My husband and I are planning a ten day trip to Provence in May. We have already booked our flights to Paris. Suggestions on places to stay and visit in Provence??? We don't want to change hotels too often. We will have a rental car. Maybe two hotels . . . recommendations???

What are you interested in seeing and doing, and what is your budget per night for a hotel?

First suggestion: get a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Provence, which includes recommended itineraries as well as detailed information on sights. Some hotel/restaurant suggestions are in the Guide also.

We are interested in antiques, art galleries, good food and wine, and beautiful scenery!!! We also enjoy staying in good hotels. We will have a rental car so we enjoy exploring. Any suggestions? I will purchase a Michelin green guide. Thanks for that tip!

I have posted about this gorgeous little place several times, but you have to check it out. The rooms are wonderful, the meals amazing, atmosphere so relaxing and perfect. www.lamaison-a-bournissac.com/

Thanks, KimiG! That suggestion is just what we are looking for, and I have visited the website. Any restaurants to recommend?

You can click on my screen name, and
Underhill's to get to threads with plenty of information on Provence restaurants, hotels and sightseeing ideas.

I live in Provence, near St. Rémy and if you don't find enough information in the threads that come up, feel free to email me... [email protected]

Patricia

My husband and I visited L'Maison Bournissac several years ago on our 10th wedding anniversary. I loved everything about this gorgeous little inn. The breakfast was wonderful and two of our favorite meals during our two week trip through France were at the hotel (and I have a rule about never eating at the same restaurant twice on vacation)! We also found the location very convenient for day tripping throughout Provence. You will feel like you're going back in time, yet the accommodations are not rustic at all. You feel pampered and relaxed - when you open the shutters of your windows and gaze out over the mountains and the olive trees, you will never want to leave!

Take a look at the Riboto de Taven, near Les Baux--makes for easy sightseeing there.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! We are now thinking about going via train or airplane from Paris to Marseilles and then renting a car. First stop would be Aix en Provence. Any thoughts about that destination? We also want to visit Avignon and Arles, but we don't want to spend all ten days in those three cities. Thanks for any advice!

Kim's suggestion is a good one for La Maison and for antiques, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famous for it's Sunday flea market but the whole town is filled with buildings selling antiques.
Riboto de Taven is also a good choice by Underhill. I also Like L'Hotel - Les Ateliers de L'Image in St Remy.
For Another location by Nice is Le Colombe D'Or One of my favoriite places in that area located in St-Paul-de-Vence where you must see the Maeght Foundation, that houses a large collection of paintings, sculptures tiles stain glass both in and outdoors.
A beautiful setting in a beautiful hotel is the Crillon-La-Brave. This hostellerie is built on several terraces.
Alain Ducasse's Bastide de Moustier in Moustier-Ste-Marie (this village famous for its pottery)

Thanks, cigalechanta, for your help! I had been thinking about Alain Ducasse's establishment. I had not heard of your other suggestions so I am very appreciative of your suggestions. So many places to visit in Provence. We are trying to narrow it down for our ten day trip.

Another suggestion: 'Bastide de Marie in Menerbes. This had the most incredible breakfast we ever had, so many choices. My husband is a big breakfast, fresh juice person and was in heaven. I'm satisfied with café au lait and a croissant or tartine.

