Hello all. Is anyone familiar with either the Hotel Nord Pinus in Arles or the Hotel Pigonnet in Aix-en-Provence? We are 2 old friends on a 40th birthday escape from our husbands and kids. We're at the Normandie in Paris for a few days, got the whole Belle Epoque thing covered there, looking for something more rustic in Provence. Capo? Fred? Any insights?

Looking for rustic/local hotel in Aix? Try:<BR>Le Manoir<BR>8 rue d'Entrecastaux<BR>13100 Aix-en-Provence<BR>France<BR>Tel: 011-33-4-42-26-27-20<BR>Fax: 011-33-4-42-27-17-97<BR>Right in the heart of the old town. Has it's own parking lot. A minute walk to the old town square. For Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

We spent a night at the Nord Pinus, my French is so bad so<BR>I refer to it as the North Penis. The hotel is lovely but we had a room facing the street looking over the place de forum, extremely noisy and getting the car in and out was very difficult.I have heard good things here about the Pigonet and I believe there is a web site.

Laura: We stayed at the Hotel Calendal in Arles last May and loved it. We had a wide terrace overlooking the Roman theater (Roman arena also nearby). Since we love Roman history was an ideal location for us. Walking distance of most places of interest, nice breakfast room, tea each afternoon, lovely staff, and several restaurants nearby.<BR><BR>www.lecalendal.com<BR>contact@lecal endal.com<BR><BR>Thank you would enjoy it there.<BR><BR>j

Laura: We stayed at the Hotel Calendal in Arles last May and loved it. We had a wide terrace overlooking the Roman theater (Roman arena also nearby). Since we love Roman history was an ideal location for us. Walking distance of most places of interest, nice breakfast room, tea each afternoon, lovely staff, and several restaurants nearby.<BR><BR>www.lecalendal.com<BR>contact@lecal endal.com<BR><BR>Think you would enjoy it there.<BR><BR>j

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Hi Laura. Not familiar with either of those. In Arles, we stayed at a wonderful small hotel run by a very friendly couple (the woman, Agnes, speaks very good English and makes the jams served at breakfast) called the Hotel Le Cloitre, in the heart of Arles, only a cobblestone's throw from the Roman arena. See the website below:<BR><BR>http://members.aol.com/hotelcloitre/ <BR><BR>

Hi Laura - I stayed at Le Pigonnet last summer and loved it. Our room was quite small, but beautifully furnished with antiques and a very comfortable bed. We had been made aware of the size of the room, and had a good deal on it so it wasn't a problem. The hotel is set in the most gorgeous tranquil gardens - although it's less than a 10-minute walk to the centre of Aix it feels like a country villa. Breakfast is served on a shady terrace, food was great and the staff very friendly. I highly reccomend Le Piggonet, and will be going back there myself in September.

Hi Lindsey! You said you got "a good deal" at the Piggonet. Would you mind telling how much you paid and where you found the deal? I contacted them for May and found it to be quite expensive. Thanks

Hi Arlene - I booked directly with the hotel in my very faltering French, and from memory the room (which was with shower only, and probably the smallest in the hotel) was 650FF - with the strong pound last summer it worked out, with breakfast for two and tax, at about &pound;80 for the night. However, we were there on a Monday evening, which i guess is quieter than a weekend?

Wow, Lindsey, you did so well. They quoted me 190 euros per nite (I think for a medium room) plus 13 euros for a continental breakfast or 20 euros for a buffet breakfast. What a difference! This is May, so you would think it would be less than in summer! I wrote in English...maybe that was a mistake!<BR><BR>Anyway, we booked the 3* Paul Cezanne for 103 euros (no breakfast)..We shall see!

When we went to Provence a couple of years back used Karen Brown's Small Inns book and LOVED every place she recommended that we tried. She covers all price ranges and tastes and you can find some very unique places. H

Hi Arlene,<BR>did you call to reserve hotel in Aix?<BR>Is e-mailing okay? What does topping mean? Thanks from your Texas connection!

Hi Arlene,<BR>Did you book Paul Cezanne by phone directly or e-mail? What does topper<BR>mean? Your Texas connection!!

Hi Judi! Topper mean that someone wants a topic to come up again, so that it doesn't get burried and people can read and/or add to it.<BR><BR>The Mercure chain has a 1-800 number, but in the end I booked through a local travel agent. There is a discount for people over 55, but strangely, they won't give it to you unless you book through an agent. I hope we like the hotel. Au revoir. P.S. Canada just won the gold in hockey. Very nice!!

We stayed one nite at the Manoir that Fred mentions...very nice worth the price, not expensive, but have your breakfast elsewhere, tho it is included. It was the worst we ever had.

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