I am starting to think about a 1 week family vacation to Provence in the Summer of 06. The family includes 2 small (under 5) children.

Becasue of the small children - we want to pick one home base (a rented apartment most likely) and stick with it for the whole trip.

We are looking for a restful vacation - but - with the kids - it is really necessary to have access to 'diversions' and 'activities' that will keep them happy. A completely isolated cottage will not do.

Based on the relatively small amount of research I have done - Avignon seems like the logical choice for this home base. Do you agree??

I like the fact that it is proximate to locations in the Luberon and towns like Uzes and Arles.

Would St Remey be a better option? I have read some positive posts on this town as a 'home base'?

Thanks

St. Remy would be better. Just a hop, skip and a jump from Avignon but none of the traffic concerns. VERY easy to navigate in and out of town.

Another vote for St. Remy!

I live near St Remy and would definitely opt for staying somewhere around here and not in Avignon. Aside from the big merry-go-round in the Place d'Horloge, I don't think there are many child oriented activities in the city.

I have a list here somewhere of child friendly places to visit... you can email me if you wish and I'll send it along to you. There is a great zoo about 35 minutes from St Remy, the free flying bird show at the chateau in Beaucaire, etc.

Patricia

I have used Avignon and St. Remy as home bases for 2 different trips and I agree St. Remy is the better choice, especially when traveling with 2 small children. St. Remy is only 30 minutes south of Avignon so you can do a *day trip* there. I loooooved St. Remy (great location and very charming!).

St Remy though we had no problems getting in or out of Avignon as our hotel had a car parc.

I've used St.Rémy twice for this purpose and would recommend it highly.

I alwyas find it difficult to navigate in Avignon - I dan't know why - I drive everywhere and I am pretty good at navigating....something about the signage in Avignon....

Just this summer I stayed outside Avignon with 9 and 6 year olds. I'd say for them the bigger city was nice but not for under 5's.
Do your children swim? I'd say a pool is the best thing if they do. "My" kids would live in the pool while on vacation. (i'm a nanny) Just make sure it has a secure fence around it with young ones.

A great small town convenient to rambles around the Luberon is St. Didier, just a bit SE of Carpentras - from St. D there is a great scenic road up over a rocky pass and down to the Abby Senaque, then back up over another pass into Gordes - St. D is very convenient for day trips to most of the Luberon and Vaucluse

Topping

It's pretty much all been said...St-Rémy would be the better choice. Much to see and do in the area without a lot of traffic.

I'm revitalizing this because we're about to change our plans from making Avignon our home bast to, perhaps, St. Remy. Does anybody have goot hotel recommendations for a family? I have in inquiry in to Les Mas Des Carassins.

can anyone recommned hotels in St Remy?

Val Wilson

Here are the ones I recommend... different price ranges (I haven't had time to update the prices yet this year).

St. Remy-de-Provence :

Château des Alpilles (2 kms from town on the D31)
19th Century mansion set in spacious grounds. Pool, tennis courts, handicapped access.
15 rooms - from 180 - 230 euro (They also have 4 apartments)
Closed 16 November to 23 December and 5 January to 19 February
Tel: (33) 490 92 03 33 Fax: (33) 490 92 45 17
[email protected]

*** Domaine de Valmouriane (4.5 kms from town on the D27, route des Baux)
Restored Provençal Mas set in elegant gardens. Pool, tennis courts, AC.
11 rooms - from 160 - 305 euro
Closed 14 November to 26 November and 16 to 28 January
Tel: (33) 490 92 44 62 Fax: (33) 490 92 37 32
domdeval@ wanadoo.fr

Hôtel Les Ateliers de l'Image (in town)
Modern hotel, on the site of the old village movie house. AC, handicapped access.
24 rooms - 140 - 360 euro
Tel: (33) 490 92 51 50 Fax: (33) 490 92 43 52
[email protected]

Hotel Gounod Ville Verte

Originally a "relais", already well frequented in 1660, this charming hotel is across from the church in St Remy. In 1863 the composer Charles Gounod, a friend of Frederic Mistral, stayed there while he wrote the opera "Mireille".
The entire hotel has been renovated and restored. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed and the bathrooms are very well done. Rooms start at 115 euro for a double room in season and include breakfast. A/C
There is also a charming tea room on the ground floor.

www.hotel-gounod.com
Tel: (33) 490 92 06 14 Fax: (33) 490 92 56 54

Domaine de Bournissac (11 kms from town in Paluds de Noves)
Restored Mas, with a view of the Alpilles, Luberon and Mont Ventoux. Nicely furnished rooms. Small shop selling local products
Restaurant with an excellent reputation... with a terrace under a large old fig tree.
13 Rooms 175 - 230 euro
[email protected]


Villa Glanum (outside town, direction Les Baux - next to Glanum)
Comfortable, country style hotel. Pool, handicap access.
28 rooms from 65 - 80 euro
Closed from 1 November to 23 March.
Tel: (33) 490 92 03 59 Fax: (33) 490 92 00 08
[email protected]

Mas des Carassins (outside town, direction les Baux)
Restored 19th C Mas (farmhouse) with lovely gardens. Pool
12 rooms from 95 - 125 euro
Closed 4 January to 28 March
Tel: (33) 490 92 15 48 Fax: (33) 490 92 63 47
[email protected] www.hoteldescarassins.com


l'Amandiere (outside of town, direction Noves - about 2 kms.)
Calm setting with nice garden. Rooms have a balcony or terrace. Pool
26 Rooms from 52 - 62 euro
Closed End October to Mid-March
Tel: (33) 490 92 41 00 Fax: (33) 490 92 48 38

I can also recommend some that are near St Remy - in Maussane (where I live), Eygalieres, etc. if you don't want to be in St. Remy itself.

PB

Thank you for this information!

We're quite open minded about places. Never having been in Provence, I'm at a bit of a loss regarding decision making. The hotels all look the same when looking at the little 1' x 1' photos I find on the web...

We'd love to stay in an old inn or restored historic building of some sort. We'd definitely choose ambiance over amenities. A nice garden or open area where the kids could blow off some steam would be nice. A chance to walk to the local bakery etc would also be nice. I realize it's hard to find places with rooms big enough for the 5 of us - so two rooms would be okay if it were fairly economical (less than 120 euros or so). I'll keep plugging away with my research.

In the countryside just outside of Maussane and les Baux - they have apartments that might suit you:

** Auberge de la Bevengudo (2 kms from les Baux)
Mas set in flower gardens. Discreetly arranged rooms opening onto the gardens. Restaurant (closed Sunday evenings). Pool, tennis courts,AC
21 rooms from - 135 - 185 euro (three apartments)
Tel: (33) 490 54 32 54 Fax: (33) 490 54 42 58
[email protected]

And just outside the entrance to Les Baux... built into the mountain:

** Mas d'Aigret (just outside the entrance to the village of Les Baux)
Backing into the cliffs, the views are spectacular. Pool, A/C Restaurant built into the mountain...with fireplace.
16 rooms 95 - 170 euro
Tel: (33) 490 54 20 00 Fax: (33) 490 54 44 00
[email protected]


If I can help with more suggestions, feel free to email me.
Patricia

Merci! I have mails in to them all.

FYI mail came back as undeliverable to both Mas d'Aigret and also Auberge de la Bevengudo.

With a week and traveling with small children, consider renting a villa or apartment. You will have more space and, with a villa, more privacy. The children can nap in one room, you can talk in another. And snacks are easily available. Another alternative in France is a gite. Look at www.slowtrav.com for reviews of rentals and rental agencies.