fanelli

Traveling to Avignon area and Aix in Provence this August...what are your favorite quasi-luxury hotels ($200-$400ish per night)...prefer to go to local restaurants and able to walk versus drive...any compelling ideas??

Would really love any and all feedback!
MF ([email protected])

artlover

We stayed at Hotel le Pigonnet in Aix and loved it! The rooms were charming with a gorgeous all marble bathroom, the grounds are beautiful, and it is walking distance to the center of town. (Also has free parking.) Would highly recommend it.

purplefish

We stayed at Hostellerie du Chateau des Fines Roches and loved being surrounded by the smell of grapes. The hotel is in the Chateauneuf de Pape area where vineyards are everywhere. This hotel has its own vineyard and a great restaurant. It's facade looks like a castle. It has 6 rooms which are beautifully decorated and very spacious. We paid around $160 which I think is a great price for the kind of room and bathroom that they had. Check out the website www.chateaufinesroches.com

lisay

Hi Mike

I just came back from Provence. Stayed in 2 hotels, one of which is L hotel in town of St Remy's ...very cosy town with good restaurants. The town is very lovely and within walking distance to everything...they have very good and cheap restaurants (US$70 for 2 for dinner)...One of which is La Gousse D'ail and the other Allan Duccase.. Check the hotel web www.hotelphoto.com

With your budget, you can consider a Chateau near avignon. Done up in a very hip manner but really luxury with bathtubs from Philip Stark...Check out their web www.chateau-de-massillan.com. However, i must say u will need a car to get anywhere cause it is built in the midst of a forest

Didnt have so much good impression of Aix cause the traffic there is really bad and almost impossible to park..However, i must say these towns are really different cause Avignon and Aix are much bigger ...

Judy

We stayed at LePigonnet in Aix and Hotel d'Europe in Avignon....loved them both and could walk to dinner. Actually in Avignon we ate in the hotel restaurant and it was wonderful! As someone noted Le Pigonnet has ample parking and Hotel d'Europe has valet garage parking.

sandi

In Aix we stayed at the Villa Gallici, located North in the hills, very private - all decorated in "over-the-top" country French. Private driveway, pool. A short 5-minute walk in the town center. Rate within your range. We absolutely loved it.

St. Remy is a better base as not as crowded as Avignon and easy to get to all areas going N (to Avignon, Orange, Pont du Gard, Chat. de Papes); E (to the Luberon and Petite Luberon villages - Gordes, Rousillion, Abbaye de Sannque, Bonnieux, etc.) S (to Arles, Les Baux, Glanum, Camarque, Aigues Mortes) and W (to Nimes, Uzes).

Lots of restaurants in both Aix and St. Remy.
Enjoy your holiday.

Powell

One other thing on Gousse d'Ail: is a fine restaurant but small-14 tables. On Thursday nights is Jazz Night--real fun with Grapelli-style jazz-need reservations. Say hello from the Spinelli's to the owner, Tjebbe, a real gentleman.

Amnthony Spinelli

herman

I know you said walk, but if you are willing to drive around Provence, Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave in the town of same name is 25 miles north easterly of Avignon. It is a wonderful and luxurious retreat with swimming pool, excellent restaurant, on top of a hill overlooking the countryside, near the foot of Mont Ventoux. The owners are very helpful in providing guidance to regional attractions. They have a web site at http://www.crillonlebrave.com/english/welcome/