Fodor's Expert Review Hôtel Cézanne

Three blocks from Cours Mirabeau and the train station, this smart, spiffy, and cozily stylish hotel is a very handy option. Just a minute's stroll away is the Quartier Mazarin, an 18th-century district lined with some of Aix's most beautiful buildings and antiques shops. While the hotel is set on a busy avenue, all noise and distractions disappear with just one foot inside the glowing red lobby, mightily warmed by the friendliness of the staff. Upstairs, the guest rooms are classic Provençal—modern in comfort yet with old armoires, elegant chandeliers, patterned historical wallpapers, and very comfy beds. Out back is an Aix garden-courtyard with looming trees that would tempt Cézanne's own paintbrush, so try to book a room in the back.