Late search. Need tour to quaint towns from Marseilles

[mlbcruiser]

We initially planned to rent a car from Marseilles and drive to a few pretty villages and otherwise just visit whatever we cared to within our time frame of about 6 or 7 hrs. However, renting a car at this port might be a hassle (getting to the train station or airport to pick up the car, etc.).

 

A full or half day tour would be fine. We aren't all that interested in touring Marseilles, and I think even Aix en Provence might be too large or bustling for what we are looking for (though I'm not certain of that!). Basically I am now trying to join or find a tour or driver that is very moderately priced that can take us someplace charming or quaint - maybe St. Remy or Le Baux? Or any other place that fits that bill. Esp. one that would give us time on our own. It would be great to find someplace as picturesque as St. Paul de Vence or Ez, but I don't know of any like that in that area. Clue me in if you do, please, or if you know of a moderately priced guide or tour co. (And not someone named Sylvie or Marlene. They are both booked the day we are in port. Know of any others?)

 

I MIGHT be able to rustle up a couple to a few more people to accompany us if we would have to fill a van or something to save money. If anyone has recommendations or suggestions, please advise!

 

Thanks for any replies!

[dundeene]

We loved the villages of the Luberon

Our guide was Sylvain (male)

here is my cut and pasted review from tripadvisor

 

“Sylvain knows the area and the history”

 

http://www.taxi-provencetours.com/

 

Reviewed 16 June 2012

2 people found this review helpful

We had a full day tour with Sylvain of the hilltop villages of the Luberon.

The villages were amazing and almost free of tourists! The scenery along the drive was beautiful.

Sylvain selected a reasonable priced restaurant where locals eat and we felt like true frenchmen. The food was fresh and outstanding.

We toured a medievil monastery and walked and shopped in central Aix. We never felt rushed. Sylvain did not jabber or try to entertain us with lame jokes. He was very knowledgeable and professional. He gave us important knowledge about the history of the region.

We ended with a wine tasting at a small family winery. We bought a few bottles to bring aboard the cruiseship ; )

We are returning to Marseille next year and will definitely tour with Sylvain again!

His full day prices are very reasonable too.

 

Visited April 2012

[mlbcruiser]

Thank you SO much Dundeene! I have emailed them and hope they have availability. This is JUST EXACTLY the type of itinerary/price we wanted!

I really, really hope there is availability! I appreciate that you took the time to reply and provided the link, etc.

[dundeene]

I hope you have a wonderful tour.

Sylvain is very low-key and professional. He will work hard to help you plan the tour that interests you most. He does not provide a lot of running commentary. We added a last minute wine tasting and he took us to a tiny winery that his friend owned. He does no push shopping stops which I love.

[mlbcruiser]

Unfortunately, Sylvain and taxi provence is booked. I think he is probably the same person that I think was referred to as Sylvia by someone else on our ship who has booked a tour. Or maybe I read the name wrong in their post. At any rate, I am still searching! The itinerary and particular towns on Sylvain's tour were perfect. I wonder if there will be unreserved taxis at the port that will be available for a similar drive and that we could hire for a similar price - ? Oh, well, se la vie! Thanks just the same. Someone else will probably read this and you have no doubt helped them!

[Hlitner]

Do not count on finding a taxi/guide at your port who will meet your needs. French taxis are quite expensive and most of the drivers do not speak much (or any) English (why should they?). We have been in French ports when there were few if any taxis because the local taxis were all having breakfast and coffee at a local cafe (this happened in Cannes) and could care less about the cruise passengers. Yes, you might get lucky...but its more then likely you will not be too lucky. If you want a private tour (never cheap in France) you are well advised to book in advance.

 

Hank

[mlbcruiser]

Well, we wanted a CAR, so that's why I didn't reserve anything before now. We still have a few wks. but so far I have not found anything. Again, had I known earlier, there are a few companies out there but we would need about 8 passengers to get the price managable, and most people on our thread have tours or are going w/a ship's tour (definitely too overpriced!). Having to go to the train station or airport to p/up a car seems a bit much. We may end up doing that in the end, though. Meanwhile I will try to keep searching when I get the time.

Thanks for the input!

