My husband and I are planning on ten days in Provence in May, flying into Marseilles. From what I've read, all the great markets and sites are concentrated in the West of Provence - is there a reason to drive East - we are more into markets, villages and countryside - will we really miss out?

Trish- we spent 3 days in Grasse, and did some driving around from Monaco to Nice and Cannes, and wasn't really overly impressed (except the place we stayed in Grasse was FANTASTIC! Name: La Rivolte <BR>Address: Chemin des Lierres. 06130 Grasse Price and Amenities; $99 per night, must get the Jasmine master bedroom, private balcony. Breakfast included, 8:30-11 am, parking included <BR>Phone: 334-93 36 81 58 <BR>Cathy King <BR>http://www.larivolte.com/house.html <BR> <BR>But we just loved the Avignon area: We stayed at La Magnaneriae- look for them on www.bestwestern.com It's 100x more beautiful, and the food was the best we had in Europe. Good location to historical spots, wine tasting in the Chateau nuf de Pape (sp?) Address: 37 Rue Camp de Bataille, Villeneuve Lex Avignon. Price and Amenities: $86 per night, Large double room w/ terrace and view. Lori says hard to find. Great cheese board. Like you, we don't like cities, and after driving through Nice, I was GLAD that I hadn't been able to book there nor Monaco (week of the Grand Prix)- Grasse was a nice town- and La Rivolte lets you use their kitchen, so we'd get wine, cheese, fruit, bread etc and hang out in the kitchen with the other guests at night. At La Manangerie, you won't want to eat anyplace else! <BR> <BR>

Thanks Jane - I was feeling like I didn't want to drive that much and you have helped inform me.

Trish, I agree with Jane, and my travel interest sound similar to yours. I was in Nice last August and it was OK. It actually reminded me of being in Florida - weather and traffice. A drive along the coast line to Monaco was scenic. Fun but not what I want when in France. We will be using Nice to travel into in a few weeks, but will rent a car and head out immediately for Provence and the Massif Central in search of our most beautiful French villages.

Trish, one more thing which is to the east. I found the Gorges du Verdon to be absolutely beautiful, and on the east end the town of Mustiers was really neat. Overly crowded when we went through (we hit August French tourist time) but worth a stop on a quieter day.