Marseille - France's 2nd Largest City - IgoUgo Marseille Journal

Old Port (Vieux Port)

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Hub of Tourism in Marseille"

Old Port (Vieux Port) Seen from Fort St. Nicolas Photo - Old Port (Vieux Port), Marseille, France

Quote:

The Old Port (Vieux Port) could not have been named any better considering it was established by the Greeks in 6oo B.C.. Today, it is the major tourist district of Marseille. People and traffic constantly flow through the area. The waters are crowded with sailboats, yachts, and tour boats. Each morning, fishermen bring their catches into port and sell them on the docks. The port is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, a theater, souvenir shops, ancient ruins, and more. Popular souvenirs are santons (figurines for nativity scenes) and soap from one of the many soap shops. Our first stop was the tourism office located just across the street from the port. The lady there was very ...Read More

The Old Port (Vieux Port) could not have been named any better considering it was established by the Greeks in 6oo B.C.. Today, it is the major tourist district of Marseille. People and traffic constantly flow through the area. The waters are crowded with sailboats, yachts, and tour boats. Each morning, fishermen bring their catches into port and sell them on the docks. The port is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, a theater, souvenir shops, ancient ruins, and more. Popular souvenirs are santons (figurines for nativity scenes) and soap from one of the many soap shops.

Our first stop was the tourism office located just across the street from the port. The lady there was very helpful. She gave us a map, a stack of brochures, and accurate advice about the best times for avoiding crowds at tourist attractions. I also picked up our Marseille City Passes. I had reserved the 2-day version online before the trip. This pass costs 29 euros (approximately $40) per person and gives visitors to the city free public transportation (bus, metro, and tramway), free tours, free admission to all the city's museums, and free tastings, as well as discounts to restaurants, stores, and certain tours. Despite our best efforts, we did not have enough time to use all of the offers.

We spent most of our time in Marseille at the Old Port. Our boat tours and city tour left from there. When not on these excursions we explored the shops in the area, ate at the restaurants, or just wandered. The surrounding streets are just as interesting. The most famous of these is the Canebiere. It begins just across the street from the Old Port and stretches several blocks. The street used to be a famous hangout for sailors from around the world. Songs have been written about the Canebiere. Today, the Canebiere and the adjacent streets contain stores, restaurants, outdoor markets, night clubs, and even a merry-go-round.

Marseille is a diverse city. We saw people wearing the clothing of many different religious and ethnic affiliations. Regular ferries travel between Marseille and North African ports in Tunisia and Algeria. Additionally, Marseille is a port of call on some Mediterranean cruise itineraries.

Other than at our hotel or at a tour ticket window, we did not encounter many people who could speak English. This was in contrast to a trip to Paris we did several years ago where I was surprised that most of the people we encountered were fluent in English in addition to their native language. Inspired by my high school French teacher long ago, I have continued to take at least one adult education French class annually over the years. While I enjoyed the numerous opportunities presented by this Marseille trip to communicate in the language, I always had my pocket French dictionary handy at mealtime to help decipher some of the ingredients. An English menu is rare in this part of France.

Towards the mouth of the port is Fort St. Nicolas. Louis XIV ordered the construction of this fortress in the mid-1600's. From the top of the fort, we got a great view of the Old Port in addition to heat relief in the form of a refreshing breeze. The daytime temperature during our late May stay in Marseille was typically in the mid 80's and humid.

In our hunt for a unique souvenir, we stopped by Four des Navettes which is not far from Fort St. Nicolas. Since 1781, this bakery has specialized in producing an orange-flower biscuit called a navette. I was hoping to purchase a box of them to bring home as a souvenir but after tasting one, I changed my mind. For me, it was like chewing a stale biscuit.

Our wandering led us about 15 minutes beyond Fort St. Nicolas and into the Prado section of the city. It was here we came across Catalans Beach (Plage des Catalans). What was interesting to me about this small, crowded beach is that it is located at the edge of the hustle and bustle of the city. We arrived near closing and were shocked by the amount of litter left behind by the beachgoers.

In addition to all there is to see at the Old Port, there is much to taste. We dined at a variety of restaurants ranging from fast food to sit-down meals. Seafood is fresh and abundant. It was at an Old Port restaurant that we tried Marseille’s signature dish - bouillabaisse (a mildly spicy seafood soup).