[Hlitner]

Airport? Not even a question since the airport is quite a few miles outside of town. To rent a car you would simply go into town (there are shuttles or taxis) and you can find multiple rental car companies in the area of the St Charles Train station. Unless you take an excursion you would have to go to the train station anyway to get a train to places like Aix (a good place to go).

 

Hank

[mlbcruiser]

Oh, I must have misunderstood another post on a prior question. How long does it take to get to the vicinity near the St. Charles train station? We would definitely have to to plan plenty of time to get back to the ship after dropping it back off. Not being familiar with Marseilles, would the time likely be affected getting back to the port say, around 3 to 5 p.m.?

 

As I said, we may still end up renting, though I still plan to see if I can drum up a reasonably priced tour somehow.

 

Thanks again!

[hubofhockey]

Oh, I must have misunderstood another post on a prior question. How long does it take to get to the vicinity near the St. Charles train station? We would definitely have to to plan plenty of time to get back to the ship after dropping it back off. Not being familiar with Marseilles, would the time likely be affected getting back to the port say, around 3 to 5 p.m.?

 

As I said, we may still end up renting, though I still plan to see if I can drum up a reasonably priced tour somehow.

 

Thanks again!

 

You are better off with a reasonably priced tour if you can find others to share with. First, it's door to door service (starts at ship and ends at ship) and there is no hassle with taxis or other transportation to the train station. Second, you don't have to wait in line at a rental counter. Third, you don't have to fill it up with expensive gas (not cheap in France). Fourth, you don't have to worry about parking. Fifth, a decent guide can add value. They also have a better sense of traffic and what you can fit into one day. I think we paid 480 euros for six people for a day with Provence Reservation. That's $100 per person in USD. Maybe you'll save a little renting a car. You have to decide if it's worth the hassle and lost time getting back and forth from the ship to the rental agency.

 

http://www.provencereservation.com/01-private-tours/124-arles-les-baux-saint-remy-de-provence-01-private-tours.html You can check if this company has availability and fits your budget. We used them and would recommend.

[dundeene]

Unfortunately, Sylvain and taxi provence is booked. I think he is probably the same person that I think was referred to as Sylvia by someone else on our ship who has booked a tour. Or maybe I read the name wrong in their post. At any rate, I am still searching! The itinerary and particular towns on Sylvain's tour were perfect. I wonder if there will be unreserved taxis at the port that will be available for a similar drive and that we could hire for a similar price - ? Oh, well, se la vie! Thanks just the same. Someone else will probably read this and you have no doubt helped them!

 

Sylvia and Sylvain are very different:p

We have used both.

 

Sylvia Di Cristo is a guide from the area (female) very experienced, knowledgeable and entertaining with jokes and running commentary throughout. (loved her tour of Nice, ST Paul D Vence)more the french Riviera specialist. A favorite guide of Rick Steves.

 

Sylvain Martinez, young, newer guide (male) out of Marseille/Luberon area/Aix. Specializes in Provence.

[Hlitner]

Oh, I must have misunderstood another post on a prior question. How long does it take to get to the vicinity near the St. Charles train station? We would definitely have to to plan plenty of time to get back to the ship after dropping it back off. Not being familiar with Marseilles, would the time likely be affected getting back to the port say, around 3 to 5 p.m.?

 

As I said, we may still end up renting, though I still plan to see if I can drum up a reasonably priced tour somehow.

 

Thanks again!

 

If you take a taxi directly from the port to the train station it will take no more then 15 min (depending on traffic in town). With the shuttle buses it becomes more of a hassle and time consuming since it depends how long you must wait to get the bus. The drive into town (the buses usually drop folks at the old harbor) is about 10 min but you still need to get to the station which can about 20 min if you walk (3/4 of a mile).

 

Hank

[Ms Understood]

You could try PrivateShoreTrips.com and see if they can find something available for you. We have used their services several times and always been happy

------------------

Helen

[mlbcruiser]

hubofhockey, I checked the site you gave me the link for and, would you believe, NONE of their tours from Marseilles show any availability the day we need it! (I wouldn't be surprised at all if the ship has commandeered many of the local tour buses/vans/guides. It happens all the time in the caribbean but usually in areas w/out a lot of providers. I am sure Marseilles has many companies.) Even so, I have contacted them - just in case.

