Provence & the French RivieraFavorite discoveries or tips: All notes with respect to Provence and French Riviera only. This was part of an about 5000 km around France car trip Martin Jansen in Agoura Hills, Ca USA 07/13/2008 Confiserie Florian - Le Pont du Loup, Tourrettes-sur Loup. Candies made from local fruits and flowers. Tour of the small factory, shop(with samples), nice gardens. A good stop on the route from Vence to Grasse. Sanford Lavine in Alameda, CA USA 07/11/2008 I have some restaurant tips that I'll post separately. I just want you to know that the Provence/Riviera book needs some updating. Paul Lightner in Novato, CA USA 07/03/2008 La Turbie is worth a half-day trip if you're in the Riviera. La Trophee (Roman ruins) is an interesting historical site. La Turbie has outstanding views of Monaco. The village has good ambience. As a tourist you'll have it almost to yourself. leslein in Alexandria, VA USA 06/25/2008 Please add this B&B to the guidebook: http://www.apreslasieste.com/maison/guest_room_provence.php Apres La Sieste is a lovely B&B that is about 15 minutes west of Avignon in the cute town of St. Laurent des Arbres. The rooms were fantastic, as was the breakfast and ambience. This was my favorite B&B in France. Victoria Van Wie in Cypress, Tx USA 06/22/2008 La Pailotte restaurant in Arles, rue de Thermes. Amazing food, good service, warm ambience. Karen in San Diego, CA USA 06/03/2008 Maison Carree in Nimes -the outside is currently under renovation. Lisa Valle in Sycamore, IL USA 05/26/2008 L'Estellan restaurant in Les Imberts had the freshest of modern, provencal cooking with equally updated and classy ambiance that felt like a decorator had been there. We arrived early without a reservation, but they accommodated us very warmly. Lane Dolly in Falls Church, VA USA 05/25/2008 Imagine Tours provided us with a wonderful way of seeing the historic sites near Avignon. They took us to see the well known sites but also little known Roman bridges scattered around the countryside. David, who was our tour guide, is originaly from Texas so speaks English perfectly as well as French and several other languages. He always knew where to get the best photo. The first day we went to the Roman theatre at Orange, the Roman sites at Vaison la Romaine and we also explored the medieval village there. Then on to other Roman bridges and Crestet for photos, and still time left to explore Gordes, and Rousillon. On the way back we passed by Bonnieux and the Castle of the Marquis de Sade. The second day David led us around the Pont du Gard for great photos, followed by short stops at Tarascon and Beaucaire for pics of the castles there. Then on to Glanum and Les Baux de Provence. The third day of our tours we explored Aigues Mortes and the Roman sites at Nimes. Imagine Tours took us where we wanted to go and gave us the time to explore sites we wanted to. Our itinerary could have been done much faster, in 2 days had we not wanted to explore the places we visited on foot and get a feel of what the place was like. I am a mother who took 2 teens to explore the Roman and medieval sites of southern France. They were enthralled, loved every minute of it, and want to return. The medieval fortifications and perched villages of southern France are great placs for teens who love historical and medieval X-Box or computer games, to explore. They are thrilled by anything medieval or Roman. Before we arrrived in Avignon, we had just the best time exploring Annot and Entrevaux , taking the Train des Pignes to get there. These are both medieval villages. Entrevaux has a castle perched at the top of numerous switchbacks that you hike up. Our favourite hotel was Hotel Beausejour in Annot. We had a large room with 3 comfortable beds in a room that had the quaint medieval French atmosphere we were looking for. The bathroom was large and modern. Our favourite restaurant was Le Mathys Cafe in Avignon, 52 rue des Lices. We had wonderful inexpensive meals and good wine there in a quiet french ambiance.
