We will have 3 days to spend in a sea-front location between our time in Provence and Barcelona this summer (early July).

Which town do you recommend?

Our other locations will be : Mazamet (3 days) Avignon (6 days) and Barcelona (3 days).

Thanks to all for your views.

Nevertooold:

We favor Cadaques after two delightful stays there...we used the Playa Sol hotel with balcony overlooking the bay...the Dali home a few kms. away is a unique and colorful take-in. Strolling Cadaques the town itself is very pleasant. An evening at Anita's popular informal resto...family style..everyone gets involved passing along the <i>bota.</i>

Sitges did not appeal to us.

stu tower

Thanks Stu - is the beach in Cadaques sand or pebble? Does it have small interesting shops and would 3 days be too many?

By the way, we were considering Hotel Octavio - are you familiar with it?

Thanks again.

never:

Don't know the Octavio..is it on the beach? The Playa is, a pebble beach...but they do hav a beautiful pool which in Julyis a welcome sight...most beaches on the bay are pebble...there is some sand on the beaches bear the Dali home in Port Ligat nearby. There are some inetresting shops in town, pottery and the like...you can certainly stay two days instead of three and still get in all the sights..depends, if you want to relax, 3 days in Cadaques is the ticket.

www.playasol.com

stu

A town just south of Cadaques for a day trip is Roses and it has a large beautiful sand beach.

Cadaques could win the "most beautiful white town"-contest. It is spectacularly located and offers a lot. It is not exactly a beach town, although it has pebble beaches. Expect colourful fishing boats on the beaches and fishermen mending their nets. A very picturesque place.

When you are having dinner there, try suquet or zarzuela - the local fish or seafood speciality.

We stayed at Hotel Rocamar and liked it very much. The rooms are somewhat basic (3 star level), but they have direct access to two beaches, an outdoor and an indoor pool and a good restaurant with exceptional service (order a Spanish brandy after your first dinner there).

You should drive to Cap Creus north of Cadaques - you will see many of Dali's landscapes there - a "grandiose geological delirium" as Dali put it.

Hotel Octavia is right in the center of Cadaques, not directly on the beach. I would check Rocamar or Playasol. (Playasol has are very tiny beach across the road)

We have stayed a number of times in Roses and love it. The beach is especially good if you have kids with you-it is a long open shallow bay so very go for waders and playing on the beach. You would be close to elBulli-the famous 3 star restaurant if you care

We also like Coulliore in France-although not a good beach town-it is more about the port and little shops there.

Just out of curiosity why Mazamet-my husband was born there and we mostly try to AVOID going to visit....

>>>You would be close to elBulli-the famous 3 star restaurant if you care<<<

Forget this. You need to reserve two to three years in advance. So maybe for a trip in 2012.

jpie - we are choosing Mazamet as it is equidistant between Albi and Carcassonne, and the hotel, Villa Mazamet is #1 B&B in France on tripadviser.

According to their website, elBulli will be releasing info on 2010 reservations in December. But it is really for serious foodies only as it is very $$ and very cutting edge.

nevertooold, the B&B in Mazamet looks terrific-maybe we will end up there when we go back for family visits. Your trip sounds lovely. By the way you might be interested in checking out a site called Hidden Cabin: http://www.hiddencabin.com/index.php.

It is a company that makes really beautiful wool and leather stuff (Mazamet historically is known for these products.) I met them because they are tenants of a little cabin owned by an aunt of my husband-she told me that they were renting to an "American business-woman." She is from Minnesota and married to a Scottish husband and they have started a very successful business in the region. I think they have 5 children and think many of the blond kids modeling on the site are theirs

Have a great time in SW France it is still kind of a hidden gem of a region..at least parts of it.

Cadaques is a fantastic place, recommended way over Sitges. The Hotel Octavia is within easy walking distance to the main plaza but it is not on the beach. Friends who stayed there recently raved about it (price/quality ratio). Good luck! You'll love the fish restaurants, paellas and local specialties. Rent a motor scooter and go to Cap de Creus; walk to the lighthouse and make sure you visit during a full moon.