I believe a Marseille sightseeing itinerary should dedicate at least a few hours to exploring the Old Port and its side streets. My suggestion is to be careful at night. The city has a rat problem. We saw several of these rodents dash between trash cans and building crevices during our walk back to the hotel each evening.
Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Old Port (Vieux Port)
34 quai du port
Marseille, Provence
33 04 91 13 89 0

Cheer!
Flag

Best Western La Joliette

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Suited Our Tourist Agenda"

Best Western La Joliette Hotel Photo - Best Western La Joliette, Marseille, France

Quote:

We only had two weeks to plan the vacation portion of our trip to Marseille. As a result, we were not able to find a hotel in the tourist district that had vacancy for our entire stay. We thought we were going to have to string together stays at different hotels each night to keep us in the vicinity of the Old Port (Vieux Port). About a week before the trip, another hotel search revealed two consecutive nights at the Best Western La Joliette had become available. This was preferable to changing hotels each day so we booked it.The hotel is not situated at the Old Port proper but there are several options for getting there. We could walk there in 10 to 15 minutes. If we did not want to walk...Read More

We only had two weeks to plan the vacation portion of our trip to Marseille. As a result, we were not able to find a hotel in the tourist district that had vacancy for our entire stay. We thought we were going to have to string together stays at different hotels each night to keep us in the vicinity of the Old Port (Vieux Port). About a week before the trip, another hotel search revealed two consecutive nights at the Best Western La Joliette had become available. This was preferable to changing hotels each day so we booked it.

The hotel is not situated at the Old Port proper but there are several options for getting there. We could walk there in 10 to 15 minutes. If we did not want to walk, we could take the tramway which stops one block over from the hotel or we could take the metro at the La Joliette station which is a half block from the hotel. I think I even saw a bus stop nearby. Our Marseille City Passes took care of the cost of public transportation in addition to tours and museum visits. We found walking to be quicker than waiting for the tramway or waiting for the two metros required to get to the Old Port from the hotel.

Our room at the Best Western La Joliette was small. The bathroom was not much bigger than the bathroom of an inside cabin of a cruise ship. Like many European hotels in which we've stayed, there were no wash cloths. There were gel soap dispensers in that shower and at the sink. Bars of exfoliating soap was also provided. Despite the size, the room was designed well enough to be functional. It had a refrigerator, a wardrobe, and a safe. The flat-screen television was mounted on the wall. All the channels were French except for CNN and the BBC. The bed was very comfortable. The staff spoke English well. They were very friendly and helpful. After 9 PM, we had to rely on them to let us in the hotel. This safety measure was appreciated until the night we arrive at 10 PM and had to wait on the dark street for several minutes for someone to unlock the door. There is a nice fitness room on the bottom floor.

We did not purchase the hotel's "American Breakfast". It was offered each morning for the equivalence of $21/person. It was not much more than a continental breakfast so we passed. Instead, we took advantage of the businesses in walking distance from the hotel such as a corner grocery store, a pastry shop, and even McDonalds at the Old Port. This kept the breakfast total for both of us under $10 per day.

To get to the hotel from the Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), we took the shuttle bus (le Navette) for 8.50 euro/person to Saint Charles Station (Gare Saint Charles). It is a 20-minute ride. Shuttles run every 20 minutes. From St. Charles Station, we took the metro to La Joliette and walked a half block to the hotel.

The only glitch we encountered during our stay at Best Western La Joliette was on the day of checkout. The elevator was no longer working. The staff was waiting for the repair person to arrive and fix the problem. In the meantime, I had to carry our luggage down the uneven steps of the spiral staircase. Fortunately, our room was only on the second floor. Other than that, I thought the Best Western La Joliette Hotel suited our tourist agenda. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Best Western La Joliette
9 Avenue Robert Schuman
Marseille, France
33 4 96 11 49 49

Cheer!
Flag

Chateau d'If

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Touring the Legendary If Castle"

If Castle (Chateau d'If) Photo - Chateau d'If, Marseille, France

Quote:

If Castle (Chateau d’If) sits on the island of If which is one of the four islands in the Frioul Island archipelago. The Frioul If Express tour boats depart the Old Port every 30 - 45 minutes for the castle. Our Marseille City Pass covered the cost of the tour. As recommended by the lady in the tourism office, we took the 9:45 AM boat to beat the afternoon crowds. It took about 20 minutes to reach the island.If Castle began as a fortress in the early 1500's under Francois I who ordered...Read More

If Castle (Chateau d’If) sits on the island of If which is one of the four islands in the Frioul Island archipelago. The Frioul If Express tour boats depart the Old Port every 30 - 45 minutes for the castle. Our Marseille City Pass covered the cost of the tour. As recommended by the lady in the tourism office, we took the 9:45 AM boat to beat the afternoon crowds. It took about 20 minutes to reach the island.