Six of my girlfriends and I spent 8 nights in Provence this summer. We stayed at a guesthouse in Pernes les Fontaines (Le Lavandin) and then took day trips from there. We went as far north as Vaison la Romaine (market), le Crestet, Seguret, and Gigondas (had to narrow our stops in the perched villages as we were in 90+ degree heat and ran out of time and strength!); south to Cassis (missed the turn to Aix, but intended to walk through the market there and then drive on to Cassis -- oh well, better for the credit cards!); west to Pont du Gard; did the markets in both L'Isle sur la Sorgue and St. Remy; went to Bonnieux, Menerbes, Lumieres, and Coustellet (La Maison Guin) for dinner one day; another day did Roussillon, Gordes, Abbye de Senanque, and then drove through Joucas, Venasque, and St. Didier on the way "home; we shopped at Le Tissus Gregoire in St. Saturnin les Avignon before we drove to Pont du Gard. Great tablecloth, napkin, table runner, fabric, etc., etc., store! One night we drove to Maubec for dinner. Other dinners were in Pernes les Fontaines and L'Isle sur la Sorgue. We did alot of driving (over 650 miles) but we had plenty of time to see and do what we wanted, despite the heat and humidity. We fell in love with Le Lavandin and Georgia, our hostess. It is a piece of Heaven on earth! The breakfasts were wonderful and Georgia mapped our agenda each day and made reservations for dinners at night. We would pick up market goodies and "dine" on the terrace at LL, but because of Georgia's recommendations and reservations, we had several dinners in places that we would not have been aware of. I LOVE PROVENCE!!!! I want to go back to spend more time in Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Ansouis, and the villages surrounding that area.

I am very jealous and hope you have the most wonderful time!!!

joy/luvparee

Thanks, joy/luvparee! Such an informative response! I will try to contact Le Lavandin. You mentioned so many good places to visit in Provence. My husband and I have traveled to Paris numerous times, and our last visit to France was two weeks in Burgundy. Never been to Provence . . . we are so looking forward to good meals/wine and sightseeing there. Thanks again for the info! Very helpful!

Hi JWilsTX
My husband and I are going the last week of April. I booked us a week at www.provenceparadise.com Found them through VRBO.com It is in St. Remy. Check out the website...this guy has done a fabulous job renovating and people have highly recommended this place. There are about five different cottages. The one we chose rents from Friday to Friday. We arrive CDG on Friday and we will train to Avignon and rent a car from there...just base ourselves from St. Remy. From what I've researched from the lovely folks here at Fodors, St. Remy is a good place for first timers to base from. Good luck.
PBProvence...are you familiar with this place? It's quite reasonable...I thought

Why take the train to Marseille when the TGV goes directly to Aix? The car-rental at the station is very nice compared with the ones near the train station in Marseille; that's a rather seedy part of town.

I have to say that we found the Bastide de Moustiers overpriced and the dining room not all that great. Much nicer is a private château in the area, owned by a youngish count and countess; both speak impeccable English, and she is from Scotland.

http://www.provenceweb.fr/04/ukEsparron.htm

forestland:

Interesting that you asked about "provence paradise". I went by a couple of weeks ago to check it out for some friends who were reserving there. I had an "interesting" and not too pleasant chat with, I'm assuming - the caretaker, through the audiophone at the gate.
He told me I had to make an appointment by phone ahead of time - although there were no guests there at the time.

I never did get to see the place, and I couldn't see much through the gates... so about the only thing I can tell you is that it's in a residental area and an almost all unhill walk coming back from town - which is about a 20 minute walk.
But the photos on the website look good.
Patricia

~Jean (underhil) you like Chateaus, I don't and we enjoyed our stay at the Moustiers and found the food fine and if you didn't like what was served they eagerly would replace your dish with something else. PB Provence has a lovely B&B in her home and will cook on request. We had that honor.

Thanks for that information Patricia. I emailed three of the people who left guest comments on his website. They all were VERY happy with their experience and a food editor with a magazine in New York wrote in her column a very glowing review. So far my dealings with the owner have been very good. I had a chuckle at your description of your less than cordial meeting with who I HOPE was the caretaker and NOT the owner. hahahha Thanks again Patricia

What happened to us at La Bastide de Moustiers: first, our room was next to a storage room, and we were kept awake until midnight by people going in and out and moving things around. Second, the service at dinner was exceptionally slow and languid...not just the usual unhurried meal but really, really slow.

I'm not a great fan of château hotels, but the one I recommend is where the receptionist at the Bastide sent us when our reservation was mixed up. It turned out to be a delightful place.