Help with Alsace
 

We are going to Alsace then through Lyon to Northern Provence and then to the Riviera. Does anyone have suggestions for three or four star hotels, local restaurants and sights to see?

Thanks

Here's a link to Hotels in the Alsace region:

http://www.visit-alsace.com/hotels/hotels_ang_3e.html

We stayed in the Ami Fritz, in Ottrott. I would highly recommend it. They had their own restraunt with dishes of the area -- excellent.

There are some other great little towns/villages such as Obernai, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr. You can get around the area very easily.

Colmar is another option. Some people love Colmar, and some don't -- I'm among the "don't's" because I thought it was just another big industrial town, even though they had a small section called Petit Venice, which I thought was just OK. ((b))

We were there years ago and stayed at a nondescript (read cheap) hotel in the middle of the wine route for easy access up and down the valley.

Any of the good guide books should have lots of info.

You do realize that you are in Michelin Starred Restaurants heaven. More concentration of their starred restaurants here than anywhere else.

We went to Auberge d' Ille (*** in Ille) and Le Crocodille (** in Strausbough) and both were exceptional. If I close my eyes I can still taste the sauce on my trout from the Auberge. The only problem is those dinner set us back almost $300US in 1990. Today they are up around $500 with moderate wine selections.

If you are wine geeks (and I use that as a compliment) you will be in heaven. Have your local wine merchant arrange a few tours. The wineries would also be able to recommend great accomodations. The two "cities", Strausbough (fantastic) and Colmar (another industrial city) are kind of at opposite ends of the region. Stay somewhere in the middle but certainly visit Strausbough.

Oh two other thoughts: I hope your aren't "colesterol challenged" because Alsatian food is fantastic but not light. Also, if you are car buffs, the Auto Museum in Mulhouse is unbelievable. Largest collection of Bugatis on earth and more Ferraris than you can comprehend. orth checking out although Mulhouse is definitely an industry center and not worth it except the museum.

Anyway, you'll love Alsace. It's picture postcard perfect!

Brian

I assume that you are driving. The <i>route du vin</i> is something to do. Strasbourg is a nice town, with one of the great French cathedrals. The former bishop's palace behind it has a large procelain collection. You might want to get <i>Discovering the Villages of France</i> by Michael Busselle. We use it as a way of meandering around the area's countryside, trying to find the villages. It would be useful for any area of France. You might also do a search on Strasbourg and Alsace for other recommendations.

In the very tiny town of Itterswiller (along the Routes des Vins) there is a hotel that overlooks vineyards called the Hotel Arnold.

We were later told the Hotel Arnold was a terific place to go for dinner (30 Euro, four course dinner - looked really good).

We stayed at Le Clos Saint Vincent, in the vineyards overlooking Ribeauville. The food at the restaurant was terrific, but the hotel is a little stuffy for my taste. I would not recommend staying there. It was the waiter at the restaurant at Clos Saint Vincent who recommended The Hotel Arnold. He said it was some of the best food in the area at a reasonable price.

I'd stay in one of the many small towns that dot the Routes des Vins. I am also not one who liked Colmar.
((H))

The Relais aux Ch&acirc;teaux hotel group (not a chain; members are individual hotels) has a number of lovely hotels in Alsace, most associated with very fine restaurants. Have a look at the web site.

we just stayed in strasbourg at the comfort inn next to the river. it was very nice and 65e per night. a great value. the rooms were huge, wood floors etc. we then took day trips to baden-baden, colmar etc.

I personally like the Hotel Regent Petit France in Strasbourg (http://regent-hotels.com/petite-france/index.html).

I have stayed in Relais and Chateaux hotels in the past and they are lovely but recently I have felt that their prices are excessive for the product they offer.

What a nice surprise to find all the help you all have offered to us. Yes we like wine, and good food. We also take loads of pictures with a collection of cameras we bring with us. We are frequent travelers to France, and like small perched villages or the ones that look like the perched ones on a lower level.
If only the dollar would rise, like it was 3 years ago it would be great.
This is the first time on this board so again you are all of great help.

Harry

tarte flambe yummie