If Castle began as a fortress in the early 1500's under Francois I who ordered its construction. By the late 1600's it was being used as a prison. Alexandre Dumas wrote about the castle's most famous prisoner, José Custodio Faria, in The Count of Monte Cristo.

We spent about an hour walking through the castle on our own. The dungeon-like rooms were mostly empty. There were clips from the The Count of Monte Cristo movie playing in some rooms (French only). We encountered signage explaining the reasons people were imprisoned on the island - for example, plotting against the monarchy or being Protestant. Wealthy prisoners could actually pay a fee for the upgraded accommodations on the first floor that included luxuries such as a fireplace and windows.

We climbed the winding staircase of Saint Christophe Tower, one of the castle’s three towers. We enjoyed the view of Marseille across the light and dark blue water. In a way, the scenery kind of reminded me of viewing San Francisco from Alcatraz Island.

We boarded the boat to head back to the Old Port. The boat ride back to the Old Port made a stop at one of the other Frioul Islands. Our City Pass did not include this island so we stayed on the boat while the passengers who had paid for this stop were let off. People come here for the beach, hiking, nature reserves, sailing, and other outdoor activities.

Seeing Marseille from the water is the other highlight of this boat tour. Buildings such as Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica situated high above the city is magnificent. My favorite sight was the eye-catching Cathédrale de la Major situated to the left as we entered the port.

We found the If Island tour to be a nice way to spend a couple of hours in Marseille. Walking through the dungeon-like rooms definitely helps you image what hardships a person must have endured while imprisoned on the island. Finally, the boat tour provides a more pleasant view of the Marseille, which unfortunately is not always so scenic when walking its streets.
Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Chateau d'If
Quai Des Belges
Marseille, Provence 13001
33 04 91 59 02 3

Cheer!
Flag

Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Amazing Overlooks and Awesome Basilica"

Marseille Seen from Notre Dame de la Garde Photo - Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseille, France

Quote:

Notre Dame de la Garde is Marseille’s iconic basilica. It is the highest point in the city. Crowning this magnificent basilica is a golden statue of Mary holding Baby Jesus. The statue is known as "The Good Mother" (La Bonne Mère). The church is especially spectacular at night when it is all lit up. We could look up and see this spectacle at nighttime as we were walking back to our hotel or dining outdoors.For our visit to Notre Dame de la Garde, we arrived via the tourist train (Le Petit Train). The basilica began as a chapel in the 13th century, was converted to a fortress by the 16th century, and was well on its way to becoming the basilica of today by the 19th century.The m...Read More

Notre Dame de la Garde is Marseille’s iconic basilica. It is the highest point in the city. Crowning this magnificent basilica is a golden statue of Mary holding Baby Jesus. The statue is known as "The Good Mother" (La Bonne Mère). The church is especially spectacular at night when it is all lit up. We could look up and see this spectacle at nighttime as we were walking back to our hotel or dining outdoors.

For our visit to Notre Dame de la Garde, we arrived via the tourist train (Le Petit Train). The basilica began as a chapel in the 13th century, was converted to a fortress by the 16th century, and was well on its way to becoming the basilica of today by the 19th century.

The most striking experience of our visit was when we first got off the tourist train. We could look down on the city in all directions. Almost all the buildings had orange clay rooftops. We could look out towards the sea and see the Frioul Islands. It was fascinating and we hadn’t really reached the basilica yet. To do this, we needed to climb several sets of stairs. It was not until my wife and I were at the entrance of the church that I overheard the first American accent I had heard since arriving in Marseille. A lady was telling someone that she took the elevator. By the way, for those who really want a workout, you can walk to the basilica from the Old Port. Just realize it is going to be a steep uphill walk given Notre Dame de la Garde is situated 531 feet above the city.

We entered Notre Dame and walked around its awe-inspiring sanctuary. Everyone was expected to be quiet out of respect for those who were praying and meditating. Even though visitors kept their voices to a whisper, the echoing sound of tennis shoes squeaking along the floor seemed almost deafening.

