We stayed at the Hotel Les Ateliers in St. Remy last October...very nice, with a beatiful view of the mountains from the pool/hot tub area...also just steps away from the Wednesday market. In St. Remy, make sure you pick up some Mas des barres (sp?) olive oil...it is made in the area and really wonderful. Also stop in at Joel Durand Chocolates in St. Remy...really wonderful! I thought Les Baux and St. Remy were the best of Provence IMHO!

Does anyone know whether the shops in Les Baux are closed Monday mornings in July?

Les Baux is one of those very touristy towns where I suspect that the shops are always open. Same with Gordes. We've never been to les Baux on a Sunday or Monday, however (have been go Gordes on Sun & Mon)

Stu Dudley

Does anyone know whether the shops are open "all day" in any of the following towns: St Paul de Vence, Vence, Eze, and Beaulieu Sur Mer -

- or are they all closed for extended lunch?

Christina, actually L'Hermitage was on my list and their website (www.hotel-lhermitage.com) states that most of their rooms have AC. I am going to check it out. If not then I will probably try Gordes as Stu recommends.

Thanks again everyone for your suggestions. I don't know what I would have done without this forum. Whatever places we don't fit in, that will just be an excuse to come back. I am sure it will be wonderful no matter what.

Stu, does map 113 cover all of the roads of your lavender route? If not what other map do I need?

113 covers it all

Stu Dudley

I believe map 113 covers the entire Provence area at a scale of 1/160,000 see: http://www.maptown.com/cgi-bin/mt/st...store_id=14902.

Maps 332 and 340 cover portions at a scale of 1/150,000 and coordinate with the Michelin Green Guide. For example, under each town name it gives the number of the map and the coordinates. http://www.maptown.com/michelin-france-local.html

I have map 528 regional map which I bought at the bookstore and have found Stu's lavender route on it but it is extremely tiny and hard to see.

www.languagequest.com/traveler/index.php
sells Michelin maps for less than Maptown and they charge less for shipping but I don't believe they have map 113. I have ordered maps from them but they haven't arrived yet.

topping for later...

I just ordered map 113 and 528 from Maptown. I little pricey because they are coming from Canada. We will see if I get them. My next step is to try and book my hotels and then I will try for the TGV. May need help with that one.

Not too sure why you ordered the 528 map. Everything you mentioned on your "want to see" itinerary is well within the 113 map. I bet you won't take the 528 with you to Provence. Like Ronda said, it's too hard to read - especially when you are riding in a car. It's also a lot bigger physically.

Stu Dudley

My fault, I ordered it before I read your response. Next time I will wait for you.

I just received an email from Maptown. They said the 113 map has been discontinued. I don't know if that means they are discontinuing it or Michelin is discontinuing it. I am trying to cancel my entire order with them. I did find the 113 map on thesavvytraveller.com. Does anyone know anthing about this site before I try and order it from them?

Does map 113 go as far north as the Dentelles and Vaison-la-Romaine?

Never mind, I finally saw a picture close enough to see that it does go that far north.

I also just found map 113 on the Rand McNally site so I went ahead and ordered from them. I know that company so felt more comfortable ordering from them.

I've ordered many maps here
http://www.maptown.com/

I've seen map 113 in the stores here in San Francisco as recently as 2 weeks ago. The map covers areas very far north of the Dentelles - as far as Aubenas & Montellimar, and as far west as Montpellier & east to Marseille.

Stu, for some reason Maptown told me that map 113 was being discontinued and tried to sell me an IGN map that didn't cover everything I needed so I cancelled my order with them.

Christina, I reserved a room at Hotel L'Hermitage today. Francoise was very nice. She said she reserved a large room with air conditioning for me. I am making progress. I think the TGV will be my challenge when the time comes. I will be practicing in the next week or two so that I will have it down. I printed MorganB's instructions from another post so hopefully it will so smooth.

Nice to read comments re. Jane's itinerary. I would be very greatful for feedback on the one I posted (before hers).
Many thanks!
Michèle