 

MsUnderstood, I tried that co. but don't have anyone else to join us, so teh prices won't work at all for us. Thanks, though! I am sure I could have formed a group to get costs down (as I did for another port), but it's too late at this point. Most of the people on our roll call are either just going to stay in Marseilles or have already made tour arrangements. Renting a car - even taking into account fuel, is less than half as much as the tour fee for one person for even the most basic tours.

 

Hank, will the taxis at the port even be willing to take us just 15 min. away? Do you know about how much that would cost each way from the ship and back again? As I have mentioned somewhere on these boards, in Livorno one absolutely cannot get a taxi to anywhere within just a few miles or km. (Been there, done that!)

 

dundeene, so they ARE different people! Thanks for clearing that up.

 

Thanks so much to everyone trying to help me out! If anyone else reads this and has some names/tour companies to try, don't hesitate to post them!

[hubofhockey]

Good luck. If you decide against renting a car, the train to Aix or Arles might be a half decent alternative.

[mlbcruiser]

Yes, we might go that route or do the Cassis/Calanques trip. Thanks so much!

[Hlitner]

Regarding the taxis, some of the taxi drivers will resist the short haul but there are usually some that will take passengers into town. If not, Plan B would be to take the cruise line's shuttle (which often costs more per person then a taxi). We are not sure of the current taxi fare to the train station but would guess its about 15-20 Euros (per taxi...not per person).

 

I should add that we have been to Livorno more then a dozen times and always have gotten taxis to take us to the train station. It comes down to being polite, assertive, and not taking no for an answer. When a few taxis say no we will usually just ask them if they can call somebody who will do the short haul. Yes, we have sometimes had to wait a few minutes (we often do this anyway since we try to get a full taxi) but have never been stranded.

 

Hank

[mlbcruiser]

Thanks for the pricing Hank. We certainly were polite about asking a taxi driver to take us to our rental car office, but we weren't given courtesy back. At best a simple shake of the head and then were ignored. At work a smart "no" w/a lot of hand gesturing. No, we weren't assertive, and we did not ask them to call anyone else. But we did ask for suggestions and asked the ship's staff to no avail other than to be directed to the shuttles. A crew member walked part way over to a bus w/my husband because I think we were supposed to have purchased our ticket already, but by then I had waylaid the couple from the U.K. who were about to get into their rental car (which they had rented from the Hertz table set up right next to the ship on the pier). Obviously we must not have had "the touch". Neither did anyone else who was asking. And I've seen mention of this same problem by others before. Maybe if the pickin's look a bit less lucrative they agree to take people to the train station sometimes. :confused:

[Hlitner]

mlb, I assume your last post was referring to Livorno which we have actually called (on CC) the worst port in Western Europe. The problem in Livorno goes beyond the taxi situation to a local port authority that works to make Livorno the most anti-cruiser port we have encountered in Western Europe (guess I am being redundant). We could start with the taxis (often unfriendly) and then move on to the rental car situation where some companies (such as Sifracar) seem to have free access to the various piers while other rental car companies are not permitted near the piers (you can draw your own conclusions on why this happens...but money seems to talk). And then we have the infamous Livorno port bus which does not seem to exist despite the port insisting that there is an internal bus. We once had to pay a taxi 20 Euros to take us from a pier to the port entrance because of no bus plus the port police not letting us walk. We often like to contrast Livorno with Civitavecchia which ranks up there as one of our favorite Western European ports where there is excellent internal buses (free) and newly marked internal walkways for those that want to walk through this huge port.

 

As to the cruise lines.....well...if you are expecting them to help with Livorno forget about it! Their attitude is that they only want to help those who book their overpriced excursions or overpriced shuttle bus into town. In fact, this shuttle bus is almost a joke since it does not start running until pretty late and does not go anywhere near the train station (they want you to stay in Livorno). Given the large number of cruisers who use the train in Livorno it would be nice if the cruise lines had regular shuttle service to the train station....but do not hold your breath.

