We're travelling to Provence in September (along with a lot of Fodorites it seems!).

Im trying to work out whether we should base ourselves for 5 nights in Avignon or St Remy. We will be TGV'ing into Avignon but was thinking that it may be easier getting in and out every day (by car) from somewhere smaller like St Remy. Any thoughts?

Also, any thoughts on nice hotels / B&B's in the areas. We're trying to keep it under 100E a night if possible (Aussie dollar is not fun to travel on).

We'll be spending 5 nights in Nice post Provence from where we'll do the Cote D'Azur.

Thanks.

I agree completely that it would be easier to get out and about from St. Remy than Avignon.
We enjoyed our days in Cannes and Nice at the end of the trip as well. If you want to do the beach, the beach is nicer (sandy) in Cannes than Nice (rocks).

Some places may say they are in St Remy Or Avignon when in fact they are outside the city so either would be ok if you know where the place is you have chosen.

Get a good map so you know for sure where you will be located. We stayed outside St Remy in St Etienne de Gres and it was even MORE convenient for getting on the road to daytrip.

We chose St. Remy and found it ideal for getting in and out. It's a small enough town with roads going in all four directions. But do plan your days so that you sightsee in one direction each day - none of that driving back and forth.

When you arrive the first day on the TGV you can spend the time in Avignon, then later in the day pick up the car and head to St. Remy. Once there, you can schedule yourself so that on one day you go East to the Luberon towns, another day South to Glanum, Les Baux, Arles and maybe even Aigues Mortes; West to Nimes, Uzes and Pont du Gard late (on your return to St.Remy) to see it at sunset with few if any other tourists around.

You don't mention if you'll be driving from Provence to the Cote d'Azur (about a 3.5 hr drive), but if you are, you can stop in Aix-en-Provence on the way for half day or full day if you have and then onto the Cote.

And while Cannes has better beaches (sand), I feel Nice is a better town to situate yourself for visting perched villages and towns further East (Eze, Cap Ferrat, Monaco, etc.)

Sorry not to have any comments re accommodations.

For the last 12 years we have stayed at L'Amandiere a two star hotel on the outskirts of St. Remy. It has a lovely garden, nice swimming pool and great proprietors, Christophe and Claudine who have become personal friends of ours. It serves only breakfast. It is about half mile out of town and my wife and I, in our 60's, normally walk it. There is no a/c but that should not be a problem in September--it would be now.

Price (prox) $65 a night plus $8 for breakfast. It is convenient to the major routes. St. Remy has charm that Avignon lacks, in my opinion.

Tell them Anthony Spinelli suggested to you. Good luck.

I picked up a copy of the Frommer Budget Traveller magazine that Margie mentioned yesterday, for charming places at budget prices in Provence. I know two that we have spent a night a few years ago. Anthony's suggestion has many good reviews here.

Definitely St. Remy - no contest. Last year we stayed 5 nights at Le Mas des Carassins just on the outskirts of town (easy walk to town centre). It's a three-star converted 19th century farmhouse with gardens, swimming pool, free parking, very friendly staff and gourmet dinners (optional). It'll be more than 100E but a very good value for what should be a memorable stay.

We also did a car rental tour of provence about 2 years ago. Certainly driving in and out of St. Remy is easier than from Avignon, and perhaps more central depending on which other places you plan to visit as well.

As for accomodations in St. Remy, we stayed at this fabulous chateau called Chateau de Roussan, which is located a few minutes outside of St. Remy. The rooms elegantly decorated, lovely walking garden and stream, and even pet friendly. My wife almost wanted me to propose to her there instead of in Paris! The price was quite reasonable for a stay in a real Chateau, but that was before the conversion to Euro's, so you'll have to check their website for the current prices. Have a great trip!

(http://www.chateau-de-roussan.com/ang.htm)

We also liked the Château de Roussan very much, but I need to warn people that some of the bathrooms are not in very good shape or in odd places. The toilet for our room was in the walk-in closet, for example: not a good combination. The rest of the room, however, was beautiful; it was the former master bedroom, I think. The one room on the ground floor (quite large) is a newer conversion and more modern.

The grounds at the château are beautiful, with winding mini-canals in which swans glide. White geese wander about, and the kitchen will give you bread for feeding the birds.

The chateau is outside St-Rémy, right off the main road with the arching plane trees. It's a wonderful place to stay.

Add my vote to those for St. Remy..it's a lovely, charming town with lots of good restaurants. The only place we've stayed, Les Ateliers de l'Image, is a bit more than you're looking to spend, being in the mid 100s for their lowest priced rooms (this place has gone up and up in price, unfortunately...our first stay there cost us just around $100 US..of course the dollar was stronger then, but the hotel has raised prices, gained a 4th star since then and added a very expensive new main wing). There are other places in town that may fit the bill for you, though. I liked staying right in town, but we enjoyed having the area to stroll at night and stayed in town for dinner most nights.

Thanks so much everyone.
Has anyone stayed at Hotel Sous Les Figuiers or Castelet Alpilles near St Remy??

Ive also got a quote from Hotel de l'atelier (not Les Ateliers de l'Image) in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon which looks stunning and very reasonable (approx 70E) but not sure if its on the wrong side of Avignon (ie re road access out) making it even harder to get out of the hotel than if we stayed in Avignon proper.

Have a feeling St Remy it is!