Marseille and the French Riviera

This itinerary includes places that I think are worth visiting in Marseille and the French Riviera. It's a 7-day trip including Monaco. The cost of this 7-day trip is RM2000 including return air tickets from London to France, accommodation, car rental, petrol, and public transportation at some places, and enrance tickets. It does, of course, exclude meals as I think everyone has different expectations and requirements for food. So, if you can get the AirAsia return tickets to London for RM1800 or even RM2000, this trip will only cost you RM4000 the most, excluding meals and shopping. If you have got friends, say, 4 of you travelling together, the cost will be cheaper as you can stay at apartments instead of hotels. Also, you share the cost of car rental and petrol. However, if you would like to go with just one partner, then, you can let me know your date of departure. I will try to get better deals, if possible.

OK. First, you will fly with AirAsia and arrive London at night. You will stay at the airport hotel and take the 8.15 a.m. flight to Marseille, the second biggest city in France. It is famous for its harbour and stunning Mediterranean coastline. The first 'must see' place is the Vieux Port (Old Port of Marseille). It has been used by the Phocaeans (Greeks from Phocaea) since 600BC but it functions mostly as a private marina nowadays.

From there, you will walk to Le Panier and take a stroll through the old Marseille. It's a hillside maze of narrow streets, steep steps and colourful Mediterranean facades.

You will then reach the Vieille Charite. It was used as a barracks, a soldiers' rest home, and low cost housing for people who had lost their during the WW2. It is now a museum and cultural centre. It houses a number of different cultural and educational resources: Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, The Museum of Art of Africa, Ocenia, and Amerindia.

Next, you will get to Place de Lenche, a lively square which overlooks the Viex Port.You will then go to the Notre Dame de la Garde by bus from Vieux Port. It is situated at the highest point in Marseille, and thus, you'll get the most breathtaking panorama view of the city.

After that, you will go to Cours Julien, the trendy area of Marseille. You'll find fountains, sidewalk cafes, restaurants and boutiques there.

The B&B that you will be staying at is located in a prime spot for visiting Marseille on foot. That's one of the reasons I choose this hotel so that you don't have to walk until you can't feel your feet. LOL!!! You will stay in en suite studio rooms.

This is how the B&B looks like from the outside.

Day 2:

You will go to collect the car that you have booked before going to Marseille. Then, you will drive to visit one of the most beautiful villages in France.

You will then spend some time exploring this medieval village. It has a wonderful selection of shops selling local products.

One of the 'must see' is the superb fortress. As you can see, it's located on top of the hill.

What next? Warfare machines! There are gigantic siege machines which are built to the actual size according to 13th century sketches on display in the village. You will get to understand medieval military tactics and handle these spectacular machines! Cool, eh?

You will then drive to the next B&B. It's a traditional house with private garden and a small swimming pool. The brekkie (French continental breakfast with homemade jams and bread)will be prepared by the owners who live in the house.

Day 3:

You will continue your journey to one of France's most famous seaside resorts since the 1950's.

It's gonna be a HOT, HOT day! You will have lunch at this particular restaurant. Why must it be the place? Well, it's because this restaurant is located at THE place if you want to see and be seen!!! You can watch the world goes by while having your lunch there. You will see people, rich people, I mean, having lunch on their luxurious yachts, elegant blonds going about their daily rituals......

You should also go to this beach. It's a very HOT place! It's a favourite among the rich and the famous. Luxury golden sands....This is THE place to go if you wanna sunbath topless.......wanna try???

After checking out the town centre, you will check into the hotel that you have booked.

Day 4:

You will drive to another medival village. It's very special as it perches like an eagle's nest on a narrow rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean sea. The ancient fortified village is still crowned with the ruins of its 12th century fortified castle.

After that, you will drive to Nice (famous for the rich blue-green sea, diverse shopping, and splendid dining) and return your car to the car rental company. You do not need a car from now on as this is your base for the next 2 days. The hotel that I have chosen is near the train station, so you don't have to worry about travelling without a car.

If you are still energetic after spending the day at the medieval village, you can stroll along Promenade des Anglais. It's a great place for romantic stroll.






Day 5:

It's the Promedane des Anglais again. It's such a fantastic place that you have to take a stroll during the day and night. It's almost 3 miles long so if you want, you can hire a bicycle to check the place out. There are chairs and benches along the promenade and thus, you can sit down....relax....and start people watching again. You will see people parachuting, among other sports, picnicking, posing for pictures.... Enough of people watching? Then go to the other side of the road where you will find heaps of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and also, the world-famous Negresco Hotel.







As you stroll along the promenade, you will get to old port.





Vieux Nice, near the port, is definitely a good place to stroll. You have to check this market out for sure. You will see gorgeous displays of fruits, vegetables, cheese, flowers and many more.

It's also a happening place during the night.

Day 6:

You will travel to Monte Carlo, Monaco. It's a place which is well-known for its casinos, luxurious yachts, and for sightings of the rich and famous. It's not far. Just hop on a bus and pay 2.60Euros for a round trip. You will reach Monte Carlo in 30minutes' time. Easy, rite? It's not a big city (country) so visiting the place can be done on foot.

A trip to Monte Carlo is not completed without going to the Grand Casino. Go and see how the rich and famous gamble. Or.....you can try your luck there, too! Who knows you will hit the jackpot there? Hehe.... If you wanna go into the casino, then please remember to bring along your passport, OK?

Day 7:

It's the last day and you can hit the town centre again and do some last minute shopping, if you have left anything out. Just relax and check out whatever that you wanna see or do whatever you wanna do before you leave this charming place. You will then fly back to London for the night flight back to Malaysia with AirAsia.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested with the itinerary. I can modify it to suit your requirements.