Elizabeth in Sable River, NS Canada 04/25/2008 Please add Mas du Petit Grava, outside of Arles, to the next edition. We stayed here 3 nights at the beginning of March and in the over 30 European trips we've taken in the last 5 years I can only remember one other experience that came close in terms of the hosts' warmth and welcoming, the quality of the B&B, the great breakfasts and just the overall pleasant experience which we had. Melanie Bernhardt in Amsterdam, Netherlands 03/19/2008 La Merenda, a tiny little restaurant at 4 rue Raoul Bosio, is truly one of the best restaurants in Nice. The food there is unique and traditional, and the tables are so close that you can't help but meet new people over dinner. Stop by to make reservations (there is no phone) or get there early - it fills up and a line forms outside by about 8:30. Whitney Beatty in Seattle, WA USA 03/14/2008 Avoid Avignon in July due to the Festival. Hotels and restaurants all raise their prices, everything is jammed and the Festival is in French so has a limited appeal to most Americans! Then in August, it is jammed with vacationing Europeans!! No win situation here so try to go in April/May/June or September/October.Bon chance!!! Maryanne NJ USA 03/12/2008 I just posted a recommendation for the restaurant L'Epice and Love in Avignon. I mentioned David of Provence Tours which was incorrect. I meant of IMAGINE TOURS http://www.imagine-tours.net/us_provence.html. This is a fantastic organization that offers private car tours to wherever you want to go with very warm and friendly David who is an American resident in France for many years. I have nothing but great things to say about this service. It is not inexpensive but worth it if you do not want to drive, have limited time or are on your own. The car will take several people for the same price if you not alone. We went to the market at Carpentras and a brief walking tour of the town; drove to the top of Mt. Ventoux on a beautifully clear day, visited Vaison Romaine and drove to Sault. Then onto Roussillon, Gordes and to see the Abbey at Senanque (unfortunately the lavender was JUST beginning to bloom). We also visited an organic vineyard just outside L'Isle sur la Sorgue for tasting and buying! All in all it was a fantastic day, I saw a lot, had wonderful company and can't wait to return to see my new friends! I cannot say enough good things about David...friendly, personable, knowledgeable....you will like him a lot. Maryanne NJ USA 03/06/2008 Restaurant discovery in Avignon L'Epice and Love, 30 rue des Lices, Avignon Tel. 04 90 82 45 96 email: epiceandlove@hotmail.fr This restaurant was recommended to me by David of Provence Tours. He was right on! Located down a side street not far from the Tourist Infornmation Office, it is owned by Chantal, who has lived in the US and speaks great English. From Marseilles, she does all the cooking herself. The dinner menu was 16 Euros in June 2007 for 3 delicious and generous courses. She alwayas has a vegetarian option. This is a very modest and neighborhood restaurant that also accepts credit cards. I liked it so much I went twice! This is a great option for solo travelers. To reach it,turn right at the Info Office if you are coming from the direction of the railroad station; turn left if you are coming from the Place de l'Horloge. At that point the street has a different name but it will become the rues des Lices shortly. At the corner where you turn off the rue de la Republique, there is also a PNB Paribas bank branch with an ATM. The restaurant has tables outside in nice weather. I don;t think they are open for lunch. Great dishes: rabbit cooked in a ginger sauce and her crumble which is fantastic. I think mine was apricot as they and cherries were in season while I was in Avignon. Maryanne NJ USA 03/06/2008 Restaurant discovery in Avignon L'Epice and Love, 30 rue des Lices, Avignon Tel. 04 90 82 45 96 email: epiceandlove@hotmail.fr This restaurant was recommended to me by David of Provence Tours. He was right on! Located down a side street not far from the Tourist Infornmation Office, it is owned by Chantal, who has lived in the US and speaks great English. From Marseilles, she does all the cooking herself. The dinner menu was 16 Euros in June 2007 for 3 delicious and generous courses. She alwayas has a vegetarian option. This is a very modest and neighborhood restaurant that also accepts credit cards. I liked it so much I went twice! This is