Arles train station. © 2017 Ralph Grizzle
This past Thursday, I needed to get from Arles to Marseille for my flight home. Taxis were pricing out at 125 euros, as was Uber, with low availability, unlike in Paris, where Uber is Uberiquitous. Luckily, river cruisers dock right across the street from Gare d’Arles, the local train station. Cost from Arles to MRS (Marseille Airport) was a mere 12.40 euros, a huge savings, and it took me less than an hour to get from the ship to the check-in terminal at the airport. Here’s how to do it.
Walk to the train station, five minutes on foot from where the river cruise ships dock. If the ticket counter is closed, use your credit card or coins (no bills) to purchase a ticket from Arles to Marseille Airport. The cost is 12.40 euros.
Descend the stairs to get underneath the tracks to the other side of the terminal. In about 30 minutes you’ll arrive at Vitrolles Aeroport Marseille, where you will disembark the train to board a shuttle for a free transfer (about 10 minutes) to terminals 1-4.
If you’re arriving in Marseille and transfers aren’t included with your river cruise, simply follow these instructions in reverse.
We also used the TGV to travel back to Paris for our flight home from Avignon as we had stayed 4 extra days after our cruise. It was not expensive, we took the airport shuttle to our hotel, the Marriott Roissy Pole, This was a great place to stay before a flight home as the Marriott has their own shuttle which leaves every 20 minutes. The next morning we took the shuttle back to CDG for our flight. In the meantime, we walked to Roissy village and enjoyed a plesant dinner at one of its little bistros. In the morning we walked to the village bakery and enjoyed excellent and inexpensive pain chocolate. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to fly out at a reasonable time.
I like this suggestion. One of the issues is where to stay when taking flights out of CDG. I’ve stayed at Hilton and at Citizen M, preferring the latter. However, it seems that the Marriott and your ability to walk into the village is a better choice. A small last taste of France before flying home.
Yes and the village is amazingly unspoiled with country side prices. Much better than eating hotel food and cheaper too.,
We did the same thing last year from the Marseille airport to Arles for the start of our Avalon cruise. It was super easy and so inexpensive!
That makes both of us savvy travelers!