It’s funny because I had been thinking these past few days that I should really conclude my series on the places in Provence that we liked or have stayed at.  Then Debbie posted a lovely comment and then emailed me with a question about where to find a very nice place to stay this summer in Provence for her family.  They have two children aged 9 and 14 so ideally need a huge room or interconnecting rooms. A pool and a restaurant that offers alternative to gastronomic food are required.

I emailed back recommending some five star luxury hotels like La Coquillade, or some charming ones like Le Mas de la Rose and La Bastide de Marie.  Dates or room configuration were not all what Debbie needed so I thought I would list other properties that I like in the region. Some we have been to (and I’ll do a full review later) and some we have considered.

I haven’t checked the availability of each of these places and it will become challenging to get a space. So it could be a good idea to do a few days in a hotel and a few days in a luxury B&B to try to overcome the availability issue.

By the way, make sure to read my quick guide to the best places to eat in Provence.  It also gives you ideas for visits and hotel stays in Provence. 

Le Couvent des Minimes

• 46 bedrooms
• from 200 Euros.
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

We have been looking at this place for our own holidays.  The pool setting is gorgeous, there is a spa, the common areas look nice and the village nearby seems charming. For Debbie, the best option would be the Suite Mane but it is above budget so my recommendation would be either to strike a deal by staying 7 nights or to ask them which of the smaller rooms can be connected (the site doesn’t say).

Bastide de Capelongue

• 17 bedrooms, 14 appartments
• Apt for 4 is 2145€, from 140€ for a room in La Ferme de Capelongue, from 260€ in Relais & Chateaux hôtel
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

Edouard Loubet has three places: la bastide, which is a Relais & Chateaux hotel, Le Galinier de Lourmarin, where you can rent apartments and la Ferme de Capelongue, which is a charming hotel not part of Relais & Chateaux but still with a nice pool and the benefit of large flats to rent.  You are close to the Bastide de Capelongue if you say at La Ferme so you can go enjoy the gastronomic restaurant but they also have a more simple summer restaurant with a “menu pitchoune”. Pitchoune means “child” in provence language.

Domaine des Andéols

• 10 houses
• Houses start at 680€ per night for 4 people
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

The estate comprises several houses but they do offer hotel services with breakfast, pool bar and a restaurant on site. The pool area is really stunning. The key here is to choose your house wisely as each one is designed individually and we say “designed”, this is really the word as some of them are quite cold in their style. I would go with La Maison de l’Artiste, la Maison de Toujours ou la Maison du Lointain. Reviews indicate that the restaurant was not good but the chef is changing this year so hopefully that will make that place worthwile.

Le Domaine de Combrès

• 2 suites
• 5000 Euros a week in  high season
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

This is in between a B&B and a self-catering house actually.  This lovely house is ran as a B&B but if you want, you can rent it on its own, which would be handy for Debbie as there are only 2 rooms.  There is a lovely pool, a wonderful park and it’s near Oppède, one of the sights in Lubéron. To make things easy you can also have a chef coming on site to cook for you. The price also includes cleaning every two days and change of towels.

Le Pavillon de Galon

• 2 bedrooms
• From 220 Euros per night, weekly rental price on request
• Click here for the latest prices and book*

Same configuration here.  The B&B has only two bedrooms so you can rent the whole wing on the first floor and enjoy full private use of the kitchen, gardens and swimming pool. Le Pavillon de Galon is a restored 18th century hunting pavilion, surrounded by vines, orchards, cherry and olive trees near Curcuron. You can book cooking lessons with meals and enjoy a true Provence experience.

 Maison Collongue

• 5 bedrooms
• From 170 Euros
• Semble être hors business en ce moment

B&B with big breakfast and table d’hôtes (booking)

Semble être hors business en ce moment © Maison Collongue

I really like the pared down decoration of this lovely B&B which lets the beauty of the old building speak for itself. There is no big suite but two bedrooms would cost less than the budget, leaving space for ordering the at home cooking every night. Add a magnificent breakfast worthy of the best luxury hotels and you can kind of turn it into the service-oriented place that you need.  It is close to Lourmarin, one of the prettiest villages in Provence.