[Editor's Note: To see our update on Paris, go to www.frommers.com/articles/3101.html.
Nice
Just minutes from the center of town, Hotel Dante, 12 rue Andrioli (tel. 93-86-81-00; www.hoteldante-nice.com) has been completely renovated to offer its guests a pleasant, inexpensive stay. The 30 rooms aren't spectacular, but the staff's number one priority is customer satisfaction. Each comes with a bathroom with tub or shower, TV, and fridge. If you're on a budget but still want charm and an ideal location, this is the place to stay.
Surrounded by an impressive garden, this government-rated three-star and restored hotel boasts 58 spacious accommodations. Hotel Brice, 44 rue du Maréchal Joffre (tel. 93-88-14-44; www.nice-hotel-brice.com), has kept up-to-date with its modern atmosphere in a Mediterranean decor. The soundproof, air-conditioned rooms include TV and minibar. Hotel Brice's restaurant, l'Agam serves exceptional cuisine. Prices for a double are 135€ ($175.50).
Provence
La Demeure de Jeanne, 907 route de Vence (tel. 93-59-37-24; www.demeuredejeanne.com), is not your average B&B. Its four accommodations are named Yellow Cat (double), Blue Cat (junior suite), White Cat (master junior suite), and Green Cat (suite). Each room has a private terrace, which overlooks the sea, garden, and outdoor swimming pool. The breakfast is served in the poolhouse or in the garden. Prices depend on which room you choose and range from 100€ to 150€ ($130 to $195).
Located across the street from Saint Paul de Vence, Hôtel Marc Hély, 535 route de Cagnes (tel. 93-22-64-10; www.hotel-marc-hely.com), now offers 10 charming units equipped with all of the modern amenities. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Michel Ricard and son, Chris, are of American and Proven¿al descent; therefore, more than qualified to entertain American visitors as well as native French. The accommodations offer either a balcony or private patio with panoramic views of the village and the hotel's outdoor swimming pool. The inexpensive rates are also attractive at this government-rated, three-star hotel.
Chamonix
What used to be a grand Art Deco mansion has been refurbished into the newest boutique hotel in Mont Blanc. A €1 million construction project has made The Clubhouse, 74 Promenade des Sonnailles (tel. 50-90-96-56; www.clubhouse.fr), a six-unit, modern, and ultra-chic hotel. Two of the rooms are "bunkhouse" suites, that accommodate up to seven guests. Fun-loving thrill seekers enjoy The Clubhouse's furry furnishings, modern facilities, and Clubhouse Bar. The Myla Suite is the hotel's best. Rates are pricey, but breakfast is included.
Vence
Charm and serenity greet you in this grandly restored 18th-century building, La Maison du Frêne, 1 Place du Frêne (tel. 93-24-37-83; www.lamaisondufrene.com). The comfortable rooms are spacious and well-maintained. The first floor is designated for social areas, a library, and the lobby. When you walk up the tiled stairs, each of the four accommodations are present. Panoramic views are enjoyed from all rooms. A delightful homemade breakfast is served every morning.
Arles
Receiving a facelift and new owners, Hôtel de l'Amphithéâtre, 5-7 rue Diderot (tel. 90-96-10-30; www.hotelamphitheatre.fr), has upped the ante in style and comfort. One wing of the hotel has been totally refurbished, exposing enchanting 17th-century wood-beam ceilings in select rooms. The ambiance evokes romanticism with rouge walls, soft lighting, and antique-styled furniture. All 28 rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with modern facilities. It's worth the money to book one of the renovated rooms, especially The Belvedere with a dazzling 360-degree view of the rooftops of the city.
Monestiés
The hippest place where English-speaking visitors are flocking is Le Manoir de Raynaudes, 81640 Monestiés (tel. 63-36-91-90; www.raynaudes.com). The owners, Orlando Murrin and Peter Steggall, have recently updated the 13 rooms and four guesthouses. When they discovered the 19th-century estate, Murrin was a London food editor and author of a best-selling cookbook, so be prepared for his scrumptious breakfasts. The apartments are rented out weekly, while the bedrooms are nightly. The spacious accommodations include all of the necessary modern amenities, and they even have an outdoor pool.
Ceze
Welcome to the great outdoors at Mille Etoiles, 30500 Potelières (tel. 66-24-21-81; www.cavaschic.com). This accommodation offers its guests three roomy tents to sleep under instead of the lackluster norm. Its guests rate is a thousand stars, hence the name. The tents are equipped with four-poster beds, hammock, chairs, and as much space as a hotel room. A large guesthouse is available for rent with three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, one on each floor, and an outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast is served to guests in the tents and the apartment, which accommodates a maximum of five people.
Toulon
This hotel is always new, or at least that's what the name suggests. New Hotel Tour Blanche, 83000 Toulon (tel. 94-24-41-57; www.new-hotel.com/TourBlanche/fr), features 92 units equipped with A/C, TV, hair dryer, and tub-only bathrooms. Its restaurant, Les Terrasses, keeps the menu fresh and tantalizing with Proven¿al cuisine by chef Christophe Sol. The reasonable rates and constant renovations will keep your wallet full and you up to date.
Located opposite a fishing port, the Best Western La Corniche, 17 Littoral Frédéric Mistral (tel. 800/91-40-01; www.bestwestern-hotelcorniche.com), is outfitted with spectacular views and charming bedrooms. Sunshine pours into the air-conditioned units, creating a pleasant ambiance. You can always find something to do here and the restaurant serves a sublime catch-of-the-day. With Best Western, you know the prices are affordable.
