We will be in Avignon and Aix for 2 nights each. We arrive in Avignon from Paris and will pick up our car at the end of our stay. We will be in Aix at the end of our trip to Provence and will still have the car. We are looking at hotels and need some advice. The Palais de Papes and the Blauvac both look ok. Between the two any preferences? In Aix we had considered the Quatre Dauphins but I have not received info from them despite a Fax.(I would,of course, think I'd like to stay at Le Prieure or Le Pigonnet but perhaps in the next life.) We need quiet, clean and proximity to sites. In Aix we will need to deal with the car unless we can arrange to drop it off prior to our stay then take the train from Aix back to Paris.

Pam:

Consider staying in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, about 15 mins drive from Avignon. I stayed in this hotel on my first visit to Provence, two years ago, and highly recommend it.

http://www.hostellerie-la-magnaneraie.com/uk/offres.php

Regards ... Ger

We stayed at the Manoir in Aix because it has it's own car parc.

Will you be taking the TGV from Aix? If so, that's clearly the best place to stay rather than going back to Avignon. We like Le Mas d'Entremont, which is located in Celony, just a quick trip up the motorway from Aix. It's part Provençal mas, part bungalows in the grounds, and very, very nice. The restaurant is excellent, and there's a pleasant pool.

D'arlatan is very lovely and has a car park.

In Avignon we stayed at Hotel Saint Roch, telephone 90.82.18.63. This was years ago so I don't know if it's still operating, but if so I would look into it. It was lovely, with gardens, and a wonderful coffee and croissant in the morning, and it's located right at the edge of the old part of Avignon. We arrived by TGV and walked there.

I have stayed at the Blauvac several times, and once when they were filled and I did not reserve ahead, I stayed at a Mercure that I believe was the Palais des Papes. The latter is more modern with nicer rooms and a better view. I am rather partial to the Blauvac because I like the people who run it. It is composed of two old houses with a wonderful open stairway between. No lift, but the stairs are easy to navigate. No view, but I like the rooms that face the front of the hotel better than those on the side. Some have said their rooms were not kept up well, threadbare, etc. I took breakfast across the street at a patisserie/coffee shop. Both hotels are in the center of the old town. I have stayed at Quatre Dauphins and liked it, too. It, too, does not have a lift; if you don't like climbing stairs, you might not like it. The location is quite good, and the people at the reception were very nice. Breakfast was included. We used a parking garage nearby. Don't leave anything in your car, even in the trunk. We had wine stolen from the trunk.

If Quatre Dauphins doesn't come through, I stayed in the 2* Hotel Cardinal very near there (not far from the museum) and it was truly charming and one of the nicest 2* hotels I've ever stayed at. Their doubles are less than 100 euro, and it does have a lift. It is within walking distance to most everything you'd want (you must know the location) and you can probably deal with the car as there are a couple public garages on larger streets not too far away. The street itself is very small and narrow, but I think cars are allowed on it -- taxis are, anyway.

It does have great reviews on tripadvisor, also, I see.