We will be flying into Nice renting a car for 6 days then taking the train from Avignon to Paris. Arles, St. Remy, Aix and L'Isle Sur La Sorgue are on the list. Suggestions for other locales? Recommendations on small charming hotels? One base for the area .. or change hotels every two or three nights? Merci!
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I'd pick a base, or two if you want to spend some time on the Cote d'Azure. Shifting where you sleep every night is a drag.
Posted by
Auckland, New Zealand
54 posts
We spent 3 weeks in Provence in Oct 2009 and based ourselves in Avignon. Although we didnt have a car, it was a good base to get by public transport to all the outlying towns you mention. A couple of places (apart from the ones you have on your list) I would suggest to see are Rousillon and Uzes. Market day in Uzes is great - we also returned on a non market day just to wander the streets. Personally, I would base yourselves for the 6 days and do day trips to the villages.
Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
551 posts
With a car in Provence the travel times are short enough that staying in one "home base" hotel is the easiest. I'd add Pont du Gard to your list. With a road map to help you plan, you can probably cover several towns/sites in a day.
Posted by
Tulsa, OK
355 posts
We spent 6 nights in Provence in early October 2007. We based in Isle sur le Sorgue and traveled throughout the region. We went from Vaison la Romaine to the Luberon region, including Arles, Pont du Gard, Les Baux, St. Remy, and several others. We didn't make it to Aix, but it was a lovely trip. We stayed in a little Gite that RS recommended and it was a great place to stay. I highly recommend staying in one place and becoming familiar with "your town" - then doing day trips.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1329 posts
I agree with the other posters, stay in one place and rent a car and make day trips. I wouldn't pass up a chance to see the Med while you're there and recommend Cassis, which is not far from Aix.
Posted by
Reseda, CA, USA
196 posts
Last September my wife and I spent a lovely week in Provence and used Vaison-la-Romaine as a base. We did a driving tour of hill top villages from Rick's book. It was fantastic! I highly recommend getting off the track and visiting a sleepy hilltop village. There are many to choose from, just check Rick's book for one that is near your travels.
Posted by
St. Saturnin-Les-Apt, Provence, France
44 posts
Carol -
The maximum drive you'd have from any one of the places you mentioned to any other would be about an hour. Everything in Western Provence is relatively close and the driving around and enjoying the scenery is 1/2 the fun. Just pick one base and you'll be all set.
Enjoy !
-Kevin