Cycling advice in Marseille

[Polite]

Hi all (apologies for posting again but I couldn't change my original and add to this forum),


I posted here at Easter when I did my first mini tour of Normandy (Dieppe to Le Treport - Le Treport to Neufchatel en Bray - Neufchatel en Bray to Dieppe), I really enjoyed it and threatened to do something bigger again in the summer. If anyone would like a link to this and all the helpful advice I received here it is;


http://www.cyclechat...n-seeks-advice/


Anyway, my summer plan is to take a ferry to Dieppe, Avenue Verte to Paris, a few days in Paris, then a train to Marseilles, followed by some cycling fun down there.


I am what's called, I think, a credit card cyclist; in other words I don't have a tent & want to pay for cheap b&bs along the way. Plus I am travelling alone so have no one to share the planning/bounce ideas off.


I would like advice about;


- the equivalent nationalrail.co.uk site for France so I can check out costs/taking my bike with me/how easy is it in France?
- how difficult will it be to just turn up & find places to stay in Marseilles in the middle of August?
- how helpful are the French Tourist Offices in helping out with accommodation?
- has anyone done anything similar/could anyone suggest any ideas?


In terms of time I'm thinking of going on the weekend 13/8 for 10 days/a fortnight.


I realize this is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string but hope there's enough to get some advice from you experienced folk out there.


Thank you in advance.

 

[vernon]

I suspect that you have picked the peak national holiday time for France.

rail travel look at www.seat61.co.uk to start with. You'll get a good idea of the possibilities of train travel in France before being sent to a ticket agency.

 

[djmc]

The SNCF (French railways) has has a website, try that. The fast trains (TGV) have a restriction that you cannot take a bike except if it is bagged, slow trains din't have this restriction. If you go to a ticket office they are are very helpful, make sure you take advantage of any cheap deals etc. It does help to speak French if only a little. If you are 60 or over or under 25 there are special cheap deals.

Tourist offices are normally very helpful. Most have English speakers but again it helps to try to speak French.

While it is the peak holiday season, you should be able to find accommodation in most places, it is easier after the 15th of August. Marseilles seems to be more expensive than other places near by (for instance Arles) and is both large and very busy. Note that rooms are charged for by the room rather than for the number of persons, just take a double room. Single rooms are not common. Breakfast is normally extra and sometimes not provided. Bed and breakfast (chambre d' hôtes) is becoming more common. While not recently I rode from Dieppe to Santander without problems.