I will be in Arles for 5 days in mid-September, no car, I’m a senior traveling alone.
Looking for Recommendations on the best local day trips from Arles, small group, small vehicle, I just can’t do big bus tours ! — I checked out Provence Reservations and they do have a few nice mini-van trips from Arles, but if Anyone has experience with this company or any other suggestions, please let me know. I’m interested in getting to historical Provençal places hard to reach by train, or too time consuming to do it that way.If nothing else pops up I’ll go with Provence Res.
My 2nd request is for restaurant advice, as the British say, one can be ‘spoilt for choice’ - I think this is true for all of France. So Please share your dining experiences in Arles, whether good or not so much....
Lastly, what exactly is included in the breakfast at Hotel du Musee? ...and any other ‘inside info’ about this hotel. Thanks!
Posted by
Washington DC
28096 posts
I assume you already know that Avignon is easily accessible by train and St-Remy, by public bus.
Posted by
1038 posts
I did one of those tours, a half-day “Stone Monuments” tour that covered Les Baux and Pont du Garde primarily. I found it very convenient, the guide was engaged and friendly, and overall a good value. This area is tough without a car, but these tours are a good alternative. I felt like we had enough time at Pont du Garde, but too little at Les Baux though that’s invariably going to happen. I will say, after a half-day minivan tour I was knackered, hard to imagine a full day that way.
Arles seemed like a great place for restaurants. Had a terrific meal, but can’t find the name for the life of me (sorry!) but there are plenty of recommended places to choose from. Hopefully, you’re there on a market day. Strolling the market and eating what please you was one of my Provence highlights!
Posted by
OP
77 posts
Thanks guys 😉
Yes I know Avignon is easy by train.
I will do the half day tour of Pont du Gard etc, that works for me. I will be there on a Saturday- market day, looking forward to that. In my experience there is no shortage of good affordable restaurants in France as a whole, and I already added a few to my list based on recommendations from RS and elsewhere. If anything else comes to mind please feel free - all recommendations and advice considered. 🌻
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
You can do Pont du Gard easily yourself by public bus from Avignon (bus station there adjacent to the center train station, not the TGV station on the outskirts), which is how I did it last May. In September, the bus drops you maybe 1/2 mile from the visitor center entrance, if you don't mind the walk. You need to pay extra to enter the inside of the aqueduct (probably with an English-language tour, which is what I did). The museum at the visitor's center is great actually.
I had only two nights in Arles. With five, I probably would branch out e.g. to Nimes and some of the smaller towns.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2301 posts
Yes, love Nimes. And Orange is another possibility.
Posted by
California
777 posts
Yes, we stayed in the Hotel du Musee. Breakfast is in a pretty courtyard with the usual buffet of cereals, yogurt, muselie, toast, cheese, meats, hard-boiled eggs plus a fresh bread basket with crossants placed on your table when you sit down. Coffee drinks are made to order. Rooms are clean and nice, but there are a lot of stairs. We were on the top floor and next time I would choose a room lower down.
In Arles, you can buy a museum pass to visit the various antiquities including the Roman forum, underground crypt and cloisters of St. Trophime church. Also, the http://www.fondation-vincentvangogh-arles.org/en/ is excellent! Arrive early for this museum.
Our favorite restaurant was the Le Criquet near the Roman amphitheater. Before dinner, we enjoyed drinking a pastis in the Forum Square.
Have fun in Arles! It is one of our favorites!