Some friends and I are starting to look into spending a week in Provence in late July of next year. There will probably be 5-8 of us, and we are interested in having access to both nature and to art/music. We are open to either staying in a city, or to being a bit outside of the city. This is the first time in Provence for most of us. What are your recommendations in terms of accommodations, "must see" sights, place to get out and bike/hike/kayak? Your ideas will help us to refine our plans somewhat!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10629 posts
There is an art and music festival in Aix-en-Provence every July. You'd need to book housing very early, a year in advance. http://www.festival-aix.com/#
Posted by
Portland, Maine, USA
171 posts
You didn't say if you will be renting a car or relying on the train system.
That is important as there are places that only can be reached by car. I stayed in the town of Arles. Lovely town
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
We did this years ago. Fabulous. My advice is to rent a place to stay near a small town that is as central as possible to the sights you will want to visit. For instance, we stayed just outside of St. Remy and made trips to Avignon, Orange, Fontaine de Vacluse, Aix, Marseilles, the Pont du Gard, Les Baux, and the Luberon, as well as St. Remy itself. That's hardly an inclusive list (we didn't visit Arles that trip, for instance), just a list of the places we all went to for one reason or another. You should consult a guidebook to determine your own priorities. Rentals are generally Sunday-to-Saturday. Fodors publishes a book of walks in France that include several in Provence; these are worthwhile. I'd think about reserving lodging a full year in advance, especially for high season, so you and your friends should figure out your own stuff this spring. What are you going to see, what are your requirements for lodging, how much can you spend, all the things you will need in order to locate a place to rent.
Posted by
Truro, NS, Canada
3941 posts
With so many of you, maybe look into renting a vacation home www.gite.fr - I think is the website...
I was checking it out a few months ago, and some of the prices look pretty good - especially for a big group (I was just looking for me and my hubby)
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3050 posts
Aix is a city but small enough that it doesn't feel hetic or urban. It might be a good choice, it's day trippable to Cassis, Marsielle, and other places. The calenques are great for hiking, and of course it is the home of Cezanne and there are several art museums there and also in Marsielle.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1329 posts
Another good home rental site is France Homestyle.
Posted by
OP
concord, ma, usa
10 posts
All of this information is very helpful, and is giving me lots of ideas for what to suggest to my group! The idea of a smaller-town home base to come back to at the end of the day, and to enjoy on its own merit is very appealing. We are also seriously considering renting a car for day-trips, which would give us more freedom and flexibility - although I love using public transportation when possible. I imagine that, were we to stay in St-Remy, for example, we could rent a car in Avignon and drive out from there...
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Patricia, a car will greatly extend your reach and let you see more. I really recommend it. Renting in Avignon is not a problem. However with a large group (8 people?) it raises an issue about transportation. Either you get two cars, or some are left out; if you get a van, everybody has to do the same thing together all day or stay home. This is not an insurmountable problem but you all should think it over. Possible responses are to stay in a city that is served by rail, or have a few bicycles handy, or rent two cars. Taxis can bridge the gap too maybe. My premise is that it is oppressive as well as logistically sub-optimal for 8 people to do everything together. Much more fun to gather at the end of every day and hear of everyone's stories and adventures, I should think.
Posted by
OP
concord, ma, usa
10 posts
Yes, I think that it would be difficult - and probably more stressful than fun - to try to do everything together. I don't think we'll want to do that, anyway - we all like each other, and have a good bit in common, but will definitely want some independent time, too. Once we have a more definite sense of our numbers and which daytrips people are interested in, we'll know better whether one car or two make sense (a van, though spacious, might be tough to park, or drive down a narrow street...). But yes, I agree - if we're going to do this trip, we'll need the ability to properly visit the area we're in. It's great to know that we can rent out of Avignon, as we'll likely be TGV-ing there from Paris. I'm also hoping we'll be able to rent bikes in St-Remy, both for the transportation and for the outdoor activity...
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
On bike rental: I would try to line things up before you go. Quality of machines available for rent varies widely. You want gears--a VTT or road bike. On the plus side a bike shop will be a great source of information about local routes and rides. By the way, that midday sun will be HOT in late July.