emily

After 5 days in paris (mid June), I will be travelling to Provence w/ curious 12 yr old daughter. <BR>Trying to decide between Arles as a base or Avignon. Would like to see Glanum & Les Baux, too. I do not want to use a car. Any ideas on where to stay? hotels ($200max) ? pool "necessary"? Thanks!

Susan

I am doing the same trip in July with my 10 yr. old, except with a car. Actually I'm taking the high speed train from Paris to Avignon, then picking up a rental car there. I'm not sure how you'll do it without one, you'll need to get bus/train info. ahead of time. I used Karen Brown's FRANCE Charming Inns & Itineraries, a fabulous book. We're staying in Les Baux-de-Provence at Mas De L'Oulivie (website: www.masdeloulivie.com) It has a pool as many of these lovely inns do. Cost is just under $200 incl. breakfast. From my research, Arles sounds really lovely, it would be my choice over Avignon. Feel free to email me. Good luck with your plans.

Kim

Traveling around the smaller towns in Provence can be tricky without a car. If you don't have a car, I would recommend Avignon because it is more of a transportation hub and it would be easier to day-trip out of Avignon. I spent a summer in Avignon in college (1991)and I remember they had tours you could take to Les Baux and all the provencal towns from Avignon. I don't think you can take the train to see sights such as the Pont du Gard or Les Baux. Maybe you should consider a France Rail and Drive pass. They are a great deal and you could use your car days when you're in Provence. Check out www.raileurope.com for more info on this. Good luck!

jane

re: Avignon- we're staying close by in Villneuve Lex Avignon (across the river)- at the Best Western La Magnaneraie this June on the recommendation of our buddies who are both oenophiles and "foodies." Lori said that the food was so great there that they never ate anywhere except the hotel. She said they had a great cheese board (my fave!) Check out the site and see what you think. <BR> Name: La Magnanerie, Katrin Keller <BR> Address: 37 Rue Camp de Bataille, Villeneuve Lex Avignon <BR> Price and Amenities: $86 per night, + $20 PP half board (Breakfast and dinner) Large double room w/ terrace and view. Phone: 04 90 25 11 11 <BR>e-mail: [email protected]. <BR>http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/l.../gb/index.html <BR>They have a restaurant, a lounge, pool, breakfast is extra, minibar, cable TV and AC

rc

Just like the earlier post suggested, travelling aound villages in Provence will be difficult without a car. <BR>My wife and I stayed at Arles and I would recommend it as a base. <BR>

Susan

Dear Emily: <BR> Last Fall we traveled to Avignon (from Paris) via TGV to Avignon. I think it may have more hotels & more access to day tours than Arles. We did take the train to Arles to visit a wonderful outdoor Saturday market as well as a couple of excellent museums. From Avignon, we took a bus to St. Remy, where Van Gogh was hospitalized (there also is the ancient city of Glanum nearby). <BR> From Avignon, we took a fascinating day trip to the Carmargue, which has wild horses, French cowboys, & a town used in the Crusades. <BR> It's easy to get off the TGV & walk a short distance inside the walls of Avignon to your hotel. We stayed at the Quality Inn Cloitre Saint Louis. The public rooms were lovely; the hotel rooms adequate. <BR> There are tours that you can take from a company next to the train station; also, check with the tourist office. <BR> But Arles certainly has its charms - I know Rick Steeves prefers it as a base. <BR> You'll do fine with either town. <BR>Susan <BR>

Sheryl

I would say Avignon and I would highly suggest a car. You won't be able to "tootle" around Provence without one and for me that's where all the fun is. You never know what you might stumble upon!