Nice or Marseille - Which do you recommend a post cruise stay

[Alberta Quilter]

We are planning a river cruise in France, in Nov/15, ending in Avignon. If we book transfers through the cruise line, we will be taken to Marseille. If we book a post cruise hotel stay with the cruise line, we will be taken to Nice.

 

Either way, we will be staying about three days post cruise. Which city do you recommend for our post cruise stay and why?

 

We are two women, one of whom will be almost 80 at the time of travel. We have never been to France other than a day stop in Monaco where we took a tour to St Paul de Vence, the bottom of Eze, and a view point in Nice. We would love to see the market in Nice and were supposed to on the tour but there was a marathon that day and the market (and streets) was closed.

 

We were thinking of staying in Nice but feel that we can pay less on our own than through the cruise line. But how to get there from Avignon? According to Google Maps, it's a 2.5 hour drive. Are there recommended companies that provide transfers to Nice from Avignon?

 

We know very little about Marseille so any comments/recommendations about it will be welcome. Are there similar markets in Marseille?

 

I will be getting guide books to do further research. I can't book our flights until late November/early December so have lots of time to make our decision about our post cruise stay.

 

Thank you for your help!

[Hlitner]

This will be one of the easiest questions we have ever answered on the France forum. Nice, Nice Nice. Nice is nice and Marseille is not nearly as nice :). As far as getting to Nice from Avignon (we recently spent a week in Avignon) your best option is going to be the TGV trains which take approximately 3 hours on that route. You would need to use a taxi to get from Avignon (we assume you are staying in the old part of the city) to the TGV Station (it is not the same as the regular train station). Your major issue would be whether you are able to handle your own luggage since one can never depend on finding help with the French Trains (good Samaritans will often help..but there is no guarantee). Hiring a private/car driver to drive the route would be extremely expensive (we are talking many hundreds of Euros vs the approximate 50 Euro price for a train ticket.

 

Hank

[Morgans]

Nice is a more relaxing city than Marseille which can be frantic, busy and intimidating at times as well as being hilly. Nice has lovely walks along the sea and of course the market. There are some beautiful hotels such as the Negresco where you can have tea etc. Marseille is a fascinating city which can be scary in parts. If you want relaxation go for Nice or if you want a busy city experience (with visits to the Basilica or out to the Chateau d'If )go for Marseille.

[cberge]

I second and third going to Nice. It will be much nicer for you both, and I am sure you will enjoy staying there.

[Alberta Quilter]

Thanks everybody. Nice it is! We may just bite the bullet and go with the post tour through the cruise line; that way we get transferred to Nice fairly easily, even if it is via a motor coach. I'm not sure we could handle the luggage on the train; we've done that before but we were travelling with others who helped to schlep luggage.

[frenchrci]

NICE !!!!!

 

Easiest answer i never had ! :)