Where to stay near marseille

My husband and I are flying into Marseille in late September and don%26#39;t have a clue where to stay.

Do we head East to Cote D%26#39;Azur or West to Languedoc-Roussillon?

We are open to any self catering options (eg camping, gites, apartments) but would ideally like outside space for dining etc.

We will be hiring a car and are not worried about having to drive for days out but would like to be able to walk to bars/restaurants etc.

We have found many campsites but are holding out for something a bit more unique.

Please help!

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For the month of September, you should be able to find self catering rentals in Cassis, a small fisherman village about 45 minute drive from Marseille airport, very charming location. In Cassis there are plenty plenty of restaurants within walking distance. In September, an apartment will cost around 800€, maybe even less, depending on the size. Rental agencies can be found on internet but you can try www.castellas-immobilier.com or www.agencefalque.com.

Having a vehicle, you can explore Provence from that base, distances are quite reasonable.

But there are also other options if you are OK inland like Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Arles. Or going east Hyeres, Antibes, Cannes, Nice.

Coast or inland? City or village? Those answers will help you pinpoint a bit more.

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HI

Have a look at my TA review for Chateau de la Loubiere in Pertuis, 30 mins easy drive from Marseille and 20 mins from Aix.

Great base for exploring all the lovely towns in Provence. We have just come back from a week there. They have 3 gites which are located in the grounds of a 16th Century chateau. For 2 of you I would suggest the gite called Les Platanes, which has a double room and a twin room and has a south facing terrace for al fresco dining.

Look at their website www.laloubiere.com, the owners are english and very helpful

Hope this helps

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How about heading inland and slightly to the North, perhaps St. Remy or someplace like Maussane-les-Alpilles in the nearby beautiful limestone hills known as les Alpilles. In either place you will find any number of gites or other self-catering situations as well as a situation that will allow you to walk to a host of nearby bars and restaurants. Both places are also well situated for exploring all of Western Provence.

The Tourist Office web-sites for both places will provide you with a host of potential places to stay, eat and visit and I believe that you will find them to be valuable resources as you continue to plan for you stay.