a great option for solo travelers. To reach it,turn right at the Info Office if you are coming from the direction of the railroad station; turn left if you are coming from the Place de l'Horloge. At that point the street has a different name but it will become the rues des Lices shortly. At the corner where you turn off the rue de la Republique, there is also a PNB Paribas bank branch with an ATM. The restaurant has tables outside in nice weather. I don;t think they are open for lunch. Great dishes: rabbit cooked in a ginger sauce and her crumble which is fantastic. I think mine was apricot as they and cherries were in season while I was in Avignon. Maryanne NJ USA 03/06/2008 If you want to go to Provence from England, there is service on FLYBE Airlines (budge) that I found very convenient. I flew from Southampton where the railroad station is right at the airport, having taken the train there from London. It is a relatively short flight; the Avignon airport is a short distance outside the town (you will need a taxi) and we had the best view of Mt. Ventoux and the Rhone Valley as we flew in. Service is not daily so be sure to check their website. Fares vary; I know I only paid 19 GBP returning on Sunday. It was an easy, fast way to get to Avignon as my time was short. And if you are not traveling on a train pass in the UK, ALWAYS book your ticket in advance to save on fares! Maryanne NJ USA 03/02/2008 Maison Lumani, Avignon Provence. 37, Rue du Rempart St. Lazare, 84000 AVIGNON; http://www.avignon-lumani.com/ tell : (33) 04 90 82 94 11. The rooms overlook a beautiful courtyard with huge plane trees, but the greatest assets are Elisabeth and Jean, the artists who were our hostess and host. Breakfast is included in the price of the room. Close to Pont d'Avignon and the palace of the popes; inside the city walls and very convenient to everything. Owners are generous with help, maps, guide books to borrow, and answers to questions which saved us a lot of time. We highly recommend this lovely place. We communicated by email in making reservations, etc., and Elisabeth kindly offered to make dinner reservations for us. Her choice, "75," is recommended in Rick's guide and was wonderful. Lumani should be added as well--it is a treasure. Charlene Resan-Vollmer in Mercer Island, WA USA 12/18/2007 In Cavaillon, the annual Melon Festival during the 2nd weekend of July from Fri-Sun is not as elaborate as advertised. The marketplace area is only in a small courtyard area- you do not need the whole day. Abbey de Senanque- You can only enter the Abbey with a guided tour and it is only given in French. The road into the Abbey is very narrow for 2 cars to go at once. It can barely fit 2 cars- one has to go in and the other has to give way. If you are scared of narrow roads going up and down, it is best not to drive. Example- our Peugot 207 barely fit the road with another car going to the other direction. Rustrel- Once you get into this town, there are not enough signs that guide you over to the Colorado Provencal hiking trails to see the red ochre rocks. I had to go to a local restaurant and ask for directions. The owners only spoke French- fortunately I understand and speak some French. The red ochre is not evident when you drive into town as I thought it would help guide us if we followed the red ochre. After the instructions in French, we drove through narrow paths with no signs to find the parking lot. At the end, the hike was worth it. It is definitely a beautiful area. Avignon- The town of Villeneuve across the Daladier Bridge is where you find Fort St. Andre. The two twin towers are a beautiful sight but it is mostly ruins that you will see inside the Fort itself. From the towers, you can get a good view of Avignon as you are high up. You can't go into the oldest Abbey. It is located inside the Fort- closed to the public. You have to pay a separate entrance fee for the adjoining gardens in the Fort. Carcassonne- Signs leading from Montpelier to Carcassonne are very confusing and misleading. You have to follow very closely with a good map. Aix-en-Provence- Hotel de France as recommended by your book is located in a narrow one-way street. You can't park there, only drop off baggage- works better if there are 2 people. Cours Mirabeau has been labeled and called "Champs Elysees of the South" or the most beautiful boulevard of Provence with the plane trees that line it, but the beautiful image of the boulevard is