My wife and I took some time to walk through the crypt below the sanctuary. Although this sounds creepy, it really wasn’t. It still looked like the inside of a church. The tombs of clergy are cemented into the walls and floors and covered by plaques.

Before heading to the parking lot to wait for the tourist train, we took a look in the souvenir shop. My wife bought me a French bible that comes with a CD. It should help in my efforts to become multilingual. Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica was my favorite sightseeing experience in Marseille.
Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde
Rue Fort-du-Sanctuaire
Marseille, Provence 13281
+33 4 91 13 40 8

Cheer!
Flag

Les Petits Trains de Marseille

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Marseille City Tour"

Le Petit Train City Tour Photo - Les Petits Trains de Marseille, Marseille, France

Quote:

Marseille offers tours of the city via a tourist train (Le Petit Train). The train does not actually run on a track. It has tires and rides the same streets as the cars, trucks, and buses. Our Marseille City Pass allowed us to choose one of the train’s two tour circuits: an hour Old Town tour which travels the narrow streets of the Panier District and makes a stop at the famous Vieille Charité hospital or an hour fifteen-minute city tour that includes a stop at the city’s iconic hilltop basilica, Notre...Read More

Marseille offers tours of the city via a tourist train (Le Petit Train). The train does not actually run on a track. It has tires and rides the same streets as the cars, trucks, and buses. Our Marseille City Pass allowed us to choose one of the train’s two tour circuits: an hour Old Town tour which travels the narrow streets of the Panier District and makes a stop at the famous Vieille Charité hospital or an hour fifteen-minute city tour that includes a stop at the city’s iconic hilltop basilica, Notre Dame de la Garde. We chose the latter.

The train departs from the Old Port. The operators make sure to fill every available seat before leaving. We were crammed as many as four to a row on this warm humid day. The tour was narrated via a recording in French, English, German, and Spanish. We heard many facts and anecdotes about Marseille as we made our way through the congested streets. We passed places such as Abbaye Saint Victor where Christians had been gathering since the 3rd century to visit the tomb of a martyr. We rode along the Corniche, a cliff road, before making way to Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica.

The train let everyone off at Notre Dame de la Garde where we were given as much time as we wanted to explore the magnificent basilica. Tourist trains arrive at the basilica every 30 minutes or so to drop-off and collect tourists. My wife and I spent about an hour at the basilica and then continued the train tour back to the Old Port. Some of the roads we traveled had such a steep decline it reminded me of being on a rollercoaster. We heard more interesting commentary and statistics about the city as we traveled along. We even listened to a song about le Canebiere, the city’s most famous avenue.

We were satisfied with the Petit Train. We had originally faced a dilemma when trying to choose a city tour. We had considered doing the hop-on hop-off bus. It covers both of the circuits of the Petit Train and makes 13 stops along the course. Our Marseille City Passes would have given us a 10% discount. Our passes covered the full cost of the Petit Train but only for one of the two circuits. The lady at the tourism office suggested that if we wanted to do the hop-on hop-off bus in addition to the Petit Train that we catch the last hop-on hop-off bus of the day and ride the complete circuit without getting off. She said the price of the bus would be discounted at that time of the day and we‘d still be able to listen to the commentary. We never got around to doing this option.
Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Les Petits Trains de Marseille
Old Port
Marseille, France
04 91 25 24 69

Cheer!
Flag

La Cuisine au Beurre

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Our Bouillabaisse in Marseille Experience"

Trying Bouillabaisse - Marseille's Signature Dish Photo - La Cuisine au Beurre,

Quote:

Being a port city, it is no surprise that seafood is abundant on menus in Marseille. Each morning fishermen sell their catches at the docks of the Old Port to restaurants and other patrons. Marseille’s signature dish is a mildly spicy seafood soup called bouillabaisse (pronounced boo-ya-bess). I got the impression that visiting Marseille and not having a bowl of bouillabaisse is like visiting Venice and not doing a gondola ride. Therefore, Thursday night, my wife and I perused the posted menus of the Old Port restaurants trying to decide where we would have our ‘bouillabaisse in Marseille’ experience.We soon discovered this was probably going to be the most expensive bowl of soup we...Read More

Being a port city, it is no surprise that seafood is abundant on menus in Marseille. Each morning fishermen sell their catches at the docks of the Old Port to restaurants and other patrons. Marseille’s signature dish is a mildly spicy seafood soup called bouillabaisse (pronounced boo-ya-bess). I got the impression that visiting Marseille and not having a bowl of bouillabaisse is like visiting Venice and not doing a gondola ride. Therefore, Thursday night, my wife and I perused the posted menus of the Old Port restaurants trying to decide where we would have our ‘bouillabaisse in Marseille’ experience.

