Stu, PB, Dena, Prov & Cote Experts
May 16th, 2007, 01:33 PM
#21
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The Cabro d'Or is not in the Luberon - it's outside of Les Baux, which is close to St Remy.
In the St Remy area, I would choose a place within a short walking distance of St Remy. In the Luberon, some place "out in the countryside" or with a great view.
Stu Dudley
In the St Remy area, I would choose a place within a short walking distance of St Remy. In the Luberon, some place "out in the countryside" or with a great view.
Stu Dudley
May 16th, 2007, 08:02 PM
#22
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Hello again. A few more questions. Stu, you mentione renting the car in Aix. Did you mean in town rather than the airport did you mean the airport to pick up car?
Also, would you consider these hotels to be in the Luberon:
la regalido (Fontvielle)
Le Mas des Herbes Blanches (Joucas)
Le clos du bois (bonnieux)- Yes, this I know.
If I can't find something nice in St. Remy how would la riboto in Les Baux work as a good location. The hotel looks great. A trade off in terms of locating in the town of St. Remy.
Also looking at clos de la violette in Aix. Any comments on that one?
Thank you all again!
Also, would you consider these hotels to be in the Luberon:
la regalido (Fontvielle)
Le Mas des Herbes Blanches (Joucas)
Le clos du bois (bonnieux)- Yes, this I know.
If I can't find something nice in St. Remy how would la riboto in Les Baux work as a good location. The hotel looks great. A trade off in terms of locating in the town of St. Remy.
Also looking at clos de la violette in Aix. Any comments on that one?
Thank you all again!
May 17th, 2007, 06:58 AM
#24
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Oops - I meant to say rent a car at the Marseille airport. The airport is small & the rental office is in the airport.
>>Also, would you consider these hotels to be in the Luberon:
la regalido (Fontvielle)<<
Nope - that's on the "other side" of St Remy
>>Le Mas des Herbes Blanches (Joucas)<<
Yep
>>Le clos du bois (bonnieux)- Yes, this I know.<<
Yep
>>If I can't find something nice in St. Remy how would la riboto in Les Baux work as a good location. The hotel looks great. A trade off in terms of locating in the town of St. Remy.<<
Beautiful setting. We celebrated my wife's 50th birthday there with 6 friends. This would be a great choice if you can't get something in St Remy or you want a relaxing atmosphere with fabulous views.
Stu Dudley
>>Also, would you consider these hotels to be in the Luberon:
la regalido (Fontvielle)<<
Nope - that's on the "other side" of St Remy
>>Le Mas des Herbes Blanches (Joucas)<<
Yep
>>Le clos du bois (bonnieux)- Yes, this I know.<<
Yep
>>If I can't find something nice in St. Remy how would la riboto in Les Baux work as a good location. The hotel looks great. A trade off in terms of locating in the town of St. Remy.<<
Beautiful setting. We celebrated my wife's 50th birthday there with 6 friends. This would be a great choice if you can't get something in St Remy or you want a relaxing atmosphere with fabulous views.
Stu Dudley
May 17th, 2007, 07:27 AM
#25
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Just be way of information... I no longer run a B&B. I've put my house up for sale.
jazzy..
Definitely pick up your rental car at Marseille airport. Pick up is easy there.
The Riboto de Taven is an excellent choice in Les Baux. The Cabro d'Or is almost next door to the Riboto and is also a lovely property (owned by the Baumaniere). You will need your car though, as you can't walk from either into a the closest village with restaurants, cafes, etc. - which is Maussane-les-Alpilles (where I live).
St. Remy is only a ten minute car ride from either of these hotels.
Cote des Olivades is also the name of a hotel near me - between Maussane and Le Paradou. Very nice - but also not within walking distance of town.
The Mas de Cornud is quite a ways outside of St. Remy. A nice property, but if you aren't planning on taking their cooking courses I think it's a bit far from town.
For hotels in Aix - were you perhaps referring to The Villa Gallici ? it's just down the road from the restaurant Clos de la Violette.... which is an excellent restaurant, btw.
Patricia
jazzy..
Definitely pick up your rental car at Marseille airport. Pick up is easy there.
The Riboto de Taven is an excellent choice in Les Baux. The Cabro d'Or is almost next door to the Riboto and is also a lovely property (owned by the Baumaniere). You will need your car though, as you can't walk from either into a the closest village with restaurants, cafes, etc. - which is Maussane-les-Alpilles (where I live).
St. Remy is only a ten minute car ride from either of these hotels.
Cote des Olivades is also the name of a hotel near me - between Maussane and Le Paradou. Very nice - but also not within walking distance of town.
The Mas de Cornud is quite a ways outside of St. Remy. A nice property, but if you aren't planning on taking their cooking courses I think it's a bit far from town.
For hotels in Aix - were you perhaps referring to The Villa Gallici ? it's just down the road from the restaurant Clos de la Violette.... which is an excellent restaurant, btw.
Patricia
May 18th, 2007, 06:13 AM
#29
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thanks again everyone. you guys are like my life-line!!!! We are going to fly into Marseille, pick up a car, stay in aix the first night. So far, I've only found availability at le mas d'entremont. I need to check my notes again on this property. Any comments? If you've already provided them, no worries. I've got Chateau des alpilles in St. Remy and closing in on les mas des herbes blanches in the luberon. it also looks like the rugby world cup is in france in september (paris, marseilles, ..). That could prove interesting. thanks again. Stu, I'm waiting to hear back from La Riboto. If I can get that it might be tempting enough to stay there instead of Chateau des alpilles in St. Remy. What do you think about the trade-off's, location, etc.
