Where to stay in Sarlat / Provence

I don't drive in Europe so I can't be helpful here, but for others I think knowing what towns you want to visit in Provence would be helpful. It's a fairly large area.

Depending on when you go, parking in Sarlat can be a problem. We were there in October, and although it wasn't particularly crowded, we chose a hotel that offered parking, although that was an extra charge. We were at the Hotel Plaza Madeleine and thought it was quite nice. Their garage is a few minutes away, and it was nice not to have to worry about finding a place to park. I'd stay there again. I know that some folks rely on public transportation in the Dordogne, but we thought a car was really helpful to get to all the lovely villages. Sarlat is a great place to stroll; it's the most medieval town center we've seen and it's nice to be able to walk to restaurants. Have a great trip!

We will be going to the Dordogne area this spring so I cannot give any advice on that but I have been to Provence. We stayed between 2 places.....Gordes and St. Remy. We have a special love for the charm of Gordes......its weekly market and the location near the abbey with the lavender. We loved St. Remy as well and its larger market and walking its quaint streets. There is also a lovely old estate right outside of St. Remy called Chateau les Alpilles.....we discovered it in a drive one day and had lunch in its gardens. I think there are 9-10 rooms in the home available to stay in.......a beautiful way to see Provence in a gorgeous setting. Just walking the grounds of the estate was a delight. I have mentioned this time and again here so I do not want to bore anyone but if you are traveling France I think it is a MUST to investigate THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES OF FRANCE. The 2 of us always rent a car and we love driving through France as we go from one destination to another, spending a lunch or a walk in one of these villages. You would hate to think you could have seen a charming village and were only a few miles away but passed it by because you did not know it was there! We did that in Provence on a Sunday afternoon......and discovered Loumarin (loved its rose-arbored doorways), Menerbes (an incredible meringue in a bakery there!) and Roussillon( the ochre cliffs). We also made a point to go to the Sunday antique market in Isle de la Sorgue.....it was wonderful! Have a great trip! BTW......on the map the most villages with the special MBVofF designation are in the Dordogne region!

Holly,
We experienced the Dordogne on our RS Loire to the South of France in 2013. That said, I don't have driving information in the region. It was convenient to attractions in the region. All I can say is we spent 3 wonderful nights in Sarlat. One of the highlights was the all day Saturday market. RS describes it as the "Quintessential market town." I totally agree. Of all the markets we've visited in Europe this one is at the top of our list. Sarlat is also a walkable, beautiful town. We stayed at the centrally located Hotel Montaigne near the Market. The location was quiet at night but has a day time charm and vibe not to be missed. I would gladly recommend the hotel. Fond memories of this area.

We loved La Lanterne on a 2015 visit. Terri is a great hostess, and you are correct that it is so easy to enjoy strolling the town from such a central location. I would return anytime, it was a lovely stay. The market is wonderful as are the restaurants. You might read Martin Walker's who-dunit mysteries to help prepare you for your visit to the Dordogne. The RS recommended canoe paddle on the river was a winner with a stop in Roque Gageac for lunch before continuing to Beynac. There are many great options in Provence. We chose St Remy for the location, shops, market, and restaurants. You will likely be happy wherever you stay, enjoy.