spoiled with cars allowed as there are a series of 3-4 beautiful fountains located right in the middle of Cours Mirabeau, but with cars running through, it becomes a busy thoroughfare. It is a good idea to park your car in one area and walk within the city of Aix-en-Provence as some of the streets are very narrow and parking is scarce, especially around Place Richelieu and Hotel de Ville during the Saturday morning market days. The road from Aubagne to St. Remy de Provence has signs that are not clear to the first time driver in Provence. There are many unecesssary toll roads that one can accidently get caught in. Example- We were caught in one that was heading straight to Nice. No exit/outlet for over 15 min. and we were stuck going the wrong direction until the town of St. Maxime de Baume. We tried to rent an apt. in St. Remy de Provence via on-line. We contacted the owner during the night before our morning arrival but she was not there when we arrived there at 9 a.m. as agreed. They had a notice explaining that they were not there, but we could not wait. Also, we made the reservation in March and re-confirmed it one month prior to arrival. The owner did not inform us until 11 days before our reservation to inform us that the apt. was not available during the first night of our 8 day stay. We had been keeping in contact via e-mail. We had to find alternate lodging plans for the first night. The owner would not refund us for the one night stay as our original reservation was for 8 days and was changed to 7 days by the owner. She said it is the "French way"- reservations are from Sat. to Sat. k.m. in san francisco, ca USA 11/21/2007 In the town of St. Remy de Provence where we stayed for five days, we found out that there are only full-service laundry service available- no alternative choice, they wash, dry, iron, and fold your laundry for you. You also have to allow at least four hours for the complete process. It least that was told to me at 9a.m. They charge by kilos. K. Moy in san francisco, ca USA 10/28/2007 Restaurant La Mama, 1 rue de la tour, Nice Don Harris in Bryn Mawr, PA USA 10/09/2007 Maybe you should update your recommendation for this hotel. My experience was not positive. For example, 1) People were smoking in their beds in the small, four bed dormitory at night, which is very dangerous and not good for the health. When I asked the people to please not smoke in the dorms, they continued. 2) There are long-term transient people staying in the dorms that make the budget traveller feel like they are intruding. They have no maximum stay time. 3) When I asked the night manager about smoking in the dorms, he said it is normally forbidden. I opened the window next to me to remove the smoke in the room, the smokers complained to the manager that it was cold, and the manager came upstairs and closed the window, even after I explained that they were smoking in the room. The manager is a smoker, as well. 4)There was no hot water for the shower in the morning and they did not offer a rebate because of it. Again, I do not recommend this place. Stay across the street, and pay the extra 2 Euros per night for smoke free dorms.
Graham Moxon in Vancouver, BC CANADA 09/13/2007 The Saturday market in Arles is excellent--the best place to put together a picnic. We got a small tub of paella valencia, grapes, goat cheese and a baguette. Our best lunch in Provence. Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/26/2007 We had read your Provence book prior to our vacation but, to our constant remorse, failed to bring it along, choosing instead a slimmer travel boook full of pretty pictures and few practical suggestions. We love your books and will never travel again without them. We did take your France guide, but it excluded Aix en Provence and Cassis, where we stayed four days. Luz Valdes in Roslyn, NY USA 08/25/2007 We stumbled upon the Bistro Des Arts in Avignon last week and it was absolutely the best food we had during our stay in Provence (2 weeks). Better than the very overpriced $350 so-so meal at Chateau de la Pioline (which otherwise was great). We went to dinner at the Bistro two nights in a row. The owner has spent time in the States and speaks English. Absolutely recommend it! Penny Ann Dolin in Gilbert , AZ USA 06/30/2007 Le Mas de Manon has moved from St.Remy to Valreas in the Drome Provencale. This B&B was a Rick Steves recommendation in the Arles area and we stayed there last year. It is now