Avignon, Aix, Antibes?

[luckyluc]

A couple of friends will be going to Paris for a week in September. After that they plan to take the TGV to Avignon for a couple of days.

Can anyone recommend a place to stay in Avignon (within the ramparts) and in Aix en Provence. They are also debating to stay in the area St Raphael, Antibes for about 1 week,…so they could be close to the beaches.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Merci par avance.

[PariS]

Luc--we didn't spend the night in Aix, so I can't recommend a hotel, but I can say this: we really enjoyed the old village area around the cathedral Saint-Sauveur (a little north of the eastern end of Cour Mirabeau). That's the area we want to stay in when we go back for a few days! It's got the old winding streets like the Marais, pretty hidden squares to delight you as you happen upon them, cafes, good shopping, etc. There's good shopping and dining along Cour Mirabeau as well, which is a beautiful tree-lined boulevard with stately turn-of-the-century freestone mansions. I believe there are quite a few hotels along there also. And there's a great street market along this street on Saturdays!

[cigalechanta]

in Aix, the Hotel Europe, and in Aix, Le Manoir,
Antibes was only a day trip

[kerouac]

I will be in Avignon all next week, but since it is festival time, I stay outside the ramparts (in Le Pontet, to be precise).

However, there are lots of lovely places available the moment the festival ends. The tourist office has a big board with green and red lights to show which places have rooms or not.

[phread]

I stay at this lovely little Inn just outside the remparts.... at Villeneuve les Avignons, called Hotel L'Atelier. You breakfast in the most wild garden and the rooms are 400 yrs old. I went once and have never been able to stay elsewhere. There is a lovely weekend market in the town, as well.
I highly recommend that they avoid St Raphael. I found it horrid and much prefer Antibes.