 

Hank

[mlbcruiser]

Yes, it was Livorno I was referring to. And now I hear there won't even likely be the Sifracar rental options at that port due to it being Sunday! (I can only imagine what they charge, anyway :rolleyes:.) When we returned our rental car to the little Budget office there, the agent drove us all the way back to as close as cars could get to the ship. That was very nice of him as he didn't have to do it. We had had no prior arrangement when making the reservation. I agree w/you about that port. That is our only other "problem" port other than Marseilles this cruise. We are thinking of just taking the train to Lucca (having never been), though we aren't sure yet. Sounds like if it's Lucca by train, we'd better prepare ourselves for "issues"!

[anniversay/grad trip]

Yes, it was Livorno I was referring to. And now I hear there won't even likely be the Sifracar rental options at that port due to it being Sunday! (I can only imagine what they charge, anyway :rolleyes:.) When we returned our rental car to the little Budget office there, the agent drove us all the way back to as close as cars could get to the ship. That was very nice of him as he didn't have to do it. We had had no prior arrangement when making the reservation. I agree w/you about that port. That is our only other "problem" port other than Marseilles this cruise. We are thinking of just taking the train to Lucca (having never been), though we aren't sure yet. Sounds like if it's Lucca by train, we'd better prepare ourselves for "issues"!

 

We have contacted Sirfacar in Livorno and their prices are similar to what we paid directly at the port last time we were in Livorno. We drove to Pisa in the am and then on to Lucca and had a fantastic day.

 

As far as Marseilles is concerned, although we have never been and will be there next month....we use a small company in Cannes, and Villefranche. I vaguely remember her saying she also did tour in Marseille? I would highly recommend her. Her name is Catherine and her company is Prestigetours. I am not sure what she would charge in Marseille, but for a 5 hour tour from Cannes to St Paul, Monaco, and Monte Carlo we paid 350euros for our party of 6.

[mlbcruiser]

Thanks for your input, anniversary/grad trip. The problem for us in Livorno is merely just that all of the car rental companies will be closed the day our ship is in port because it's a Sunday. Therefore none of them (supposedly) will have set up shop where the ship docks on that day.

 

As for the guide, I will definitely look into Prestigetours. In our case we could only afford to do such a tour IF we found others to share the cost with. At this point we don't have anyone and others on our roll call have all pretty much made arrangements & are booked w/other tours or will go on the ship's tours or just stay in Marseilles.

[mlbcruiser]

hubofhockey, guess what! I am pretty sure your link has paid off! I have been able to find several others and it looks as though we are going to get this thing booked within a day or two. I do have a question, though, thast I hope you can answer. The meeting place for this tour is at their office in the Vieux Port. Is that within walking distance of where most large cruise ships dock? I sure hope we don't have to get a cab as the tour already costs enough and leaves earlier than I'd like. So having to build in more time to get there will be a real pain!

 

Thanks again - a whole lot!

[hubofhockey]

hubofhockey, guess what! I am pretty sure your link has paid off! I have been able to find several others and it looks as though we are going to get this thing booked within a day or two. I do have a question, though, thast I hope you can answer. The meeting place for this tour is at their office in the Vieux Port. Is that within walking distance of where most large cruise ships dock? I sure hope we don't have to get a cab as the tour already costs enough and leaves earlier than I'd like. So having to build in more time to get there will be a real pain!

 

Thanks again - a whole lot!

 

We were picked up at the cruise dock. You should contact their office to see if they can do that.

 

I think 6 to 7 people maximum is what I would do this tour with. Have a great time.

[mlbcruiser]

I think you are right about them picking us up. What I read about the the office was from their website. When rereading the email from them, their rep mentioned their set, shared tours required getting to central Marseille but that our tour will be private. So I guess that indicates we are getting picked up at the port (I hope!) I have sent another email to confirm that.

 

Re: the number of people on our tour - too late. There are 4 couples (which includes us) already. On another tour I arranged in Sicily, we will just be 7. Initially the plan was to keep it to 6, but a solo traveler wanted to come and the operator can take 7. I sure hope we aren't TOO squished on the Provence tour. :confused: BTW, have you personally been on a tour with this company? Any other tips you can offer? Anything we should be on the lookout for or be warned about?

 

Thanks again for your input and help!