St-Remy de Provence: a travelhappy getaway
My husband and I try to visit France once a year. Although it takes at least two plane rides and usually over 24 hours of travel time between Hawaii and any European city — it is so worth it.
This spring, we decided to take a trip to Provence. Neither of us had been there before, and we were excited to take Jules on her first international adventure.
How to Get to Provence
Fly into Marseilles and then rent a car (Marseille airport is about an hour's drive away from St-Remy-de-Provence). If you’re already in France or Europe, check the train schedules. (I can also help with all this stuff).
What to Do in Provence
Crystal clear and crazy deep - visiting the Fontaine de Vaucluse in Provence, France
Open Markets - All the little towns in Provence have market day and they are so worth a morning visit. Fruits, vegetables, cheese, flowers, and souvenirs — but as with nearly everywhere nowadays, beware of purchasing cheap imitations made in China.
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - A cute little town surrounded by lots of watermills. We had a nice lunch of rosè, salad, and bread in a wine shop.
Les Baux-de-Provence - A medieval village you can walk through. Its most famous attraction is the Carrières de Lumières - a changing art show, projecting light and sound in a former quarry. We came to Les Beaux after eating at L'Osteau de Baumaneire, so we skipped it, but it's the number one thing to do in Les Beaux on TripAdvisor, if that tells you anything. :)
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse - a 20 minute walk to the source of the Morgue River; a deep, green spring. There are small restaurants and shops along the way if you'd like to stop for a glass of wine. And you’re in France. You should want to stop for a glass of wine. ;) Read more here.
Where to Eat in Provence
Our hotel restaurant (creatively named the Restaurant du Tourrel within the Hotel du Tourrel) was lovely. Our dinner there was one of the best meals we had on this trip, and I wished that we could have had a repeat visit, but we were only in Provence for three nights. On the night we got in, the staff was kind enough to let us dine in its wine room. This was probably as much for the other diners as it was for us, but we did not mind the isolation one bit. It was great not having to worry about disrupting other patrons if the baby cried out or fussed. For most of dinner, she slept in her Nuna Tavo stroller using the bassinet feature anyway. It was perfect.
Have a light lunch lunch or tea at Michel Marshall, a few blocks away from the hotel. Cheese, salads, wine, and desserts to die for. Live music on Wednesdays (market days)It is a food lover's paradise.
If you're taking the train back to Paris from Avignon like we did, stop by Marche les Halles d’Avignon first. Sandwiches, rotisserie chickens, quiche, fresh vegetables, and more.
L’Osteau de Baumaneire - a Michelin-starred restaurant in a serene setting — a hotel straight out of a fairytale.
Where to Stay in Provence, France
Stay at the Hotel de Tourrel- a seven-room boutique hotel situated in a 17th century palace. We booked our room using SPG points (editor’s update 11/18 - the hotel is now a Marriott “Design Hotel” post merger) and were given Suite Six, which was the smallest room in the hotel at 30 square meters. It was perfect for us! It had a king bed, spacious bath, a wardrobe, and a desk for my husband to work.
Photo of Suite Six courtesy of designhotels.com
Photo of Suite Six courtesy of designhotels.com
The bathroom was gorgeous. Grey marble with with heated floors, fluffy towels, and L'Occitane bath products. We were on the second floor (there is an elevator), and the pool was right outside our door. The pool was also the reason the hotel doesn’t allow kids — small babies like Jules are an exception.
Since we won’t be able to stay at Hotel de Tourrel again if we return to Provence with Jules (who’s firmly in toddler run/walk stage), I want to stay at the Baumaniere le Baux de Provence in Les Baux-de-Provence, France. We visited the grounds to have lunch at L’Osteau de Baumaneire, and it was like a fairytale. And bonus, the Baumaniere is a Virtuoso affiliate! The Baumaniere’s Virtuoso amenities for 2018 and 2019 include:
Upgrade at time of arrival, subject to availability
Complimentary buffet breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay
A complimentary lunch at la Table d’hôtes for 2 people per room, excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuities once during stay
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Other Virtuoso properties in Provence include Le Couvent des Minimes Hotel & Spa L'occitane which also looks incredible and Villa Gallici, a Relais & Chateau property.
