Seeking accomodation advice for Avignon

Posted by Amy (Arlington) on 04/09/08 04:35 AM

Greetings,

I am torn between trying to get a Chambres d'hôtes like Le Limas or booking the Best Western La Magnaneraie? The Best Western seems to be a good value on one of the travel sites, but I don't know how far from everything it really is since it's not in Avignon proper. We will be going to Provence from May 23-26 and are trying to get a car. I'm a little worried about the parking at Le Limas, but I'm also worried about driving at night into a strange area for the Best Wester La Magnaneraie? I don't want to feel like I need to be in the hotel before it gets lost, but I know I'll be worried about getting lost in a strange place if it's not very easy to get from Avignon to the Best Western. Neither place seems to have very recent reviews.

Any insights? Any favorite places I'm missing?

Thanks so much!

Amy

Posted by Kent

US Pacific Northwest

04/09/08 09:30 AM

10344 posts

Your concerns are valid and understandable. Overnight parking in Avignon can be a major headache and a must for selecting a hotel is that you be in a hotel that 1) you can reach without having to drive through extremely narrow streets in the older part of the city to get to and from, and 2) will provide secure, affordable parking. Car theft is a problem in southern France, esp. in some of the larger cities such as Avignon. Driving at night is also a challenge, and driving in the daytime in downtown Avignon itself is challenging. I've done all these things so I speak from experience. It won't get dark until 8pm or later in late May in Provence so you can plan your driving trips to be back to the hotel before dark. The best strategy I've found, if I have a car, is select a hotel that is NOT in the older historical part of the city; and select a hotel primarily on the basis of: is it located where I can easily get to and from it in the car from the major highways, and do they provide overnight secure parking; and I am willing to pay for this parking because it is valuable. I look on the hotel website, they will explain whether they provide parking, most hotels do not. Then in my e-mail to the hotel I mention I need parking and make sure they reply that it will be provided.

Posted by Kent

US Pacific Northwest

04/09/08 09:34 AM

10344 posts

Go to this site: ViaMichelinSelect France and input 84000 Avignon, then Search. It will give you a list of Michelin recommended hotels and show you where they are. Select one that is close to a major highway that you would probably use when you come back from your day trips. What you want to avoid is having to drive in the very narrow streets of the old city. A hotel in an outlying area is best, they are most likely to have parking and not require scary driving to get to and from. Send me a PM if you need more help.

Posted by Kathryn

Tulsa, OK

04/13/08 10:31 AM

355 posts

Amy,
We were in Provence last fall and stayed a couple of nights in Avignon before going to l'Isla Sur Le Sorgue for 6 days. We stayed right downtown in Avignon at the Hotel De L'Horgue. Made the reservations through Venere.com. It was a small hotel but location was great and it was clean, staff was helpful - no complaints. We waited until we were ready to leave Avignon before picking up our car. We were able to walk to everything in Avignon that we wanted to see and didn't have to hassle with the car. It worked great.