Provence-hotels,restaurants
 

Hi,I'm a brazilian 40 years old and I'm travelling alone to Provence from june 29 to july 08.I intend to stay in Avignon from july 3 to july 8.Has someone stayed at Hotel Le Pigonnet(200 euros a night)?And in Hotel des Augustins(140 euros)?And Grand Hotel Mercure du Roi Rene(195 euros)?The location is good?Which is the best?Are the rooms quiet /big?Do you think I need a car in Aix?Any suggestions about bars,restaurants?Le Mistral,Le Richelm,Red Clover?I apreciate any other suggstions/advices about Avignon.
Merci beaucoup.
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Are you committed to staying in Avignon? You might enjoy St. Remy de Provence, about 15 km. away, more than Avignon, which is crowded and not very attractive as Provencal towns go. In St. Remy, there's a wonderful establishment, Le Mas des Carassins, just on the outskirts (5-minute walk to towwn ceneter) with a pool and restaurant. It's a converted 18th century farmhouse - great service, very helpful. Do a "Google" search for its website.

Hi:

You might also enjoy Arles - very charming and quaint. If you want more info, read our journal (the 2003 trip, days 6-9). Our website is:
www.davidandcarol.com

I'd also highly recommend the restaurant L'Escaladou for the BEST soupe de poissons I have ever had - yum. And the Hotel Calendal was totally charming and very well priced.

Hope this helps
Carol

We based ourselves in Avignon earlier this year for 4 wonderful days exploring the Luberon, Arles and the Carmugue. We stayed at a beautiful, comfortable and centrally located B&B -- the Villa Agape -- for around 90 euros/double.

Though this is the minority opinion, I liked being based in Avignon for the resturants and shopping to augment my driving daytrips.

J

Le Pigonnet is especially fantastic in the summer -- great pool and gardens. The restaurant is very good too, both the food and the ambiance. There is a new bar/restaurant in town called Le Passage which is suddenly very much in style. I believe one of the owners if the Michelin-starred chef from La Feniere. The atmosphere is very cool. Another place you might enjoy in the evening is La Rotunde -- cafe style dining and a nightclubby atmosphere but with a more mature/sophisticated crowd than Le Mistral and Red Clover which are more student-oriented. A very popular Italian restaurant for dinner is Antoine Cote a Cours, in a courtyard behind Cours Mirabeau with great food. It's always packed with locals. If you have a car, drive 10 minutes outside of town (towards Vauvenargues) one evening to Le Gard for a casual dinner on their patio. The scene is layed-back cool and sometimes they have live music and play petanque. Hope that helps. Have fun!

Personally, given your demographics, that you will be alone, and ask about bars, I think your itinerary is great and you would far prefer Avignon/Aix to a small town like St Remy (which doesn't even have a train station).

I love both Avignon and Aix (and think both are lovely cities); they are great and a lot of fun. You don't need a car in Aix at all unless you plan to travel in the countryside. I have stayed in other hotels there, so am not sure about the best one for you. I know where the Roi Rene is and it is not that attractive an area (right near the train station), although very convenient. I think the other two might be nicer, even though the Pigonnet is a little farther from the center.

In both cities, you really won't need to worry about finding restaurants/bars if you go to the central area in the evening. In Avignon, that is the large place in front of the Hotel de Ville, and in Aix, that is Cours Mirabeau and the side streets from it.

geo007,

We stayed at Le Pigonnet in the Spring and loved it--can see where it would be even nicer in the Summer.

Have a great trip.

P.S. My husband and I are huge fans of Brazilian music, especially Ivan Lens (sp?).

George,

I sent a reply to your email to me. However, I received back an automated reply saying that you were going to be gone beginning the 18th of June. If you would still like the information you asked for, let me know.

Obrigado !
Patricia

3 gigs.I think St Remy wouldn't be a good choice because I'm travelling alone.
clehrman I intend to visit Arles in a daytrip.I really loved your site.
Julie I agree with you about being based in Avignon.Don't forget that I'm travelling alone.
babette thank you so much for the advices about the bars and restaurants.Do you live there?
Christina,thank you.I intend to make daytrips from Avignon,but not from Aix en Provence.Do you live there?
Artlover.Thank you.Where are you from?I can send you cd's of Ivan Lins if they are hard to find where you live.
Patricia,I'm really waiting for the informations.
Obrigado

Time of departure is arriving.
Then I booked Hotel Clarion Cloitre Saint Louis in Avignon for the DOUBLE price( 170 E)of Mercure Pont d'avignon.
My correct dates are Avignon from june 29 to july 03 and Aix en Provence from july 03 to july 08.

But my doubts know are stay 3 nights in Avignon,3 in Aix en Provence and the
last 3 somewhere else in Provence,or stay 4 in Avignon and 5 in Aix but
having to change hotel there since the one I've booked,Le Pigonnet is not
available after july 06.
Babette I saw in one of your posts that you live close to Le Pigonnet and that is in a walking distace from Cours Mirabeau.Can you email me if possible or give me your e mail?
Christina can you tell me something about Hotel des Augustins?
Obrigado
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geo007,
thank you so much for your kind offer, but we have many Ivan Lins (!) cds as he comes here sometimes--Seattle--to Jazz Alley. He is truly a national treasure!

Have a great trip!

Paula