Provence- Le Mas Perreal or Cavaillon Cottage or La Bastide Marechal Denier or ?
Jul 1st, 2008, 08:19 AM
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Provence- Le Mas Perreal or Cavaillon Cottage or La Bastide Marechal Denier or ?
I am making plans for a solo two week trip to Provence in October and trying to decide between these 3 places to stay.
Two of them have kitchens, which is a nice feature when staying for two weeks. I welcome any input from those who have experienced these places or have other recommendations.
http://www.masperreal.com/index.html
http://www.vrbo.com/26479
http://www.bastidemarechaldenier.com...artements.html
Two of them have kitchens, which is a nice feature when staying for two weeks. I welcome any input from those who have experienced these places or have other recommendations.
http://www.masperreal.com/index.html
http://www.vrbo.com/26479
http://www.bastidemarechaldenier.com...artements.html
Jul 1st, 2008, 08:50 AM
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We very much enjoyed our stay in Bonnieux. It makes a good base for seeing the region. It has several good restaurants and enough shops to keep your apartment well stocked.
The town of Bonnieux is very steep so I wouldn't recommend the town for anyone that has a hard time getting around.
I can't really comment on the apartment itself other than to say that there have been other favorable reviews for it here.
http://tinyurl.com/3w5l5w
Good luck with your planning
The town of Bonnieux is very steep so I wouldn't recommend the town for anyone that has a hard time getting around.
I can't really comment on the apartment itself other than to say that there have been other favorable reviews for it here.
http://tinyurl.com/3w5l5w
Good luck with your planning
Jul 1st, 2008, 08:54 AM
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I haven't stayed in any of them, but they all seem reasonable possibilities. I don't like B&Bs so wasn't that interested in it, but even if I were going to stay in a B&B, I never would stay in one for two whole weeks. Looks okay if you like B&Bs. None of the beds seem to have any decent reading lights next to them (at least one doesn't have one at all, and the others are those small decorative things), another pet peeve of mine as I like to read in bed. I suppose some folks never read, though, but I wouldn't like that in a place I was staying two weeks.
I really like the VRBO apt., that's the one I'd go for. Cavaillon isn't the most exciting city, I don't think, but I imagine it's outside it and it is a good central location for getting around (and near main roads).
I really like the VRBO apt., that's the one I'd go for. Cavaillon isn't the most exciting city, I don't think, but I imagine it's outside it and it is a good central location for getting around (and near main roads).
Jul 1st, 2008, 09:03 AM
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Christina,
Just wanted to correct your comment regarding reading lights next to our beds (I think you were referring to our B&B above). Both my wife and I are big readers and we both have the same pet peeve - i.e. not good lights to read by when on vacation.
So you can rest assured that all of our beds have good reading lights on each side of the bed. Yes, they are decorative, but also functional...
-Kevin
Just wanted to correct your comment regarding reading lights next to our beds (I think you were referring to our B&B above). Both my wife and I are big readers and we both have the same pet peeve - i.e. not good lights to read by when on vacation.
So you can rest assured that all of our beds have good reading lights on each side of the bed. Yes, they are decorative, but also functional...
-Kevin
Jul 1st, 2008, 11:41 AM
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My wife and I stayed in the <i>Bastide Maréchal Denier</i> for three weeks, in early October, 2007. We were very happy with our accomodations. A complete report (probably more than you want to know) can be found at:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35087107
Feel free to write us directly if you have any specific questions. My e-mail address is on the "Author" line.
It would seem that deciding on <i>Le Mas Perréal</i> vs. the other choices is a matter of whether you'd prefer a B&B or an apartment. We've stayed in both, and the experiences are somewhat different. In our stay at the <i>Bastide</i>, we made rather more use of the kitchen than we had expected, and we also benefited from the extra space (we had a guest for over a week). But a B&B can be easier in many ways - everything is taken care of for you. Make that decision first.
The owner of the <i>Mas Perréal</i>, Kevin Widrow, posts on this forum (as you can see, since he has already replied to you). Since we've always found him to be enormously helpful, we tried to visit him while we were in France. In the end, we were not successful, owing in part to a strike that occurred near the end of our stay.
