We are hoping to explore some of the stone villages of the Luberon for a couple of weeks in the first fortnight of October. With our sad South African Rands, we would prefer to stay in B%26amp;B%26#39;s or self-catering. I would be REALLY grateful for any hints and tips as we haven%26#39;t been to Europe in over twenty years...
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Hello,
In answer to your question about a car, I think it is really difficult to see the Luberon without a car. There are no trains to the hilltop villages and very few busses. I would say a car is a must.We had people stay one night last week without a car and then said when they come back in November they will certainly hire one from the TGV on arrival.
You should look at www.avignon-et-provence.com for a good list of B%26amp;Bs. October is quieter than now but we are already filling up at our B%26amp;B so I would not leave it too long before booking
Regards %26amp; have a good trip
ESCARGOT
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I%26#39;m so excited I got a reply so soon! Thanks for the advice; we will definitely hire a car. At the moment my daughter in London is trying to organize our train trip from there to Avignon. Unfortunately I see on The Rough Guide to Provence that there is no direct rail route from London To Avignon after mid September. No doubt one will have to go via Paris. We plan to stay one night in Avignon, and then move on to the quieter villages for the balance of the time, Has anyone any suggestions for a good central base to see, amongst others, Lourmatin, Bonnieux, Ansouis, Curcuron, Apt, Sivergues, Gordes, les Baux, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie,Rouissilon etc? There will be four of us. Thanks
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Hi
London, Lille, Avignon for the TGV.
Check out B%26amp;Bs in the Luberon on this site.
Rgds
Wilko
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Wilko - thanks so much for the reply. I%26#39;m overwhelmed that people take time and effort to give all these marvellous tips. Even though I%26#39;m ancient as the days I%26#39;m as excited as I was in my twenties...
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Here are some websites to whet your appetite:
www.sawdays.co.uk/maps/browsemap/france/16d/
likhom.com/chambres_hotes_provence_alpes_cot…
secretplaces.com/sp/…Ferme_de_la_Platane.asp
www.karenbrown.com/region.asp…
Have fun - it%26#39;s a wonderful region - we were there last July.
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Hi Joanna
I see I%26#39;ll be up late tonight.. Thanks so much for the reply - will go off now to do some serious resarch...
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Can I just add another good site that we have used with great success for self catering :
frenchconnections.co.uk/for_holiday_makers.c…
On the other suggestions you have had I can back up that Sawdays
(Special places to stay) and the Avignon et Provence site are very good.
As others have said do not consider this without a car.
Just a suggestion but if you have 2 weeks here consider doing a week self catering and split the other week between 2 B %26amp; B%26#39;s.
Perhaps look to stay somewhere to the East of Avignon off the N100 toward Apt and then maybe move into the Var region around Contignac or Barjols and you can easily then explore up to Moustier and the Gorges and also see a very different side to Provence.
It then gives you the option of moving back North East of Avignon and exploring the Vaucluse region that really shouldn%26#39;t be missed if you have 2 weeks.
Plenty of really good places to stay on the site info you have got.
Neal
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Hi Neal,
Thanks so much for all the links! I am actually beginning to create a tentative itinerary for myself based on all the advice from you guys. Do you suppose one could sometimes leave one%26#39;s accomodation to chance, as one drives round, or is it always better to book ahead? I%26#39;ve warned my husband not to try to bargain ( a much-loved pursuit of his, unfortunately...and to my intense embarrassment) as I read that it is NOT de rigueur,
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You probably could find accomodation in October by just turning up but I personally wouldn%26#39;t do it. We are there in Sept as we usually try to be and the better places are pretty full then.
I think a lot of the fun of travel starts with the planning and nowadays you can even pick the room you would like as most places have websites and you can avoid any unpleasant surprises.
If you turn up on spec you will get the rooms that are left and they probably won%26#39;t be the ones you would have chosen in advance.
Plus your husband will definately haggle if you just turn up!!!
I would leave the haggling to the markets!
Pick a few you like the look of and sent a few e-mail enquiries,then make your choice.Especially travelling the distance you are it is worth a bit of research to avoid any disapointment.
NEAL
ps My daughter and her husband(South African) are in your area in October so leave some good weather there for them!
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Hi Neal,
Have been spending the last hour reading all your good advice to others on this site!! Am going to use all your hints
I will definitely book something for the first three days - liked the look of Le Petit Miracle even though I%26#39;ll probably have to wrestle my husband to the floor over the tariffs...(we are flying in to Marseille on my daughter%26#39;s advice, so I wanted somewhere reasonably close. We will hire a car from the airport, and take it from there).
We%26#39;ve been having rather revolting weather here in Cape Town, but I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;ll be fine by the time your family arrives here!
Thanks again!
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