stephk

Quick 30 minute survey...before we make a decision tonight, would appreciate your advice. Where would you stay for 2 nights while exploring the area? Our choices are narrowed down to St. Remy (stay at Les Mas D'Aigret) and Les Baux (Le Mas de Carassins). What would you choose and why?
Thanks.

Underhill

My advice would be to stay in St-Rémy, which is quite centrally located for prime sightseeing in the area. Besides visiting Les Baux itself, there's not much to do if you stay up there for two days, and you'll be spending precious time just getting down and through the valley to head elsewhere.

cigalechanta

I can only tell you that one year wwe stayed at the Mas D'Aigret and were very happy. It is on the outside of Les Baux. There's a small bar and a dining terrace.

stephk

thanks, helpful info. 20 minutes left...post now!!

stephk

ok, deadline extended by popular demand (ha-ha), actually by our own indecision!!

macanimals

I would vote for St Remy and Le Mas de Carassins. Le mas de Carassins is located to the south of St. Remy about a 10 minute walk from town. This is in the direction of Les Baux but quite a way from it. Le Mas de Carassins is a lovely place and the food there is exceptional, plan on partaking and make the necessary reservations. The grounds, staff, room and setting are very nice. St remy is a very nice town with lots of connections to Van Gogh and plenty for the tourist. Don't miss Les Baux though, just don't be confused thinking Les Mas de Carassins is in Les Baux.
Paul

stephk

OOOps, you're right - I reversed the hotels. Les Mas de Carassins is for St. Remy and Les Mas D'Aigret is for Les Baux!!

Faux

Les Baux and St Remy are not far apart. We took a taxi from Les Baux to St Remy. We stayed at le Mas d'Aigret for Christmas Eve and Christmas night a few years ago. The hotel is nice with good garden and the restaurant is fantastic. The post that said there is more to do in St Remy is right - Why not stay there and do a 1/2 day trip to Les Baux to see the citadel.

walkinaround

Les Baux is only interesting (if it indeed is) for its archaeology. there is no village life here. almost all buildings are dedicated to tourism. a very poor choice as a place to base oneself, in my opinion. all restaurants and cafes are VERY touristy...even as compared to some of the more touristed areas of provence.

cigalechanta

Most know all the good restos in St Remy but Les baux has two extra special ones.
Ousteau de Baumaniere
and Riboto de Tavern,
Riboto is less expensive than Ousteau.

chicagolori

Steph - My husband and I were at Mas De Carrasins for a week this past May. We loved it and I would highly recommend it. St. Remy offers much more to do than the town of Les Baux - and its more authentic in terms of day to day life. Les Baux is indeed a cute town but very dedicated to tourism whereas St. Remy is a real town where people live and you can get a feel for what it would be like to live in a real french town.

Les Baux is only a 15 minute drive from the Mas. On the way you pass Glanum and the St. Paul monastery where Van Gogh resided for some time. Both are worth a visit. We loved the Les Baux monument and spent several hours walking around the town and the ruins. The drive to the town is gorgeous as well but we were glad we stayed in St. Remy to soak in the local life a bit more. In the evening, as you walk around the streets, you can hear people inside their homes making dinner, playing music, calling out to their kids to come home. Neighbors are standing in the street chatting and people sitting out on their balconies or terraces with their families. There are also interesting architectural and historical sites in St. Remy like a fountain of Nostradomus and their town hall, Hotel De Ville.



We walked into St. Remy several nights for dinner which is a big advantage. The Mas de Carrasins also offers dinner to guests each nite in the gardens and we had two of the best meals right there at the Mas. You just have to tell them in the morning that you want to have dinner there. Its truly a beautiful place - in and of itself a destination. The owners are wonderfully helpful, speak English, and the excellent food was a great surprise to us.

cigalechanta

The Carrassins is highly thought of by other posters here. It does look lovely.

http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/h.../gb/tarifs.htm

chicagolori

It is lovely. I picked it because of research on this site and on Trip Advisor. Their website is nice but when I got there - like so many other places - it was even better in person. The owners have a resident dog (small pug i think) who greets you, guards the door, and sleeps in the sun a lot. It made it even more down to earth.

We stayed in the room called L'Estable. The rooms on the first floor of the inn each have separate entrances from the house with lovely private terraces. The terraces open onto the main grounds of the property. There are three main "lawns" or gardens attached to the inn. The first is a lovely garden with tables set up for breakfast/dinner/hanging out. The second is a beautiful lawn with tables again for lounging. The third is a large pool area with a shaded lawn, a rose garden, a lavendar garden, and an old cement pool filled with goldfish.

We had a suite and it was lovely, clean, comfortable. The bathroom was modern - all tiled with both a soaking tub and a full shower. It was large.

The rest of the rooms are upstairs and most appear to have a "Juliette" balcony or at least large windows looking out over the gardens. There is a beautiful indoor dining room where a complete european style breakfast buffet is set up. (cheese/jam/bread/pastries/yogurt/fruit/some meats/juices/coffee)

There is also a large parking lot on the property which is secured at night with a gate. One night we were too tired to get dressed up for dinner so we just walked to the local market 10 minutes away in St. Remy and brought some food back to the room. It was an adventure in itself just shopping in the market.

I am running on but I hope that anyone who searches on Mas De Carrasins finds this helpful.

PBProvence

Les Baux, as already stated, doesn't have anything going on after sundown.... but it's only three minutes from Maussane-les-Alpilles, which has a charming square, cafes, some excellent restaurants (among a total of 19)and shops.
I know because I live in Maussane.....

Both places are charming and the mas d'Aigret has lovely views all the way to the sea on a clear day.

If Stephk would like a list of restaurants in St Remy, Les Baux and Maussane, just let me know.
Patricia

MyriamC

Visited St. Rémy and Les Baux last week. I would prefer St. Rémy as Les Baux, though it's nice, is just another tourist town - I'm sorry!

cigalechanta

But Myriam, Les Baux is not just above with the cidedal and the tourists shops.without the tourists after dark like Carcassone and MSM it can look magical and believe in the historical horror stories, Below on the main street where the Gendarmes station is is where the riboto and a lower road the Ousteau and beyond lovely scenery.

stephk

Thank you all for your feedback--turns out Le Mas de Carassins is full on the dates we are visiting. Now looking for an alternative in St. Remy. Appreciate your help.

elsiejune

I can highly recommend La Maison a Bournissac, which is just outside St.Remy. My husband, daughter and I stayed there for a week in May 2003 and it was a wonderful experience. The rooms are lovely, dining delicious, and the view is incredibly beautiful. It is really just 5 minutes to St.Remy. Try their website: lamaison-a-bournissac.com. I seem to remember that it's a Rudy Maxa favorite, as well.

cigalechanta

elsie I'nve been there for dinner with friends and yes, I've seen it twice on PBS on Rudy's show. I have one of this cigale pichers.

hopingtotravel

Well, number 1 I second the choice of St. Remy.

As an alternative, my recommendation is Chateau des Alpilles. However, I suspect it's more expensive.

Someone on this board may also have suggestions for Egalieres (sp) which is also nearby.