We soon discovered this was probably going to be the most expensive bowl of soup we’ve ever had. Most of the restaurants were offering bouillabaisse at the equivalence of $50 - $70 per person! The menus made sure to mention sharing is not allowed. We kept walking until we came across a restaurant offering this dish for the equivalence of $35. Bingo! La Cuisine au Beurre Restaurant became our dining venue for the evening.

Our waitress was very personable. I found this to be the case for all the wait staff we encountered in Marseille. This particular young lady was fluent in English. Although, I enjoyed the opportunities to practice communicating in French, I was kind of relieved I did not have to torture another waiter with my broken French.

Our waitress took the time to explain how to eat bouillabaisse. She brought a basket of hard bread chips, a bowl of broth, a plate of seafood with vegetables, and a side of rouille. Rouille is an orange garlicky mayonnaise. It was disgusting so I left it alone. She explained I was supposed to put all the ingredients into the bowl of broth. However, this was not as simple as it sounds. One thing I had to get used to in Marseille is that the seafood is cooked whole and served whole. My seafood plate had three fish and a lobster. I had to cut the heads and tails off the fish and then slice the meat from the bones. I had to crack the lobster shell to retrieve its meat. I had to cut up the baked potatoes. By the time I finished all this and added it to the broth, my soup was cold. I had one of the waiters reheat it for me. My wife and I wondered if we would have had to do all this preparation at one of the more expensive restaurants. Nonetheless, I thought the bouillabaisse was good but I don't think I would go out of my way to order it again - at least not for $35. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

La Cuisine au Beurre
72 Quai du Port
Marseille, Provence 13002
04 91 90 95 29

Cheer!
Flag

Outdoor Dining Hazards

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

Most of the dining in the vicinity of the Old Port (Vieux Port) is outdoors. With the mild evening air, the city lights, and sight of the boats bobbing in the harbor, dinner can be one of the most enchanting Marseille experiences. On the other hand, outdoor dining in Marseille is not without challenges. Smoking is still allowed in public in France. Chances are good that someone is going to light up at a table near you.We were made aware of one of the other hazards of eating dinner outside in Marseille - more so after dark. While we were waiting for the waiter to bring our food my wife screamed and almost kicked our table over. I looked up to see what the problem was and caught the glimpse ...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Croisieres Marseille Calanques tour boats

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Viewing Cliffs and Secluded Beaches"

Boat Tour of the Calanques Photo - Croisieres Marseille Calanques tour boats , Marseille, France

Quote:

The Calanques (pronounced ka-lunk) are a series of coves nestled along the coast. They are often surrounded by tall rocky cliffs. The Croisieres Marseille Calanques tour boats depart from the Old Port and take visitors on a 1-hour, 2.5-hour, or 3.5-hour tour to see these scenic hideaways. The difference between these excursion is basically the number of calanques you see. Our Marseille City Pass gave us a 10% discount on the price of the 3.5-hour tour. We arrived a...Read More

The Calanques (pronounced ka-lunk) are a series of coves nestled along the coast. They are often surrounded by tall rocky cliffs. The Croisieres Marseille Calanques tour boats depart from the Old Port and take visitors on a 1-hour, 2.5-hour, or 3.5-hour tour to see these scenic hideaways. The difference between these excursion is basically the number of calanques you see. Our Marseille City Pass gave us a 10% discount on the price of the 3.5-hour tour.

We arrived at the dock about 15 minutes before boarding time but had to wait around for about 45 minutes because the morning tour had not yet returned. We finally boarded the boat and my wife and I went straight for one of the tables inside. It was a breezy, overcast day and we knew it could turn chilly if we were sitting in any of the outside seats of the boat. Sure enough, we began our journey and everyone in the outside seating started putting on their jacket if they had one. The water got rough as we left the Old Port. The people seated outside at the bow were getting splashed. This sent them scrambling for the interior. I saw one unfortunate girl vomiting over the side of the boat and we were only 45 minutes into this 3.5-hour trip. Fortunately, the waters soon calmed, the sun came out, and it was smooth sailing for the rest of the tour.