in a convenient location for exploring northern Provence, including Vaison la Romaine and the Cotes du Rhone wine route-- yet the Drome Provencale is not over-run with tourists! Our friends Marie-Odile de Dieuleveult and Claude Xiberras welcome you to their new B&B with large, well-appointed rooms and ultra-modern showers. They are superb hosts with a relaxed manner and we HIGHLY recommend this B&B to you. We hope to return sometime to see the lavender fields, which abound in the region. www.masdemanon.com or masdemanon@aliceadsl.fr We would also recommend eating at La Bella Napoli when in Vaison la Romaine! Great hosts, great food. They made something for us we remembered from last year, even though it had been removed from the menu... Jo Hinsdale & John Robandt in Salt Lake City, UT USA 06/02/2007 L'Oustalet 2 Av Philippe de Girard 84160 Lourmarin 04 90 68 07 33 Good menu, reasonable prices, good atmosphere, good service. 'Provence a la carte' private tour with Nadine 06 03 02 86 58 www.provencealacarte.com Although a little pricey, Nadine gave us a day that was a highlight of the trip. After singing the Avignon ditty from across the river in Villaneuve, we visited several vignerons for wine-tasting, and visited several hill towns, Séguret and Sablet, and had the opportunity to hear about everything in English, but also practice conversing in French. Nadine was a delight. Tod Weber in Cupertino, ca USA 05/28/2007 Nice - local flea market 3blk from hotel was quite the experience. We got a few bargins/souvenirs too. We took the Monaco-Monte Carlo Tour by Night - 6 pax minivan, English speaking driver pointed out sites going, 3 hrs + and well worth it. Time to gamble, we had drink at Casino bar & capuccino outside cafe before van returned. We booked at Office of Tourism- Nice but paid driver - 40Euros pp.+ tip. Another enjoyable evening for us. Hotel pkup and drop off. W R Judah in Newport Beach, CA USA 11/12/2006 We like to drive to out-of-the-way places, and Pont Julian, near Apt, in Provence, is one of our favorites. This Roman bridge, built 2000 years ago, is in beautiful shape. I love Pont du Gard too, but Pont Julian is a small bridge with absolutly no tourist facilities. It was interesting to me that the new bridge nearby is covered with grafitti, but the ancient bridge had none. Charles A. Robinson in Lodi, CA USA 11/05/2006 There is an evening concert series at the Palais du Papes in Avignon during the summer. Tickets are as little as 15Euro each, and they provide you with access to rooms that are used for concerts and are not part of the tour. The price also includes night time access to the upper ramparts where they provide wine at intermission! Dave VanderWiel in Brecksville, OH USA 08/28/2006 Wi-Fi Availability. Forget about Internet cafes. Take a laptop along and use the Orange service, which is very easily accessed at all the big hotel chains. But the very best deal is to be found at McDonald's in Hyeres, which is a beautiful town on the Cote d'Azure, near Toulon. They have totally free wi-fi, and they don't even bug you to buy anything. I'll be glad to share more specific wi-fi experiences in France and Italy if you drop me a line Hilary Thornburrow in Stanwood, WA USA 08/08/2006 Renoir Museum in Cagnes sur Mer. This is where Renoir lived the last few years of his life. Great house, gardens. Several of his paintings and also some of the work of his son and photos of significant people. Not crowded at all. Really worth the trip. Please include it in your guidebook. Information at the tourist office 04 93 20 61 64. E-mail: info@cagnes-tourisme.com. Website: www.cagnes-tourisme.com. Renoir museum: 04 93 20 61 07. Grier Whitney in Indianapolis, IN USA 07/29/2006 In Nice, we had dinner one July night on a deck on the beach in front of the Beau Rivage (Hotel et Plage A Nice) at a restaurant by the same name. I would have pegged it as too touristy, but since it is below street level, all you hear is the ocean, and all you see it that famous blue water and a lovely sunset, framed by billowy curtains. It was our splurge for ambiance, and it was a good choice. Jeanette Rockers in Denver, CO USA 07/25/2006 On our recent trip to Provence we enjoyed a Kir, the apertif made with creme de cassis (black current liquer) and white wine. Also tried another apertif, the pastis, made with sweet anise and lots of water. Decided we would stick to the kir. These were very good. Janet in Maple Grove, MN USA 