My wife and I will be spending the last two weeks of October in Provence, one week in Avignon and one in Aix-en-Provence. My questions is about the Grand Hotel Negre Coste in Aix. The Fodors summary praises the hotel's location but is pretty lukewarm beyond that. Does anyone have experience with this hotel that you can share? <BR> <BR>

We are also going to Provence on October 26 and will stay in Avignon and <BR>Aix. In Avignon we are staying in Le Magneneraie Hostellerie, is not in town <BR>but very close to... and its like a small Chateaux.. and in Aix in Le Bastide Du Roy Rene... also very nice <BR>and Out of Town but very nearby... <BR>I have read about Negre Coste and it <BR>seems very nice and it has good reviews.

We stayed at the Magnaneraie in Villeneueve-les-Avignon several years ago. It is not a stared restaurant, but the food is excellent ( owner is a master chef). The owners are very nice and try to find just the right room for you.

Thank you Mariyn for your feedback... <BR>Is the Magnaneraie a nice Hotel, are <BR>the rooms spacious, and the surroundings <BR>are they country?

Please go to Fodors.com and look up <BR>The Hotel Negre-Coste, I don't think they have a very good review.... <BR>Thank You

As luck would have it, my wife and I will be spending six nights at the Hotel Negre-Coste at the end of this month. I too have read the review on Fodors but was unable to make the change. I will try to post my own review of this hotel on my return.

Oops, <BR> <BR>I just responded to my own posting!

My mom and I stayed at the Negre-Coste for a week or so in Spring 1998. It was certainly good value for the money and it has a great location if you want to be right in the center of town within easy walking distance of many restaurants, but it does lack some in the charm area. It has no lobby to speak of and the breakfast room is small and dreary, but its clean and well kept. We had a fairly large double, furnished with "antique" pieces. <BR> <BR>I certainly liked its location better than the "Quatre Dauphins" hotel which gets raves for its charm but is in a kind of rundown area a longish way from most of the action. <BR> <BR>I do go for charm however, and were I to return to Aix, would probably opt for something like the Villa Gallici which is on the outskirts of town, but gorgeous with full service and higher prices. <BR>

I wrote to Villa Gallici for reservations, but they quoted $100++++++ <BR>almost $200.00 with breakfast.... too <BR>much for us. We Reserved at Chateau <BR>De la Pioline, it looks very Nice, and <BR>charming in the outskirts, and for <BR>$127.00 for a double + breakfast. <BR>

Marta, this message is for you. Sorry it is so late, but I don"t read this section all the time. Le Magnaneraie is not what I would call luxurious, but it is very nice. They have several different types of rooms. We didn"t like the first one they showed us, but as they weren't full they gave us one that we really liked. The surrounding gardens are lovely. When we arrived I was a bit "shell shocked" as we had just arrived from Aix, where we had been robbed by two lads on a motorcycle. That is another story. Be careful in Aix. I know several people that were robbed there. Have fun! France is the best. Marilyn

Thank you Marilyn., I will have you <BR>suggestions in mind. <BR>I will let you know about our experience <BR>We are going straight to Avignon, to <BR>La Magnaneraie. (Its our first Stop.) <BR>How about weather....

Marta, the weather should be nice in provence in the fall, but you never know for sure. Layering is the best idea,as many Fodorites say. I would like to hear about your trip when you return. I can never get enough of France. Marilyn

Hi Marilyn: thank you for your input. <BR>I will let you know on my return about <BR>my experiences... <BR>We are staying in Aix in the Chateau <BR>De La Pioline, have you any idea? <BR>Well it seems very nice and beautiful <BR>gardens.... <BR>I will let you know.