I am already trying to plan next years trip. I am looking at renting a villa for a week in provence but thought it might be nice to spend a couple of days in Collioure. Does anyone know of any good hotels? I was looking at Le Bon Port but would like to know if anyone has stayed there or another hotel and their experience. Thanks

I don't know Le Bon Port, but there are two hotels in Collioure I love. One is the Hostellerie des Templiers (011-33-4-68-98-31-10, or fax at 011-33-4-68-98-01-24). This is a really quirky place, owned by a fellow named Jojo who was friends with many, many French artists - and their work adorns the hallways, beams, rafters, wherever you can hang a picture. We are talking Matisse, Picasso, Dufy, Dali...2,000 works in all (yes, they've had problems with theft). Amazingly, the price of a room is only about 335-400FF (to sleep with a Picasso on your wall!)The restaurant, which specializes in seafood, is very good. It's necessary to reserve fairly well in advance, for obvious reasons. <BR>The other is the Casa Païral (o11-33-4-68-82-05-81; fax: 011-33-4-68-82-52-10) (Pardon me if I am sending numbers for calling from American to someone in another country). This is a little "folie," a small castle of tropical Hollywood aspect set in a little oasis - also quirky but in a different way. Rooms are 500 to 1,000F and they have AC. Also necessary to reserve in advance. You don't say when you're going, but Collioure is wall-to-wall tourists in July and August. Keep that in mind, as it's quite a schlep from Provence.

topping for Heather re Casa Paoral.

I stayed at Casa Pairal a few years ago; at the time, it was considered to be one of the nicest in Collioure.

We stayed at the Relais de 3 Mas in Collioure. It was beautiful, perched high on the mountain with great views to the sea. The rooms are small, but they come with a unique jacuzzi-type bathtub to be enjoyed with a special herbal bath foam, which the owner enthusiastically explains how to use! I believe the restaurant is a Michenlin 1-star and was indeed delicious. Have fun!

I cannot recommend the Relais des Trois Mas in Collioure after a very disappointing stay in February 2002.<BR>The reservations were not handled well, the hotel looked VERY tired and seemed grossly overpriced to us (especially after a lovely stay the nights before in Carcassonne at the Hotel de la Cite which was truly outstanding). Our "jacuzzi bath" was not working, the outdoor furniture was dirty and unusable, the communal hot tub was lacking any water, and the room (referred to as a suite) was large but lacking in charm. It was certainly possible to walk into town for dinner which we did every night, but if going again, we would stay in the old town. Collioure itself was delightful and we would happily return, but not to the Trois Mas.