jean

I just found out that I am going to Provence in Sept. (filling in). I will only be there a few days but I would like to check into renting a villa for next fall. It would be great if I could actually see a few possibilites while I am in the area. Any ideas?

Sue

If you run a search in the search text box, using the words Provence villa, or renting villa in Provence, etc., you should get lots of info that folks have put on here. There are lots of websites to check out.

mimi taylor

There's a real estate office in St. Remy on the main street near the Cafe des Alpilles. There are pictures posted.
I'm sure they could direct you.

jean

Sue, Thanks for your prompt reply. I am pretty new to this board and I wasn't sure how to access the information I wanted. jean

Rex

I have found this surprisingly difficult to do. Villa owners just don't want to show their properties when they're not occupied, and they don't want to disturb the occupants when they are rented.

Still, with some persistence, I have some successes, I suggest trying www.francevillas.com or http://www.housesforhire.com/html/Ar...rance_Main.htm - - the latter is run by a woman named susan Mellups. she is a resident "expert" on the www.a;;exp[erts.com board - - but she is currently listed as "on vacation" there. She was quite considerate to me a few years back when we were interested in "villa shopping". Let us see one in Cipieres.

Best wishes,

Rex

jean

Rex - I was just going through some past postings and was about to email you directly....I am planning this for a group of three couples. We travel together often and prefer 3 bedroom 3 bath with kitchen (my husband is a great cook)and because this is a very special occasion we would like to have either a pool or garden. We plan to rent a car but would still like a great location. Thanks for any advise you may offer. jean

Rex

My recommendations don't change all that much with this additional info. A very high percentage of the properties listed by Francevillas do have a pool.

I failed to mention www.rentvillas.com - - I have only used them in Italy (same thing for www,regencyintapts.com but for Italy only). I don't entirely like their policy for initial deposit (immediately non-refundable), but they treated me fine in every other way. And their property (for the Fodorites Italy trip last fall) was better than the description. Dioesn't always happen in the rental properties business.

I'll also mention a couple by the name of Scott and Jeanne Mills who run the company Great Trips Unlimited - - www.gtunlimited.com - - though officially, they only have properties in the UK. But they know about France, and they undoubtedly have contacts - - especially in the Pacific Northwest who are knowledgeable about properties in France. I don't know the Mills from actual business experience - - we just correspond occasionally.

up

up, for jean

John B.

I had put together a list of web sites for another purpose, but you may find something of interest. It does not include villas per se but does include gites which are along the same lines but not as fancy. Some of the B & B's are like villas without the hastle.

E-mail me if you need other info about Provence or visit our Provence Yahoo groups site at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/provence

The others are:

Basics

http://www.provenceweb.com/e/provpil.htm

http://www.la-drome-provencale.com/gb/accueil/index.html

http://www.cr-paca.fr/

http://www.france.com/francescape/regions/south.html

http://www.franceguide.com/

B & Bs and Rentals

http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/navigation/gb/hebergement/bb.htm

http://www.luberon-news.com/lbba.donut

http://www.fleurs-soleil.tm.fr/france.htm

http://www.bbfrance.com/Med.html

http://www.gites-de-france.fr/eng/index.htm

http://www.cheznous.com/properties2001/index.asp

http://www.logis-de-france.fr/us/index.htm

http://www.bbchannel.com/search/area.aspx?NodeID=241

http://www.europeanhomerentals.com/france/index.htm

Routes, Maps, Traffic, Weather and More

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/HomePage

wayup

ttt

Andy

Jean- you can also go to www.villasandvoyages.com --they have great villas in Provence-
prices are good-
Make sure you get a villa WITH a pool as the weather can be warm and almost NONE of them have A/C....

Jan

Jean,
Go to www.slowtrav.com. This is an independent website with several reviews on villas in Provence. It also recommends specific rental agencies based on performance. Nice site and it may help reduce the anxiety one experiences while hunting and booking a villa!
Jan