Hence, we've never actually met Kevin, although he's helped us out via e-mail so often that we almost feel we know him. We did drive to his village of <i>St. Saturnin-Lès-Apt</i> anyway, and found it to be a charming village in its own right.
Again, let us know if we can help in any way. We loved our stay in Bonnieux, and particularly loved an extended stay in one location. We're happy to help out anyone who would like to have a similar experience.
- Larry & Margie
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35087107
Feel free to write us directly if you have any specific questions. My e-mail address is on the "Author" line.
It would seem that deciding on <i>Le Mas Perréal</i> vs. the other choices is a matter of whether you'd prefer a B&B or an apartment. We've stayed in both, and the experiences are somewhat different. In our stay at the <i>Bastide</i>, we made rather more use of the kitchen than we had expected, and we also benefited from the extra space (we had a guest for over a week). But a B&B can be easier in many ways - everything is taken care of for you. Make that decision first.
The owner of the <i>Mas Perréal</i>, Kevin Widrow, posts on this forum (as you can see, since he has already replied to you). Since we've always found him to be enormously helpful, we tried to visit him while we were in France. In the end, we were not successful, owing in part to a strike that occurred near the end of our stay.
Hence, we've never actually met Kevin, although he's helped us out via e-mail so often that we almost feel we know him. We did drive to his village of <i>St. Saturnin-Lès-Apt</i> anyway, and found it to be a charming village in its own right.
Again, let us know if we can help in any way. We loved our stay in Bonnieux, and particularly loved an extended stay in one location. We're happy to help out anyone who would like to have a similar experience.
- Larry & Margie
Jul 1st, 2008, 01:16 PM
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Hello zoecat,
We (2 couples) stayed at Le Mas Perreal for 5 nights in April 2007. We loved it - the location, ambience, hosts - and would return in a heartbeat. I'm unfamiliar with the other 2 locations, so I'm unable to make comparisons. I'm hoping this helps with your decision.
We (2 couples) stayed at Le Mas Perreal for 5 nights in April 2007. We loved it - the location, ambience, hosts - and would return in a heartbeat. I'm unfamiliar with the other 2 locations, so I'm unable to make comparisons. I'm hoping this helps with your decision.
Jul 1st, 2008, 01:59 PM
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Thank you all for your wonderful and helpful responses. No decision yet but I'm enjoying your input.
Larry, your report is wonderful and will add so much to my trip. Thank you for sharing!
Larry, your report is wonderful and will add so much to my trip. Thank you for sharing!
Jul 2nd, 2008, 10:56 PM
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zoecat
We stayed at Bastide Maréchal Denier just this past May for 3 weeks and had a great time.
Excellent standard of accommodation, spacious and well equipped. Just make sure you request for apartments from ground floor upwards and not the two located below ground next to the communal laundry, access to them is via a very narrow stairwell and not very well lit. And yes, as one of the other posters here have experienced, wifi internet access is erratic to say the least. But all else functions well. There is a full-time caretaker at the property and you can call him if you have any problems, however, please note he does not speak English.
Restaurant La Flambee across the street serves great pizza and for a special dining experience, La Fournil is just a 50-metre walk.
Yes Bonnieux is hilly but you don't have to walk up and down hill everyday. You do it a couple of times to orientate yourself and to see the town, you then won't have to do it again. Everything you need is at your doorstep. You do day trips to other perched villages and then come home to relax.
Enjoy!
s
We stayed at Bastide Maréchal Denier just this past May for 3 weeks and had a great time.
Excellent standard of accommodation, spacious and well equipped. Just make sure you request for apartments from ground floor upwards and not the two located below ground next to the communal laundry, access to them is via a very narrow stairwell and not very well lit. And yes, as one of the other posters here have experienced, wifi internet access is erratic to say the least. But all else functions well. There is a full-time caretaker at the property and you can call him if you have any problems, however, please note he does not speak English.
Restaurant La Flambee across the street serves great pizza and for a special dining experience, La Fournil is just a 50-metre walk.
Yes Bonnieux is hilly but you don't have to walk up and down hill everyday. You do it a couple of times to orientate yourself and to see the town, you then won't have to do it again. Everything you need is at your doorstep. You do day trips to other perched villages and then come home to relax.
Enjoy!
s
