How to get there?
Marseille’s airport is 15 miles north of the city. British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France fly there from Singapore (from US$1,138), while Air France flies there from Kuala Lumpur (from US$860).
Marseille’s airport is 15 miles north of the city. British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France fly there from Singapore (from US$1,138), while Air France flies there from Kuala Lumpur (from US$860).
How to get around?
A car is essential for four of the five spots covered in this exciting trip; in hectic Marseille, offload it fast (there are good underground car parks in the revamped port just down the hill from Le Panier). All the major car-hire companies have outlets at Marseille airport; consider an advance booking in the busier months. Have plenty of loose change ready for the péages, or tolls, on the major autoroutes, and keep your wits about you when driving in smaller villages, where passengers may feel the need to breathe in to access some of the narrower lanes.
How long to stay?
Like a quality Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Provence is not to be rushed. Life here often seems to be squeezed in around meals rather than vice versa. Given the short flight and transfer times, a 10-night break will guarantee you the best part of two full days and nights in each location. With an extra day or two, consider reversing the order and ending with an extended period in and around Les Calanques and the charming port of Cassis.
What to budget?
As is often the case in Provence, much comes down to food. You’ll eat very well – and cheaply – sourcing from bakeries and the ubiquitous town and village markets. But if you want to indulge in at least one haute-cuisine blowout, you’ll need to factor in US$125 or more a head for dinner at a celebrated restaurant such as double-Michelinstarred L’Atelier in Arles (rabanel. com) or Restaurant Pierre Reboul in Aix-en-Provence (restaurant-pierrereboul.com). On the plus side, accommodation does not command quite the premium it does further east along the ritzier Côte d’Azur. Rooms in a good-quality rustic hotel can be picked up for around US$125, while chambres d’hôtes, bed and breakfast and vacation rentals – offer additional savings.
When to go?
The mild climate makes Provence a pleasure much of the year. July and August can be extremely busy, with coastal roads and hilltop towns prone to congestion. The shoulder seasons, beginning in April and extending deep into October, are a particular joy, whether for the spring flowers of May, the flowering of the region’s signature lavender in June, or the autumn light and still-mild air and sea temperatures of September and October.
Who can help?
Hotels, flights and hire car can all be booked independently with limited hassle. Plenty of operators, such as Discover Provence, offer tours to the region, many focusing on special interests such as wine, hiking, bird watching, cycling or horse riding.