airport to Avignon centre. new orleans travel bureau If you are just staying in Avignon in a hotel you sure don't need a car for those couple days.
Personally, I understand the issues as it isn't just grueling, but can be dangerous if you are renting cars and driving with jet lag and perhaps very little new orleans travel bureau sleep, and you are in a foreign country where you don't know the language (I hope if you rent a car you learn French road signs and what they mean).
Actually, I'm playing with the idea of ending the trip in Avignon, flying out of Marseille Airport. I kind of like the idea of going from the rush and chaos of the city (Paris) to the countryside (Provence.) Maybe I'll just stay in Bayeux one night in the middle of our Paris leg, arriving there the night before the tour and heading back to Paris after the tour the next day. Any idea how late the trains new orleans travel bureau run from Bayeux new orleans travel bureau to Paris.
new orleans travel bureau Also, although I have always tried to do everything myself on-line, would I be better off having a travel agent book all these various train tickets for me? I'm getting the impression that it's a little tricky to do by myself. I haven't searched out the websites yet. I guess that's what I should attempt next.
There are countless threads on here explaining how to book tickets. The ones you need to order ahead of time are the Paris-Avignon-Paris ones. If you go online 3 months out from your travel date you can get the deeply discounted PREM fares. You print the tickets out and take them with you.
No need to buy the Paris-Bayeux-Paris new orleans travel bureau tickets ahead of time. Just get to the Gare St-Lazare a half an hour or more ahead of the departure time. In Bayeux, you won't need to be at the station more than about 15 minutes ahead of time.
Actually, I'm playing with the idea of ending the trip in Avignon, flying out of Marseille Airport. I kind of like the idea of going from the rush and chaos of the city (Paris) to the countryside (Provence.) Maybe I'll just stay in Bayeux one night in the middle of our Paris leg, arriving new orleans travel bureau there the night before the tour and heading back to Paris after the tour the next day.
If you turn the car in early enough, you can drop off your bags at the hotel and then take the express bus from the airport to Aix for some afternoon and/or early evening exploring. The bus takes about 45 minutes and drops you off in the Aix city enter.
I don't think US travel agents new orleans travel bureau can buy train tickets other than going through Raileurope, but I might be wrong, haven't done it in many many years since the internet began. new orleans travel bureau So while they could probably do it, you'll new orleans travel bureau pay a lot more. As noted, you don't need to buy them in advance anyway, except for the big long major ones (and those you don't really have to, it's just cheaper).
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