Arromanches
New owners have taken over the 19th-century residence, Hôtel de La Marine, 1 quai du Canada (tel. 02-31-22-34-19; www.hotel-de-la-marine.fr). The hotel faces the sea, and its restaurant, La Marée, whips up the freshest dishes. The 29 units are modern and equipped with shower and tub bathrooms. Rates start at 61€ ($79.30).
Burgundy
The infamous French Country Waterways has drastically renovated its luxury all-suite barge, Horizon II, (tel. 800/222-1236; www.fcwl.com). The ship was stripped of its furnishings and previous decor, and now boasts traditional French style rooms with cherry paneling, antiques, and a nautical ambiance. Horizon II formerly accommodated 12 passengers, but it has been reduced to eight in order to rebuild even more spacious units. Bathrooms are exquisite to say the least, with cream Marfil marble tiles, granite surfaces, and showers with sliding doors. Four suites are equipped with a king sized bed, armoire, and a sizeable bathroom. The boat is fully air-conditioned and smoking is not permitted on board for everyone's convenience. Four-course French cuisine is offered to guests as are two dozen or so selections of wine. The ship sails on the enchanting Canal de Bourgogne from Tanlay to Pouillenay.
Dordogne
This is the kind of charming, small-town restaurant that's so far off the beaten path, residents of big cities like Paris and Toulouse sometimes make special excursions just for this old-time, dyed-in-the-wool French flavor. Hôtel-Restaurant l'Atre, Place de l'Hotel de Ville (tel. 05-63-95-81-61; www.grand-sud.com/atre), was established in the 1960s, and is today a local landmark. It's the property of the hardworking team of Patrick and Camille Bonnans, one of whose sons recently established a hip and successful restaurant in New York City in the 1990s. Look for the appealing bar studded with oil paintings, an outdoor terrace overlooking the Hôtel de Ville, and a cozy dining room with beamed ceiling and massive fireplace whose stones were salvaged from a ruined château nearby and the meticulouly re-installed here during a major recent restoration. Menu items reflect the bounty and the subtleties of the surrounding region of Quercy, a medieval designation of which this restaurant is proud. You might begin with a platter (une panache de Quercy) containing different, and very traditional, parts of a goose. That includes portions of stuffed goose neck, sliced goose breast, sliced gizzards, and sliced goose liver, all arranged on a bed of salad greens. Shrimp à la nage perhaps floating in an herb-seasoned broth, frogs' legs sautéed in garlic and butter, filet of duck breast with flap mushrooms, and a superb version of sliced foie gras served with a sauce made from local white grapes find their place on the menu. A succulent version of cassoulet is also featured.
The Bonnans family also maintains 10 simple bedrooms on an upper floor, replete with lace curtains, and dignified furniture. Each has telephone, shower, sink, and toilet, but virtually no other amenities, and each rents for 36€ ($46.80) per night, single or double occupancy.
Reignac-Sur-Indre
Like a blast from the past, Le Château de Reignac, 10 rue Louis de Barberin (tel. 02-47-94-14-10; www.lechateaudereignac.com), has transformed, due to new owners, into a living history textbook. Formerly the residency, Marquis de la Fayette, the hotel is laced in architectural resemblances of the era of Gilbert de la Fayette and Adrienne de Noailles. The 12 units are named after historical figures such as the two previously mentioned. The owners have maintained the charm of yesterday, but the amenities are up-to-date. A plethora of land surrounds the hotel, where you can enjoy a stroll or perhaps re-enact a scene from Pride and Prejudice.
Murs-en-Provence
Nature lovers have found the jackpot at Le Mas du Loriot, Route de Joucas (tel. 90-72-62-62; www.masduloriot.com), situated on a grassy field of tranquility. The eight units are on the ground floor and are accessible from the outside for your privacy. All rooms but one have a breathtaking view of the Luberon mountain and all contain private terraces to enjoy a meal or such. While dining on the terrace, you might encounter a chirping cicada enjoying the sweet breeze. Amenities are respectable as are the prices. Nestled in the trees is a sizeable swimming pool.
Lyon
If you would like to go back to your college days, try Collège Hotel, 5 Place Saint Paul (tel. 72-10-05-05; www.college-hotel.com). This bizarre establishment is housed in a six-story apartment-style building that used to serve as a college. It's situated near the city's top-notch shopping area and is on the right bank of the Saône River. All of the modern amenities are offered in the 39 units, including corner baths and Italian style showers. The views from the rooms and the roof garden terrace are panoramic. Special treats are scattered throughout the hotel such as a 1960s vintage fridge on each floor, the Study Room serving as a breakfast area, and a room where teachers' desks turn into a bar in the evening. When the night falls, the 130 windows are illuminated as part of a spectacular light show in the city.
Chenonceaux
This place screams charm with a delightful staff and a grand estate. A jewel of Renaissance architecture, The Relais de Chenonceaux, 10 rue du Docteur Bretonneau (tel. 02-47-23-98-11; www.chenonceaux.com), is a government-rated, three-star hotel that includes 24 individually decorated rooms. What's creating all the rave for this new establishment is its adjoining restaurant. Outfitted with extravagant wood-beam ceilings and a cozy fireplace, the dining room is worth the trip. The crêpes tantalize any foodie as do the salmon goujons with sorrel sauce and the grilled entrecôte steak.
Champeaux
Outside it's a 1970s tavern, but inside it's a vrai brasserie. La Taverne de Maître Kanter, 4 rue Champeaux (tel. 25-73-25-71; www.tavernes-maitre-kanter.com), is one of about 60 restaurants that serve splendid Alsatian cuisine in France. This new location evokes a fine brewery, serving hearty choucroute (sauerkraut) accompanied by Kanterbra¿ draught beer. These taverns are also experts at whipping up seafood platters and Potée Alsacienne (hotpot), providing generous portions.
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