Provence: Swimming pool and Markets questions
 

These are my current planning quandaries:

We will be in the St Remy/Isle sur la Sorgue/Luberon area (haven't quite nailed down the exact spot yet)from May 19, 2007, for about 5 days as part of a two week trip.

I have checked historical weather sites, and found that the average daily temperature in May is reported at 61F; this is for a 24 hour period. I couldn't find any sites that gave average highs and lows. Considering that this area is at about the same longitude as New York City, I'm wondering if we could even use a pool at this time of year. I would like opinions and anecdotal reports if there are any out there.

My other planning question is this: at that same period, we would like to attend the Sunday market in Isle sur la Sorgue, and the Wednesday market in St Remy.

I understand that market days are crowded and parking is difficult. Should we stay in each of these towns the night before the market (as well as a few other nights) in order to have parking? Is it possible to drive to the towns and find parking on market days at this time of year?

If I knew whether or not we need a pool (I love to swim, but not freeze) and if we need to be in the proposed markets towns or not on the pre-market nights, it would help me choose where and when to stay.

We are on a fairly tight budget, and would rather not spend more than 100 Euros per night on this leg of the trip. Getting some logistical information will help.

May could easily be too cool for using a pool, as they are unheated for the most part. Some of the more expensive hotels do have heated pools, but they don't always turn on the heat until the weather warms up.

we always manage to find a spot . It maybe ten minutes away but that's not bad. And that is in July or August or September. Pools are not that big usually, but there will be days you can swim.

Several of the standard weather sites I use have highs and lows for various cities in that area. A daily average isn't worth much IMO.

I often use the weather site on yahoo.com, for example, and it has avg highs and lows for Marseille and Salon-de-Provence in that area, by month.

Ah, answers from Underhill and cigalechanta; I'm pleased and grateful.

Now, Cigalechanta: this opens up some possibilities for us. I was really thinking that we had to find a place in town and that we would have to be in walking distance.

I think that perhaps we can divide up our stay into two clearly different type accomodations/locations, which would please me.

Maybe we will spend the first few nights in a Luberon village, perhaps at a place where we can have dinner, and include our visit to Isle sur la Sorgue in this part of the stay.

Should we consider Gordes? Somewhere else? A village or outskirts would be nice...

Then, maybe we can move over to St Remy, and visit Les Baux, Avignon, and Pont du Gard from there.

Does this sound reasonable?

You'll visit Isle-sur-sorgue when in Avignon area because it is closer.
Once you get to Bonniex you'll be in the Luberon. Visit my favorite shop in Lourmarin, Coté Bastide.

Near Gordes is a lovely little hotel, La Ferme de la Huppe. It has an excellent restaurant AND a nice pool. The hotel sits off a side road below Gordes, well out of traffic.

Christina, thank you for the Yahoo weather suggestion; I will check it out.

Underhill: I am thinking now of staying at La Ferme la Huppe (had it bookmarked from a previous rec of yours, I think). So we may not stay at Isle sur la Sorgue at all. Maybe just daytrip there for the market.

Is it too inconvenient to go to Avignon and Pont du Gard from St Remy?

I would rather stay at the F.l.H. than stay in Isle sur la Sorgue. I only thought of staying there in order to go to the market...

"Is it too inconvenient to go to Avignon and Pont du Gard from St Remy?"

Both are an easy drive from St-Rémy. About 20 or 25 minutes to Avignon and perhaps 40 or 45 to Pont du Gard. Uzès is another 10 minutes up the road from Pont du Gard, with markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

tuscanlifeedit, May and September are our preferred months for that area. It is typically warm enough for short sleeves during the day, but you usually need a light sweater in the evening. I've never found it hot enough in May to think about a pool, but if it were in a sheltered area with a lot of sun, it might be fine.

Like cigalechanta, we've always been able to find a parking spot on market days. We usually just take the first spot we find on the way into town and walk the rest of the way. Getting there early also helps.

Anselm

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed spending Saturday night in Isle sur la Sorgue and just stepping outside to the market well before the crowds arrived, but that point seems to be settled, so. . .

Near St. Remy, we LOVE a little B&B on a farm just outside Maillaine -- extremely centrally located, inexpensive, pretty, friendly, with pool (where we did swim at the end of May). It's called Mas de la Christine, at www.masdelachristine.com.

Underhill - that hotel looks beautiful. Only back for less than 2 weeks and I'm once again creaming of going back :)

So many places, so little time (and money)!

obviously I meant to say dreaming! :)

Underhill,
Do you happen to know if La Ferme de la Huppe has a website?

thanks

abbydog,


We are staying at the mas de la christine next week. Would you mind emailing me so I can ask you a few specific questions about the place?

Thanks!
Debbie
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Here's the web site:

http://www.lafermedelahuppe.com/

kwren,

A "huppe," in case you don't already know, is a hoopoe, an absolutely drop-dead-goregous quite large bird with a beautiful crest. We were lucky enough to see one near Oppède-le-Vieux. the farm after which the inn is named used to have captive hoopoes, and there's a replica of one in a cage near the entrance.

Thanks so much, Underhill.

You're welcome.

tuscanlifeedit, can you email me if you see this? i'll be in Provence about the same time as you and I'm just wondering where you chose to stay.
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Thanks!
Jennifer

I agree with Underhill, Ferme de la Huppe is a wonderful place. We spent 3 nights there 2 weeks ago. It's a great base for exploring the area. The only complaint that we had was that the memu in the restaurant was the same 2 nights in a row.