Europe Travel Answers

If you're not a beach person, you could choose another city than Marseilles. Why not one of these: Avignon, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Nimes, Orange?

Riga is quite unexpensive + there are nice beaches, but the weather could play a bad role... If you`re interested in medieval historic sites, Riga is great! Marseille is o.k. for shopping, if you want Haute-Couture.

Personally I would think a visit to Riga would be very interesting. However, since you're looking at the weather, then the south of France is a much better option. Although here on VT, Marseille is 2nd place in the top places to visit in the Provence (France), I would still choose another city (as I mentioned before) as your base. I've been to Marseille but there are much better places to visit. See Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Travel Guide

I agree with blackbirdxx about the medieval sites. And don't forget the architecture:-) Happy travels P.

Hi! Becouse France is not only state in Europe I recomend to go to Riga. Old town is nice. :)

>>> forget beaches in the northern Baltic by September I`ve been in Riga around July 1`st in 2005 + in Tallin approx. same time of the year in 2006, and I was sunbathing at the beaches. But it is true, the water was quite cold + only people tougher than me were swimming in the Baltic sea (mostly girls around 12 years old, I have to admit)

hevbell has been back online so I suppose she's read our replies but we're none the wiser as we don't know what she thinks of our suggestions.

uhm.. I was online very briefly and didn't have time to properly read everyones comments, and wasn't aware anyone would be checking up. I appreciate all the comments but will need to give it some thought still. I'm still pretty confused. But as i said in my original post, I have no intention of spending much time at the beach so thats not relevant. I'm more just wondering how much there is to see and do in either city for 3 or 4 days. i figured Riga would be cheaper but how expensive IS marseille? More so than other parts of France or just compared to Eastern Europe? thanks

Hi Heather, you bet VT members take care of the forums :-) It happens often that there are many replies but no reaction from the poster. Which makes the discussion a bit silly, sometimes :-) You're from the UK. Price level in France will be slightly cheaper when it comes to food and such, but overall it's the same. http://www.finfacts.ie/costofliving.htm has a survey of most expensive cities. London ranks 2, Paris ranks 13. You might want to read some tips on Riga here on VT. Probably there are prices mentioned of hotels, restaurants, museums, etc. Check if they're reasonably current. It will give you some idea.

A better list (of 2006) on: finfacts.com/costofliving200... Riga is no. 81, Paris no. 15, London no. 5. Lusaka (Zambia) shares 41th place with Amsterdam. Go figure!

>>>I'm more just wondering how much there is to see and do in either city for 3 or 4 days. Heather : I recommend to check the VT Travel Guides of both cities