We made certain to stay in St Remy so as to be able to walk to the Wednesday market. We also stayed at Mas Cure Bourse so as to make it into town for the Sunday market. The only real benefit to staying in ISlS was the inside tip on where to park(in town next to a grocery store with a lot run by attendants).

We used just one base (a gite, just outside Gordes) while spending our 10 days in Provence, and we got as far west as Pont du Gard, Vaison to the north, Toulon,south (to visit friends), and Moustiers to the east. This was all easily accomplished, and IMO, much easier than packing up and moving on every couple of nights. Everything was much closer than it appears to be on a map, and meandering around is as much fun as getting to the destination at times.

grandmere we do the same thing but usualy at a B&B.

With only five days in this part of Provence, I'm with grandmere-- I think you should base in one spot. You can easily do day trips an hour in any direction-- and the scenery is beautiful. Perhaps it would make sense to think about what you want to do and see over your five days and then base somewhere reasonably central to make best use of your time.

For May I don't think you need a place with a pool, especially if you're watching your budget. You can enjoy the sun in the garden or at an outdoor cafe.

You don't need to stay overnight in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, but you do need to try to get there early to get a reasonable parking spot. If you are there by 9 or 9:30, you should be fine. You could ask your B&B for an earlier breakfast, or skip breakfast there and go early to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Have coffee and a croissant at one of the cafes, watch the merchants setting up and socializing, and the people starting to arrive. I'd also suggest scoping out a place for lunch sometime during the morning and making a reservation to return at 12 or 12:30.

Kathy

I agree with folks about staying in one place. Provence is very easy to drive,beautiful and every place is in relatively close proximity to the next.