07/24/2006 IN Arles: Hotel Le Cloitre needs new mattresses in some rooms. Also, please mention that a tour groups lodge in this hotel, and that the stairs are slippery with some loose tiles, and only a loose rope as a "bannister", dangerous for this senior citizen! . Joan Miller in Santa Cruz, CA USA 07/18/2006 Two star B&B accomodation in Cap D'Antibes...La Jabotte. Wonderful location, just a few hundred meters from an uncrowded La Salvis Beach, great fresh breakfast, daily "cocktail hour" with drinks made on the spot by Yves, one of the owners, and a charming mascot "Tommy" the dog. Both owners were very helpful in recommending restaurants and sites, providing maps and making dinner reservations. Yves also paints i the courtyard almost daily. Very charming courtyard with lots of flowers, plants (blooming jasmine while we were there) and most rooms have patio facing it. In June, July, August, their small A/C units won't be sufficient for those who REALLY need A/C but the charm of the place and hospitality of the owners surpassed the heat. only €98 including breakfast. Tammy Bailey in Heidelberg, Germany 07/09/2006 "mas d'Aigret" ken rubin in washington , dc USA 07/07/2006 The restaurant "numero 75" at 75, rue Guillaume Puy, 84000 Avignon is excellent (04 90 27 16 00). Lori USA 06/25/2006 We used this book extensively in late May of this year. It was the most useful book that we had with us. A couple of comments, we did the Cote du Rhone driving tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was exactly as described in the book. We also made sure we were in Vaison la Romaine for market day, and that was well worth it.
For accomodations, we stayed three nights at Les Florets in Gigondas. Wonderful hotel. The dining room is closed on Wednesday and we ate dinner that night in the small town of Gigondas at Oustelet. This was undoubtedly the best meal of our two week trip. I don't think it's in your book, you may want to check it out.
We also stayed at Mas d'Aigret in Les Baux for three nights. Again, another superb recommendation; however, it is very recently under new management (1 month), and you may want to check it out prior to your next edition to make sure it's still the same. One correction on this hotel, breakfast is not included anymore.
We use Rick Steves books for all of our European trips and have never been disappointed. Christine McLaren in Canton, MA USA 06/18/2006
With our longtime Canadian travel friends Bob & Mary, my wife and I just completed a 17day, 1600 km driving tour of Provence based on Rick’s Provence & The French Riviera 2005 Guide Book. We began in Nice on May 2nd and toured the Cote d’Azur, Gorges du Verdon, The Luberon (5 nights is a bit too long), Mont Ventoux, Vaison la Romaine (3 nights), Avignon, St Rémy de Provence (2 nights) and flew home from Marseille. We used the internet to reserve all our accommodation before we left home and this eliminated the hassle of trying to find places to stay and gave us more time for touring and relaxing and of course taking all that great French food and wine.
Biot, near Cannes is definitely worth a stay if you like lovely glass & pottery work. Stayed at Hotel des Arcades which is the same eclectic experience as when we last stayed there in 1993, but the town has really become a bustling, interesting place.
Great B & B near Les Arcs sur Argens called Lou-Nieu. Martine made us a great dinner complete with Pastis and endless glasses of Provencal Rosé for 18 Euros each. (e-mail: MARTINE.TOGNELLI@wanadoo.fr.)
Great restaurant in Moustiers Ste Marie is Côté Jardin within walking distance of La Bonne Auberge - heading back toward the town center.
Our 2 nights at La Ferme de la Huppe, near Gordes, could have been longer. Rooms are a bit more expensive than regular B&B’s but it’s really a POSH Mini-Hotel. Food and ambience are outstanding. Another good alternative for the area was Le Clos de Cigales B & B, just south of Roussillon, where our warm-hearted host, Philippe (speaks English) prepared outstanding petit dejuniers with wife Brigitte’s home baking and yummy jams. He guided us to wonderful restaurants which was difficult since many of our first choices were closed in the aftermath of the May 8th VE Day celebrations. Close-by village of Goult has 3 great and not so busy restaurants ,La Bartavelle on Rue du Cheval Blanc, Le Bistrot de Patrick around the corner (also runs Famous-provence.com Cooking School),and La Terrasse on main street.