Happy Friday! p.s. Patricia, good look with your move.
Happy Friday! p.s. Patricia, good look with your move.
May 18th, 2007, 06:31 AM
#30
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If you want to walk to town, have a cafe in the morning, dinner in the evening, coffee at 5:00 - stay at Alpilles. If you want to be more remote with great views - Riboto.
Herbes Blanches is also not in town, and my michelin guide says it has views of the Luberon. Perhaps Alpilles would be a better complement to Herbs Blanches
Stu Dudley
Herbes Blanches is also not in town, and my michelin guide says it has views of the Luberon. Perhaps Alpilles would be a better complement to Herbs Blanches
Stu Dudley
May 18th, 2007, 07:43 AM
#31
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Hello jazzy! StuDudley has provided excellent advice - we (4 of us) just returned from a week long vacation (glorious). I can't recommend Kevin's B&B Le Mas Perreal enough. The location was excellent with very helpful service (restaurant recs, reservations, itinerary advice).
Don't try to fit so much into your plans that you lose the "vacation" aspect of your trip - take time to stop and smell the lavender, so to speak.
For example, we underestimated how much time we would spend/enjoy Pont du Gard. For us, it was an all day experience and was unable/unwilling to fit anything else into that day. Navigating the traffic around Avignon (traffic jam) both coming and going took much longer than anticipated. In addition, there are places at Pont du Gard to hike for various views and, with beautiful weather, we enjoyed spending a longer time there for photo ops from the various hiking avenues.
In 5 days, we visited these places: Pont du Gard, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Gordes, St. Remy, Lacoste, Abbey de Senanque, Menerbes. Even then, we rushed through one day, of which I regret and didn't even scratch the surface of the Luberon.
You'll love Provence! I know we did...
Don't try to fit so much into your plans that you lose the "vacation" aspect of your trip - take time to stop and smell the lavender, so to speak.
For example, we underestimated how much time we would spend/enjoy Pont du Gard. For us, it was an all day experience and was unable/unwilling to fit anything else into that day. Navigating the traffic around Avignon (traffic jam) both coming and going took much longer than anticipated. In addition, there are places at Pont du Gard to hike for various views and, with beautiful weather, we enjoyed spending a longer time there for photo ops from the various hiking avenues.
In 5 days, we visited these places: Pont du Gard, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Gordes, St. Remy, Lacoste, Abbey de Senanque, Menerbes. Even then, we rushed through one day, of which I regret and didn't even scratch the surface of the Luberon.
You'll love Provence! I know we did...
May 18th, 2007, 07:49 AM
#32
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Thanks Stu. I just booked Chateau Alpilles!!! You must be getting ready to leave on your trip. How wonderful! Do you think Les Bories is a better location in the Luberon? Most reviews are pretty good in trip advisor but there are few that make me skeptical. Just curious.
Thank you!
Thank you!
May 18th, 2007, 08:18 AM
#34
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I am another person in favor of taking the TGV from Paris. Book a first class ticket and try to get one of the seats with a table. It's a very easy ride and driving out of the Avignon airport into Provence is easy as well. You will be about 20 minutes from St Remy.
(to my memory).
Everything in Provence is very close and driving is surprisingly easy. Roads are well marked and the drivers are fairly courteous.
(to my memory).
Everything in Provence is very close and driving is surprisingly easy. Roads are well marked and the drivers are fairly courteous.
May 18th, 2007, 11:12 AM
#35
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Patricia: Good luck in your move...You put so much thought into your house....I am glad that I got the chance to visit you there. Hopefully, we can still look you up on ensuing visits.
Cheers!
letour
Cheers!
letour
May 20th, 2007, 07:22 PM
#36
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Just a quick thank you again to each of you. Your help has been invaluable. Stu...you are the man and Patricia and Cigalechanta you are always there;-). I appreciate every single one of you. Thanks for your input Dorkforcemom (love you handle;-). I'm getting excited now and feeling much calmer and in control. I have a few more things to finalize but the plan is coming together. Working on airfare right now. Looking at going from SF to Marseille and NCE to SF. Does anyone know how far the NCE airport is from Marseille? Has anyone ever flown into Avignon? Hope a good weekend was had by all. Thanks!
Dec 27th, 2007, 08:52 PM
#37
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I'm going to piggyback onto this thread, since the advice seems so good and thorough! Looking for some help with a Provence itinerary for March 22-27. We fly into Marseille on the 22nd, and have to head up to Paris on the 27th for a wedding - flights are already booked. We're interested in renting a car in Marseille, and then driving through Provence, either returning the car back in Marseille (since driving distances don't seem too bad for a loop), or in another town, if the dropoff rate isn't too bad. Other than seeing the Le Corbusier building in Marseille, and definitely hitting the market in L'Isle sur la Sorgue on Sunday (Easter Sunday!), what other places are must sees - we want a balance of seeing a good amount, but not just breezing through towns to simply check them off a list. So far we're thinking about Aix en Provence, Avignon, Arles, Pont du Gard, St. Remy, Les Baux, Uzes - what are the pros/cons of these and which would you keep and/or cut? I definitely have a specific interest in art history (especially modern/contemporary, but my guess is that Paris is more the place for that?). Also, other than perhaps a night in Marseille or Aix, could we stay at just one hotel for all of the other areas, and if so, which town would you pick and any hotel recs? Since it's Easter, I'm thinking I should start booking . . . Thanks in advance!!!
