Hotel suggestions for Avignon and Aix-En-Provence?
Aug 20th, 2010, 11:59 PM
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Hotel suggestions for Avignon and Aix-En-Provence?
In doing a search, I did not see any recent postings on hotels in these 2 cities. We're looking to spend $150 or less and would prefer a comfortable hotel with Provencal charm. We will not have a car, so prefer something in town. Restaurant in the hotel not necessary. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Aug 21st, 2010, 03:03 AM
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We liked the Hotel du Palais des Papes although I would describe the decor as quirky rather than Provencal. Terrific location and a good restaurant. Our room was large with a large bath and view of the palais. www.hotel-avignon.com If you are driving, you can park in the huge underground car park in front of the palais, come up and voila!, there's the hotel.
Aug 21st, 2010, 05:03 AM
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I don't think Aix is particularly complicated., I don't know what that means. It's a city of around 100K (so is Avignon) with a central area and boulevard and a nearby train station, fountains, etc. You can easily stay there without a car and take trains to other places (actually I have done that once). You can Avignon, also.
I know people on this forum refuse to believe that some people may not be able to drive, may not want to drive, or have reasons for their decisions. Driving is expensive and is can be difficult in any foreign country and some cities. Sure, it is easy to drive rural roads out in the country of Provence, but it is not easy to get your car and perhaps find your way out of wherever your car rental location is. And then you'll have to make sure you know where you are going to return it. I've drive in Provence several times, but recently returned my car to the wrong location and I knew the area (luckily, the agency accepted it and drove me to the other one), but I also spent some hours figuring out how to get to where I had to return it.
well, I don't know what your reasons are, maybe you just want to see the highlights, also, but I just get tired of some people always castigating people on Fodors if they don't plan to drive on vacation and ignoring what they say they want. I also think how simple and easy and great it is, is highly overrated, and I'll bet a lot of these folks aren't such great drivers as they claim they are (having been around a lot of them on the roads in Provence). If you want advice on pros/cons and driving issues, I presume you might start another thread. Every time someone asks someone like this, there are always people who ignore the actual question, make no suggestions, and just tell them they should drive.
As for hotels right in Aix, I stayed at the 2* Hotel Cardinal which has exactly what you want.
http://www.hotel-cardinal-aix.com/
Right near the center and the museum, and easily walkable to the train station and everywhere, and in your budget and has Provencal charm.
In Avignon, I've stayed at Hotel Medieval which was okay and they were very nice, but it wasn't quite as convenient to the train station as you might want if you plan to use it a lot. It's near Les Halles, a market.
http://www.hotelmedieval.com/hotel.php?langue=english
I wouldn't give it a huge thumbs up, but it was okay and cheap. I think there are probably better options, alhtough since it isn't right on the main square, it was pretty quiet (although I think there is some club down the street where locals go). I haven't stayed here, but planned to stay at Hotel Bristol the next time as it has a great location, and the prices are very reasonable (they often are in that area). http://www.bristol-avignon.com/fr/index.php
You can check tripadvisor, at budget prices, I think terrific options are somewhat limited. For example, I believe Hotel Cardinal has dicey reviews, but I had no problem and loved it. A nearby hotel similar in level (Quatre Dauphins) seems to have similar mixed reviews.
I know people on this forum refuse to believe that some people may not be able to drive, may not want to drive, or have reasons for their decisions. Driving is expensive and is can be difficult in any foreign country and some cities. Sure, it is easy to drive rural roads out in the country of Provence, but it is not easy to get your car and perhaps find your way out of wherever your car rental location is. And then you'll have to make sure you know where you are going to return it. I've drive in Provence several times, but recently returned my car to the wrong location and I knew the area (luckily, the agency accepted it and drove me to the other one), but I also spent some hours figuring out how to get to where I had to return it.
well, I don't know what your reasons are, maybe you just want to see the highlights, also, but I just get tired of some people always castigating people on Fodors if they don't plan to drive on vacation and ignoring what they say they want. I also think how simple and easy and great it is, is highly overrated, and I'll bet a lot of these folks aren't such great drivers as they claim they are (having been around a lot of them on the roads in Provence). If you want advice on pros/cons and driving issues, I presume you might start another thread. Every time someone asks someone like this, there are always people who ignore the actual question, make no suggestions, and just tell them they should drive.
As for hotels right in Aix, I stayed at the 2* Hotel Cardinal which has exactly what you want.
http://www.hotel-cardinal-aix.com/
Right near the center and the museum, and easily walkable to the train station and everywhere, and in your budget and has Provencal charm.
In Avignon, I've stayed at Hotel Medieval which was okay and they were very nice, but it wasn't quite as convenient to the train station as you might want if you plan to use it a lot. It's near Les Halles, a market.
http://www.hotelmedieval.com/hotel.php?langue=english
I wouldn't give it a huge thumbs up, but it was okay and cheap. I think there are probably better options, alhtough since it isn't right on the main square, it was pretty quiet (although I think there is some club down the street where locals go). I haven't stayed here, but planned to stay at Hotel Bristol the next time as it has a great location, and the prices are very reasonable (they often are in that area). http://www.bristol-avignon.com/fr/index.php
You can check tripadvisor, at budget prices, I think terrific options are somewhat limited. For example, I believe Hotel Cardinal has dicey reviews, but I had no problem and loved it. A nearby hotel similar in level (Quatre Dauphins) seems to have similar mixed reviews.
Aug 22nd, 2010, 05:33 PM
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Jan 14th, 2012, 12:28 AM
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I've stayed at the Hotel de Garlande in Avignon. http://bit.ly/Aumk4c
It's well within your budget, colourful, friendly. A bit noisy, but I think that's true of many places in the walled city.
It's well within your budget, colourful, friendly. A bit noisy, but I think that's true of many places in the walled city.
Jan 25th, 2012, 10:51 PM
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Hi,
We have been to Avignon and Aix several times and we prefer the private places like small B&Bs to unpersonal and large hotels.
We recommend a cute place in Avignon called la Banasterie. In Aix, we stayed at L'Epicerie (the owner is charming and the breakfast is just something you can't miss!)
Have a great time !!!!
We have been to Avignon and Aix several times and we prefer the private places like small B&Bs to unpersonal and large hotels.
We recommend a cute place in Avignon called la Banasterie. In Aix, we stayed at L'Epicerie (the owner is charming and the breakfast is just something you can't miss!)
Have a great time !!!!