Lyon, France

When one thinks of France, the things that come to mind are the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, the Lourve, and etc. Many people seem to have left out the 3rd largest city in France - Lyon. It's such a beautiful city with architectural renaissance buildings and monuments. In fact, it has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since December 1998. It was once the capital of Gaul and a key outpost of the Roman Empire, and today, despite its scenic beauty, it is one of the most industrialized areas in France.

I've come up with an 8D6N itinerary to visit Lyon and its surrounding areas with the budget of RM2500 (ground arrangement which includes accommodation, return flights from London to Lyon, car rental, petrol, and entrance tickets). So, if you could get the RM1800 return ticket to London Stansted, then the trip would cost you RM4300 excluding food. Yes, RM1800 for a return ticket to London Stansted if you know WHEN to book the tickets. So you wanna know how I work the itinerary out? Read on, please....

Day One:

You will take a night flight from LCCT KL to London Stansted and reach there in the morning. Then you will catch a connecting flight to Lyon and reach there at 1355. You will then check in at your hotel which is located in downtown Lyon.

It's a comfy hotel and this is how the room looks like.

The lobby.

The breakfast room / Restaurant.

In a city as food-oriented as Lyon, a visit to the main market is a must. After unpacking your luggage at the hotel, you should go to the Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. It is located in a modern building near the Part-Dieu station, which is an enticing market where counters spill over with everything from fish to frogs legs, many different types of local sausage, including ones with pistachio nuts and truffles. It's open from 7am to 7pm but it's closed from 12-3pm.

If you love chocolates, then you shouldn't miss going to Sève Maitre Chocolatier for it's macarons.

How could you say NO to escargots when you are in France???

Sausages are the local specialty....grab some...

I guess the long travelling time and jet lag should start to take its toll on you by now. Time to rest and relax....

Day Two:

Vieux Lyon , or Old Lyon is the place that you should see as it contains an amazing collection of medieval and Renaissance buildings.

As you walk along the streets, you will get to the Primatiale St. Jean - a Roman Catholic cathedral built between the 12th and the 15th denturies.

You'll then get to Place Bellecour - one of France's largest and most charming squares with an equestrian statue of Louis XIV.

You will then take the funicular and go up the Fourviere Hill. It is part of the area which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will find vestiges of the Roman city in an archeological site covering a vast area. Also, you will get to see the panoramic vista of Lyon.

One of the most remarkable buildings on Fourviere Hill - the 19th century Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere.

The golden, baroque interior of Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourviere.

A visit to the top of the hill wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the ruins of the striking Amphithéâtre Gallo-Romain, which was discovered in 1933 by a nun digging in a convent garden.

As for lunch, there are a few places to take a break scattered around the top of the hill. Restaurant de la Fourvière offers traditional French food, a terrace, and a splendid view, while Restaurant Simplicité’s name reflects the atmosphere of the peaceful terrace situated next to the Jardins du Rosaire.

Then, you can take the funicular and get down to Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) and stroll around the streets.

One of the main reasons travelers from all over (including the French) come to Lyon is - food. Lyon is said to have the highest ratio of restaurants to people anywhere in France. So, when you feel like eating and want to dine at a reasonably priced restaurant, then look out for those traditional bouchons. A bouchon is a type of restaurant found in Lyon that serves traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, such as sausages, duck pâté or roast pork. They are mainly clustered around the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon.




Day Three:

You will check out from the hotel and go to collect the car that you have booked from the car rental company. Then, you will drive to a very attractive little village which has won numerous awards for its flower displays.

You can spend the day strolling around the old town admiring it's narrow alleys and flower-decorated balconies. There are heaps of reataurants and small boutiques too. You can also visit the castle, the tower gate and a few Roman ruins too. So, enjoy youself walking around in this car-free town!

You will then drive to the hotel which you will stay for 2 nights.

The lobby

The bedroom

The yard

Day Four:

You can spend time exploring the medieval town that you are staying in.

Then, you can have a picnic lunch at the garden next to the lake. After that, you can take a ferry tour which costs you 13Euros per person for a 2-hour ride. There are several villages situated around the lake and taking the ferry is a good way to visit those villages.

One of the villages around the lake.




Spectacular view from another village overlooking the lake.

Day Five:
You will drive to another charming town which you can see the majestic Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain.

You will then take the train to see the glacier.

Breathtaking view of the glacier....You can also visit the ice grotto which is reachable by foot.

It's time to check into the hotel.

The breakfast room



Terrace outside the breakfast room.



The games room and the lounge

Day Six:

Enjoy a cable car ride to the Alps.




Once you have gotten to the top station, you can take in the spectacular views of the Swiss, French, and Italian Alps.

Day Seven and Eight:

Drive back to Lyon Airport and stop at several places which are worth visiting en-route to the airport. The route I have chosen is quite challenging as it has quite a number of tight bends. You will get to see the magnificent views of valleys and snow-clad mountains along the route. You will then take the evening flight back to London and fly back to Malaysia with AirAsia.


I'm selling this itinerary so if you are interested in buying it, please do not hesitate to drop me an email. The ground arrangement (hotel, car rental, petrol, boat,cable car rides, entrance tickets) cost you RM2500 (2 to go). Prices may change depending on travelling dates. I will then give you all the information you need: names of the hotels, maps, route maps on how to get from one place to another, timetables of the cable car, train, information about the connecting flight from London to Lyon and etc. It will be cheaper if there are 4 people travelling together as you can share the car rental and petrol.

Please note that I do not collect any money from you except for the price of my itinerary. You will have to book the hotels and flights by yourself as I will give you the names of the hotels and their websites. I can't book them for you as you will be asked to show your credit card at the hotels and airports (sometimes) for verification.