We sailed along admiring the tall rocky cliffs at the shore. Occasionally, we saw rock climbers and hikers. A guide narrated the entire journey (including sites in the Old Port) over the PA. The tour is offered in French only. My wife and I were given an English version brochure when we bought our tickets. It described the calanques we’d be visiting. It told of old fishing villages, sailor shrines containing crosses, prehistoric cave discoveries, and many geological statistics. I understood enough of the live French commentary on the boat to realize the brochure we were given lacked a lot of the information the commentator was providing. This was not a major concern since the real reason we were there was to look at the grand scenery. No commentary was needed for that.

During the course of the trip, our boat traveled in and out of 12 calanques. The map posted inside the boat was helpful when trying to follow English pamphlet we were given. We saw people enjoying the secluded beaches. It was a mystery to me as to how they actually got there given the beaches were surrounded by steep cliffs. The boat turned around at the town of Cassis and made the journey back to the Old Port which, by the way, happens to be the largest calanque. I thought this tour was a relaxing way to view some of the dramatic coastline and secluded beaches of Southern France.
Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Croisieres Marseille Calanques tour boats
Kiosk At The Marina
Cassis, France

Cheer!
Flag

Best Western Marseille Aeroport

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Airport Convenience but Issues with Nighttime Staff"

Best Western Aeroport Hotel Photo - Best Western Marseille Aeroport, Marseille, France

Quote:

This Best Western Aeroport hotel is convenient for those have an early flight out of Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). We had booked two nights at this hotel because we could find no weekend vacancies near the Old Port when we began reserving our trip 2-weeks prior. Therefore, we had to check out of our downtown hotel Friday and take the shuttle (le Navette) from Saint Charles Station out to the airport. Our arrival at the Best Western Aeroport hotel did not go as smoothly as we had hoped. The hotel has courtesy phones located in the airport for passengers to call for the hotel’s complimentary shuttle. We called several times but got no answer. I could see the hotel from the airport and it...Read More

This Best Western Aeroport hotel is convenient for those have an early flight out of Marseille Provence Airport (MRS). We had booked two nights at this hotel because we could find no weekend vacancies near the Old Port when we began reserving our trip 2-weeks prior. Therefore, we had to check out of our downtown hotel Friday and take the shuttle (le Navette) from Saint Charles Station out to the airport.

Our arrival at the Best Western Aeroport hotel did not go as smoothly as we had hoped. The hotel has courtesy phones located in the airport for passengers to call for the hotel’s complimentary shuttle. We called several times but got no answer. I could see the hotel from the airport and it did not look too far away; therefore, we walked. There was actually a pedestrian path that led through the car rental lot and across the street to the Best Western. It took us about 10 minutes to make this trip with our luggage. We told the man at the front desk about no one answering the courtesy phone and he insisted it never rung. He told us we should have tried the phone near the Navette ticket booth.

We checked into our room and were about to unpack when I noticed we had been given a smoking room. I knew my wife had requested a non-smoking room since cigarette smoke wreaks havoc on her allergies. Guests in other rooms on the wing were smoking and we were starting to smell it. We called the front desk and were told they could not change our room because the hotel was fully booked. A man with a can of Febreeze was sent to spray our room. My wife went online to verify she had indeed requested a non-smoking room at the time of booking. We then went to the front desk to protest. The two men working the front desk gave us all types of excuses of why there was nothing they could do – everything from the hotel is full to blaming us for not specifying non-smoking when we checked in. My wife showed them our reservation and it not only indicated non-smoking but it specified "strictly non-smoking". One of the men looked in the hotel computer and then gave us a key to a non-smoking room. Hallelujah! The other man helped us change rooms. He apologized repeatedly as he did this.

The room was a typical chain hotel room. It was much bigger than the one we had at the Best Western La Joliette downtown. Like the La Joliette, this hotel had in-room wi-fi but it was sluggish the first night. The bathroom had tub with high sides. Like many European hotels in which we’ve stayed, wash clothes are not provided. There was no iron and ironing board in the room but I was able to call the front desk and request these items. The bed was really comfortable. In fact, it was so comfortable that we slept two hours longer than we had planned. We got off to a late start on our sightseeing plans the next day.