John and Monique, at the L’ecole Buissonniere B & B, near Vaison la Romaine, certainly know how to welcome their guests and kept us entertained for every minute of our 3 night stay. This was our best all-round B & B experience of our trip. If you like good food , wine and scenic vistas, John’s detailed knowledge of the area will certainly make your Côtes du Rhône stay a memorable one. We even went to the Cairanne Co-op and refilled his wine box with 11 litres of that fabulous Côte de Rhône Village. John was a great host and Arsene, the wonder dog, will out-fetch your tosses of his stick all day in the garden. We all agreed that La Bartavelle Restaurant in Vaison lower town was the best dining experience of our trip. Many others were close runner-ups.
David (from Texas) at Hotel De Blauvac in Avignon steered us to the Hiely Lucullus Restaurant,(yes that’s the name), around the corner on Rue de la Republique when almost everywhere else was closed. It has great food, service and very pleasant décor.
The Mas De Manon B&B near St Rémy de Provence was a very enjoyable experience, especially our hosts and the Wednesday morning market, but hurry, Marie-Odile & Claude will likely be selling their spacious place and opening a smaller B&B elsewhere.
We had a great 17 days, thanks Rick, for all your helpful information. We even met a young couple from Portland, who were jealously guarding their Rick Steves’ personally autographed 2006 Provence Guide book. We lost track of how many people told us that Rick was coming to stay next week. Sorry we have still to meet up with the “EuropeanTravel Legend”.
Hopefully, by sharing some our experiences, others will also have wonderful memories of Provence.
Gil Elliott, Stuart, FL Gil in Elliott, FL USA 05/26/2006 Please include Entrevaux and the "train des pignes" Well worth three hours in a train (1.5 hrs each way) from Nice. Grueling hike to the top of the Citadel (3E admission fee - get a "jeton" at the visitor office or have correct change.) If you take the 12:45 train out and the 17:11 train back, you'll need to bring a picnic because no restaurants are open! This train leaves from a different train station a little northwest of Nice-Ville Carol Sabbar in Kenosha, WI USA 05/05/2006 Bastide de la Tour, Entrechaux, 5 minutes outside of Vaison. Your B&B recommendations were not open in March, so we found this one on the Internet. Martine was a sweet hostess, the room was beautiful, and the breakfast was great. The bastide has a beautiful view down to the village and Mont Ventoux. Entrechaux is a tiny village with its own narrow Roman bridge outside of town. www.bastidedelatour.com
Jo Hinsdale & John Robandt in Salt Lake City, UT USA 04/16/2006 Just returned from Provence and the Riviera. We rented a portable GPS from our rental company. What a God send. Saved us a lot of time. Using the GPS, the good maps and the 2006 book we were able to get to a lot of out of the way places, find good places to eat, visit the local markets. Jim and Nileen Hart in Westminster, CO USA 04/07/2006 In your recommeded reading section, you may want to include the book 60 Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong (Why we love France but not the French). Great for those who want to gain some cultural insight prior to a visit.
Have used "Provence & the French R" in planning a trip for April/may '06. Will let you know how it turns out. I can't wait. Doug Powers in Seattle, WA USA 03/27/2006 It is almost impossible to find the TGV station in Aix en Provence. Even the locals find it difficult to tell you how to find it because it is not well marked. After almost 2 hours of driving on a busy highways, going back to Aix and starting again, we finally found it. I don't think I could ever find it again without your help! Good directions along with landmarks from the highway would be extremely helpful. Lynn in Emeryville, CA USA 03/11/2006 |
