What is your recommendations for a hotel in Avignon that is relatively inexpensive, but would be appealing to a couple in their 60s? It would be nice to have an outdoor sitting area/ garden.
Thanks!

When are you going to Avignon? I spent a long time trying to find something within the old part of the city for July, when the festival is and the prices are very inflated, but had no other viable choice with my schedule- but, if you use TripAdvisor it ranks the hotels for you by price and the Rick Steves book also has several suggestions- including using Arles as a base and taking the train, since hotels there are cheaper...

We will be there May 31 and Jun 1, leaving Jun 2 for a week in Arles (using as a base) I've looked at TripAdvisor, but thought this would be a good place to ask around too. Thanks!

The Rick Steves book lists: Hotel du Parc [email protected] and Hotel Colbert at www.lecolbert-hotel.com as two budget options near the Centre-Ville station...there are about six or seven others listed in other areas of the city- you'll have a much easier time than I did, since you won't be contending with the festival. Hope this helps!

Here's a review I wrote in 2004 about Hotel Mignon:

If you need to stay in Avignon on the cheap, this is the place. It's in the shadow of the Pope's Palace, on the chic rue Joseph Vernet, and close to just about everything. The ceiling fans help with hot nights and was an unexpected luxury in a one star hotel. Reception was extremely helpful and friendly. We got a 3 person room for 62 euros including breakfast, which was about as cheap as it gets within the ramparts of Avignon. We were able to park our car in the more secure Pope Palace garage for only 7 euros (because we didn't move it the whole time).

But if you have a car, I would recommend exploring the gites and chambre d'otes peppering the surrounding area. You could probably find something much more interesting for less.

Ask for a room overlooking the Vernet street. There's still some street noise, but as it's lined with shops that close at 7pm, it's a little more quiet.

Use the money you save staying here at the restaurant up the street "Le Vernet". It was divine.

If it isn't imperative that you stay in the center of Avignon, I can recommend a lovely hotel about 10 miles NW of Avignon: LE PONT DU ROY; www.hotelpontduroy.fr. I stayed there back in late September and found it to be delightful. a father/son team; dad manages and son is the chef. Chef goes into Avignon daily and buys the freshest items at the market and serves up wonderful meals; fish, lamb, scallops, beef etc. My room with a view of a vineyard right outside my window was 66 Euros.

While my friends and I were there, we were graciously offered a demi-pension of breakfast and dinner for an additional 29 Euros,(wine was extra).

Hope this helps somewhat..