maryh1333

We will be spending Tues Oct 24 - Friday 27th in Provence. We have a car and I had wanted to stay in Avignon for convenience. Some hotels list that they have free parking, but in reading reviews other travelers have written that could mean there is a public parking garage or street parking near by and we'd have to schlep our bags several blocks to the hotel, and we're not as young as we once were. If we stay outside Avignon in a property with parking on-site we would need to drive into Avignon and find parking for each of the days that we are there. I wonder if anyone has experience with the parking situation in Avignon, is there adequate public parking outside the city walls and bus transport into the city center and tourist sites? Also any recommendations on hotels or B&Bs in or near Avignon would be appreciated. Thank you.

starrs

We waited to pick up our car at the train station AFTER staying in the walled section of old Avignon. Perhaps you could do something similar. Park your car somewhere (train station?) and take a cab in to your hotel in town for the days you plan to stay there.

k_marie

We enjoyed our stay (several years ago) at Le Cloitre St-Louis, just inside the walls, not far from the train station. We did not have a car and walked to the sites of interest in town. On site parking is available for a fee.

Our room in the original section was quite large, with tile floor and simple, unfussy furnishings. Bathroom was large and modern. I did look at one of the rooms in the modern wing and remember it did not have the appeal of our room. We breakfasted there each day and had dinner one night. I would happily return.

mjs

You have 4 full days for Provence? What do you plan to use the car for during this time? There is underground parking that is easy to drive to if coming from the outside. There are signs for parking availability and I suspect availability would not be a problem in late October during the week. What do you plan to do with your car after your Provence dates?

maryh1333

Thank you for all the replies. I realized I should have been clearer. We will have been traveling for several weeks with a car before we get to Avignon.

maryh1333

Thank you for the parking information that could work for us. We will be traveling for several weeks before and after we get to Avignon. After Provence we will continue over to the Atlantic coast and then back to Paris

maryh1333

Thank you for the recommendation. I looked at their website and it looks lovely.

maryh1333

Thank you for the recommendation. I looked at their website and it looks lovely.

jpie

We have also stayed at the Le Cloitre St-Louis and really loved it. We also had a car and the parking was well worth it to be able to have the car close. We had friends with us and booked one room in the original building and another in the newer building. Both were very good rooms-the older ones are more charming but in my memory the modern one might have had more space.

starrs

If you are looking at locations before/ after Avignon, I adored this place about 30 minutes away -

Chambres d'hôtes en Provence et Gîtes de Luxe - Mas Notre Dame
"Mas Notre Dame is located a few steps from the charming village of Eygalières at the foot of the Alpilles in Provence."

I did not want to leave.

Christina

I've never had a problem just driving into the underground garage under the main square for a day visit as a tourist, but I haven't been there in some years. Avignon has an extensive bus/tram system. There are several parking lots around the main train station, like St Charles, that are reasonably priced.

this is it if you need it
https://www.parking.ai/en/avignon/de...s-m-c2864-ppd/

But if you book at Cloitre St Louis. they are supposed to have a large enough car park available. If you to, the parking lots around the gare aren't that far, someone could maybe drive to the hotel, drop bags, then go back there to park. That hotel seems to have vacancies, though, I"m impressed with how cheap it is end of October versus summer, what a deal.

joannyc

I stayed at this hotel in 2015. Great location, across the street from the walls of the old town and very close to the train station. Lovely hotel. Parking is available. It was 17 euros/night back then so I can’t imagine what it is now! But, that was also during the Avignon Theater Festival held in July so maybe the rate was increased for that.

https://www.avignon-grand-hotel.com/en/

tomboy

We stayed either 2 or 3 times in Aix en Provence at the Best Western Hotel.
Yes, it's a hotel, and a chain at that, and not a quaint B&B.
BUT
you can park at the front door, check in, get the bags inside, then the parking lot is around the back behind the pool. Walled in, onlly BW customers
there's a bus stop maybe 100 feet from the door; the bus is one, maybe two stops from the Cour Mirabeau in central Aix
the first stay we walked to the Cour; the last stay we bussed it (age, you know)
very good breakfast
given the choice on another trip to Aix, we'd opt for BW rather than quaint B&B; got plenty of that elsewhere.

maryh1333

Thank you for everyone for all the great information on hotel recommendations and info on parking and the parking link. This will help us make a better decision on what to do. I can't believe the number of people that took time to offer suggestions and information. Thank you all again.