The hotel provides amenities such as a pool and fitness room. Breakfast is available each morning for 15 euros/person. There is restaurant in walking distance from the hotel. We did not use either of these dining options. Instead, we walked to the airport to eat breakfast at one of the eateries for much less than the hotel breakfast.

There is not much to see or do in the vicinity of the Best Western Aeroport. We did not rent a car. In order to do our final day of sightseeing in France, we needed to walk to the airport and buy roundtrip tickets for the Navette to St. Charles Station. From there, we bought roundtrip regional rail tickets to Avignon. In other words, expenses can start to add up if you plan to use this hotel as anything other than an airport hotel. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 26, 2011

Best Western Marseille Aeroport
Couperigne
Marseille, France 13127
33-4-42155400

Cheer!
Flag

Daytrip to Avignon

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Avignon Ramparts Photo - Avignon, France

Quote:

For our last full day in France, we decided to do a daytrip to the town of Avignon. At this point in the trip, we had moved to an airport hotel since there were no vacancies in the city that weekend. To get to Avignon, we needed to take the airport shuttle bus (le Navette) downtown to St. Charles Station and then take a train to Avignon. We bought roundtrip tickets for the regional TER train.Central Avignon consists of a quaint village with narrow streets, shops, restaurants, and small hotels. One of the major draws of the town is the Popes’ Palace (Palais des Papes). Before the Vatican became the home of popes, this large impressive medieval fortress in Avignon was the home of popes from ...Read More

For our last full day in France, we decided to do a daytrip to the town of Avignon. At this point in the trip, we had moved to an airport hotel since there were no vacancies in the city that weekend. To get to Avignon, we needed to take the airport shuttle bus (le Navette) downtown to St. Charles Station and then take a train to Avignon. We bought roundtrip tickets for the regional TER train.

Central Avignon consists of a quaint village with narrow streets, shops, restaurants, and small hotels. One of the major draws of the town is the Popes’ Palace (Palais des Papes). Before the Vatican became the home of popes, this large impressive medieval fortress in Avignon was the home of popes from the 1300’s to the 1600’s. My wife and I spent 1.5 hours doing an audio tour of the palace. Most of the rooms are empty. The audio wand commentary told about what used to take place in the rooms: receptions, accounting, meditation, dining, etc.. We learned about the business of running the Catholic Church and Europe in those days. Back then, the pope was more powerful than rulers of nations.

The other major draw in Avignon is the Bridge of Avignon (Pont d’Avignon) - also known as the Saint Benezet Bridge. Built in the 12th century, the bridge is probably best known for the nursery rhyme that was written about it. Our admission ticket package for the Popes’ Palace also included an audio tour of this famous bridge. I was a little surprised there was an audio tour. I was under the impression we’d walk on the bridge and maybe snap a few pictures to say we were there. The audio tour tells about the bridge’s legendary beginning, its history, the bell tower, the chapels below, and its destruction. There were originally 22 arches of the bridge spanning the Rhone River but today only a fraction remain. The bridge stops abruptly about half way across the river.

My wife and I finished off our lovely day in Avignon with a seafood dinner at one of the city’s quaint restaurants and then walked to the train station for our trip back to Marseille. This time, we were on an ICTER train. I thought maybe this was a step below the TER that brought us to Avignon. The seats were not as nice and there was no fancy marquee indicating the upcoming station stops. Boy was I wrong! This ICTER train crept out of the station and then took off like lightning. We rocketed along the tracks with the only sound being the occasional quick swish as we passed structures situated near the tracks. This ICTER train completed the trip back to Marseille in only an hour, whereas it had taken us two hours to get to Avignon from Marseille on the TER. What was even more fascinating to me was that the ICTER is not even France’s high speed line (the TGV). The TGV makes the trip between in Marseille and Avignon in about 30 minutes! Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Marseille Journals

Upload Photos

Write a Review

Create a Trip Plan

Make a Journal

Marseille - France's 2nd Largest City

Old Port (Vieux Port)

Best Western La Joliette

Chateau d'If

Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde

Les Petits Trains de Marseille

La Cuisine au Beurre

Outdoor Dining Hazards

Croisieres Marseille Calanques tour boats

Best Western Marseille Aeroport

Daytrip to Avignon

About the Writer

More Journals by MikeInTown

More Marseille Journals

Marseille Tips & Stories

Popular Marseille Hotels