Provence for spring break (April 12-19)?

[Anonymous]

We wanted to go to Rome, but with the 25 year jubilee flights are crazy expensive. Thoughts or recommendations for Provence with a 7 and 9 year old? Looks like weather is in the 60s...we'd plan to rent a car to get around.

[Anonymous]

I was looking at this a year or so ago but didn’t end up don’t it. Avignon looked like it had some really cool things to see plus could do day trips from there. I was going to combine it with a trip to Pairs Disney at end of trip as it’s right near airport.

[Anonymous]

Good idea, OP. I'm French. Provence is just horribly mobbed in the summer, so it's best to go at literally any other time of the year. Spring weather is unpredictable, so make sure to check the weather last minute before you leave.

[Anonymous]

Check out some the medieval towns, though it'll be chillier also go to some of the coastal towns. We loved Carrières des Lumières.

[Anonymous]

That sounds great. I’d go to Avignon and wander in the Place l’Horlage and also go to the Ferris wheel. There are these little site seeing “trains” (think mall train) you go to the major sites in. So many nice towns to take day trips to or to stay in. I loved Gordes. We also went kayaking near the Pont du Gard and there were children doing it. It is a calm water trail.

Wherever I go, I try to see towns on their market days. I found this listing of market days in towns near Avignon.

https://www.provenceholidays.com/en/magazine/the-best-markets-in-the-luberon

[Anonymous]

I’m the pp above— of course there are many more amazing sites in Avignon. I was just trying to name some things I think my own children would enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the recommendations. Does anyone have any ideas of places to stay?

[Anonymous]

In Avignon it can be a bit complicated to find the perfect hotel for being near things in the city center but also having parking if you’re planning to have a car. The Hotel De L’Horlage in the center, where we stayed, had a place to park your car to unload luggage and then a garage a few blocks away for long term parking during your stay. We did not have a car so I’m not sure the cost of parking. We had a friend who stayed near the TGV station with a car and said it was easy to find public parking garage near there. That might be a convenient location to look. OR you could do an Airbnb on the outskirts with a bus or taxi into the center if you’re mostly going to be day tripping to other towns. I bet people could offer more recommendations if you narrowed down what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. We are early in our planning, we're thinking we'd like to do Arles, Aix, and then somewhere near Luberon (3 nights each). I think we will do an Airbnb for part of that was we are also traveling with my mom.