I have seen a few mentions here about a place called Mas d'Entremont. I finally found a web page at Francemarket and was able to see pictures, and it looks quite nice.<BR><BR>We are now considering this as a possible alternative to Villa Gallici due to the cost of the Gallici. A couple of questions though, from any of you who have stayed there recently....<BR><BR>1. Gallici is in a better location - can walk to the center of Aix. I hear we will need a car if we choose d'Entremont. I have also heard that parking is a nightmare in Aix. How far a walk/drive is this hotel, and will we be able to park once we are in Aix center? (we are going in May)<BR><BR>2. Someone commented somewhere on this board that the place was in need of "upkeep and maintenance". I do not want someplace "worn" or "tired" no matter how "charming" that may be to some. I would rather pay more at the Gallici and have a nice place.<BR><BR>3. There appears to be a great span of room prices on the web site. I am curious what makes up those differences - I think there is standard, superior, apartment, etc. I have also read in the one guidebook I found any listing on that they have rooms or bungalows. I would love if someone has a favorite room - again, we want nice.<BR><BR>Appreciate the help. Thanks!<BR><BR>

Kim, I don't know anything about d'Entremont, but I am staying at the least expensive room at the Gallici for $350/night in May. Queen bed with a garden view. I just booked it last week! I am only staying 2 days there. K

Kim:<BR><BR>Le Mas d'Entremont is not run down. The room we had was large and beautiful, and we are very "picky". We drove by the Villa Gallici. It is on a hill and not just a little stroll into town. The area around the Villa Gallici is very congested. There is plenty of free parking at le Mas d'Entremont. The grounds are beautiful, but you would have to have a car to go anywhere. The hosts (owners) are the best of anywhere in France. Le Mas d'Entremont is closed now. I believe they re-open in March. We stayed there last April (2001).<BR><BR>If you want a large, beautiful room go for the top of the line. It will still be cheaper than the Villa Gallici. If you want any more information just e-mail me before Nov, 29. We are leaving for Munich, Vienna and Budapest.

I forgot to tell you that le Masd'Entremont refuses to work with travel agents, whereas I believe the Villa Gallici deals almost exclusively with travel agents.<BR><BR>There was an article in the NY Daily News last summer about the Provence area and the le Mas d'Entremont was mentioned very favorably.<BR><BR>There is a book called "Hotel Gems of FRance" (Which I have) that has many beautiful pictures of le Mas d'Entremont.<BR><BR>I guess it is quite obvious that I like le Mas d'Entremont.

I'm the person who said that Mas d'Entremont could stand some spiffing up. I didn't mean to insinuate that it was dirty or in great need of repair, only that the basic property is spectacular (Relais and Chateaux potential) but that it would need some of those extra touches to make it into the R & C chain. E.g. The chairs by the pool were sort of helter skelter, not perfectly arranged and neatly turned out as I'd have expected at a R&C, our room could have used an airing, service in the restaurant was a bit slow. That said, it is a very nice place and you would be happy there. Not being a R&C it also doesn't have their prices so you can surely get a room for less than the $350 the Villa Galici charges. And yes, you will need a car to get into Aix from Entremont. Don't recall terrible parking problems in Aix. We stayed in a place separate from the main house/lodge. I guess that must be what they refer to as a bungalow. The room was very spacious and the bathroom was immense. There was a second bedroom upstairs (we'd only requested one double) with a little sink--the kind of place a young child would find cute and private.

I just stayed there last July and nothing was run down whatsoever. It was very, very nice. In my opinion, I would think that only someone extremely picky and used to staying in 5 star hotels could make a statement like that (it is a 4-star and deserves it). It appears the above criticisms are somewhat slow service in the restaurant (which may be unfamiliarity with French restaurants and their service standards, the service was not poor in the slightest when I was there, it was outstanding) and some askew chairs around the pool?? Well, I didn't use the pool, so maybe. The fact that they won't deal with travel agents is a plus as far as I'm concerned (I suspect that means they won't pay them a kickback, not that they refuse to make a reservation by them?). I cannot find a single thing about it to complain about and it does look pretty much exactly like its web site, which is why I booked it. YOu cannot walk from there to Aix, though, it's several miles, probably. Now, getting into Aix is simple as it's right on a main highway into Aix (the N7, I think). This is also a extremely convenient location if you have a car and want to tour elsewhere as you get in your car and go west each day to the Luberon, the famous abbey up there I forget the name, etc., and it's easy to go to Avignon on that route also (which is where I moved to after that). It was a little tricky finding my way into town and parking the first day, depends on how good you are with that, probably. the main road from the Mas goes right towards the main fountain of Aix and there is a public garage on that same road if you keep going on it past the fountain (towards the train station). That garage was full in the afternoons when I was there, though -- I took a right and kind of drove around the bus station a bit and found a public garage a few blocks away near a library. I was there in July though, very busy, and I suspect in May you'll be able to easily park in those main central garages which won't make it so hard. The staff were exceptionally gracious to me, it meant a lot to me as I'd just had a rather difficult flight on Air France (not all their fault) -- several hours late, my baggage was delayed in transit and lost for the time being and I'd had trouble finding the place. They were so nice to me, telling me not to worry that I couldn't change clothes for dinner (I had on casual pants and a T-shirt, I think--in fact, Provencal restaurants were more casual than in cities), that I looked fine, and then the front desk girl went out of her way to come to the restaurant to let me know when my bags arrived from Air France as she knew how worried and upset I was. In any case, the food was also some of the best cuisine I had in Provence, and I think the place was wonderful, it's one of my favorite places I've ever stayed. The rooms (bedroom, large foyer, bath) were huge and I had a private terrace. All of that was only about US$125, as I recall. I had a first-floor corner room which was very nice because I sort of got two terraces and no one on one side. The apts are for families, I think; I noticed one on the upper level (most are just ground level, as I recall, there are only a few on the upper level). I just had a regular room and it was terrific, so I'm sure the superior would be really great. I can't recall my room number, though.

Checked my fax - Gallici was 350 Euro not $/night. I am going to check out Mas d'Entremont!