Q & A

Subject: While in Marseille we would like to visit either Spain or Italy.

Question: My two sons ages 9 and 6 will be traveling to Marseille with me and staying with a friend. While in Marseille we would like to visit either Spain or Italy, just for the sake of going to another country beside France. Which of the two counties is closest to Marseille? What's the best way to get there? Approximately how long will it take? Approximately how much will it cost? We'll be traveling at the end of February and beginning of March.

Answer: Looking at my map I cannot really tell what country is closest, I think it might be Italy. I tried using the SNCF (French train company) web site, www.sncf.fr and was only able to find out that it takes 8 hours to get to Barcelona from Marseille and 9 hours to Milan from Marseille. For some reason I could not find out the price.
I am sure that you could take a train from Marseille to just across the boarder to either Spain or Italy, but without knowing the name of a boarder town I cannot find out the cost or the travel time.
Another option would be for you to rent a car, with this way you would have the most freedom, but it might cost a little more.