Hi
What is the best way to get to Marseille Airport from Avignon? Is there a train that can take me there? Also, do I need to change trains or take a shuttle bus? Any idea on how long it would take or if there are any baggage limitations? Please let me know.
Best, J
The airport's travel planner is here http://tinyurl.com/28vft7o
No baggage limitations, but you have to get it on and off the train and then on and off the shuttle bus between Vitrolles Aeroport station and the airport.
Just did this a few days ago. The train to Vitrolles from Avignon leaves from Gare d'Avignon Centre (not from the TGV station, which is on the southwest outskirts of town). It takes just over an hour. As noted by the previous responder, there is a shuttle from the Vitrolles station to the airport, which takes less than 5 minutes and is free with your train ticket. No baggage restrictions, but you'll have to keep your baggage with you on the train, as it is a local, and there is no designated baggage storage location on the cars. It can be a challenge with large suitcases. If you need a taxi to get to a hotel from the Vitrolles station, it is easier to take the shuttle to the airport and get a cab from there, as taxis do not seem to be routinely available at the train station.
Just did this a few days ago. The train to Vitrolles from Avignon leaves from Gare d'Avignon Centre (not from the TGV station, which is on the southwest outskirts of town). It takes just over an hour. As noted by the previous responder, there is a shuttle from the Vitrolles station to the airport, which takes less than 5 minutes and is free with your train ticket. No baggage restrictions, but you'll have to keep your baggage with you on the train, as it is a local, and there is no designated baggage storage location on the cars. It can be a challenge with large suitcases. If you need a taxi to get to a hotel from the Vitrolles station, it is easier to take the shuttle to the airport and get a cab from there, as taxis do not seem to be routinely available at the train station.
We would like to do this in reverse, i.e. go from the Marseille airport to Avignon. I was wondering where one would get the train ticket so that the shuttle from the airport to Vitrolles would be included. We actually prefer to get the train into the city center, not the TGV station, so this seems perfect.
It's at the airport - the website that perilizia linked has a map and more info about trains, if you scroll down this page:
The automated kiosk at the airport (where you can buy your train ticket to Avignon) is located just beside where the navette stops (lots of signs) - right behind where bus tickets to Marseille center are sold. It is a yellow machine. The price for one ticket is normally around 16 euros, one way.
The train schedule can be found on the sncf website, so you have an idea when the next train will depart - with relation to what time you arrive to MRS.
Keep these two things in mind:
Airport (Platform 2) > Vitrolles Aéroport mp train station
The Airport Train bus shuttle departs from the airport every 10 mn prior to every scheduled train
Vitrolles Aéroport mp train station > Airport
The Airport Train bus shuttle departs from the station on request (intercom)
The automated kiosk may not work with non-chipped cards. If that is the case, the ticket sales booth (just beside it) will have humans selling tickets.
Edited: 5:20 am, February 16, 2013Also, as of my last time through that kiosk(April 2012), the machine will only take coins, not bills if your card will not work.
There was also no English translation.
On the up side, once you see the ticket machine and play with it a bit, its incredibly easy to manage the transaction. The shuttle driver will stop just outside the kiosk and he/she will probably ask you to see your train ticket so have it ready.
Its an easy, cheap and fun way to get to Avignon.
Cheers!
Mark
Would it be easier to fly in and out of Paris and take the train? Is there a train at CDG that goes to Avignon?
We will each have a large suitcase plus a carry-on.
Thanks
ColdNorth - if you are asking if it is easier to fly into Paris CDG and take the TGV from CDG to Avignon (yes there are TGV's), as opposed to flying into Marseille and taking the shuttle to the Vitrolles train station and then the train to Avignon.... well, to me, they are both quite simple. So, it would really depend on which is more convenient for you, which one suits your travel schedule, etc. The train ticket from CDG to Avignon will obviously be more expensive than the train from Vitrolles to Avignon.
