After spending four weeks in a tiny town in Provence near Aix, my husband, son, and I decided for a change of scenery. We packed up our many, many suitcases into a clown car-sized Peugeot, and drove two hours northeast to the picturesque mountain town of Saorge. I’m willing to …

How do you test a hotel’s 5-star rating? Forget about checking for dust on picture frames — deliver a thunderstorm in the middle of a meal service. L’Orangerie’s terrace was brimming with lunchtime customers enjoying their market-fresh plats du jour and local rosés when the typically far-reaching view of the Luberon vanished …

Before my recent trip to Provence, I didn’t know much about the area other than it was known for its lavender and pastis. It’s only 3.5 hours from Marseille to Nice, so I figured it couldn’t be that hard to find a place to stay. Despite its relatively small size …

When we travel, we usually shun hotels. Sure, there’s a lot to be said about room service and having someone make your bed every day, but with the advent of Airbnb, HomeAway, and other vacation rental websites, we’ve opened our eyes to a new way to live like locals.  Why …

Most foreign house hunters do not realize that they can hire a buyer’s agent in France. They only ever encounter real estate (listing) agencies, either online or on the ground. French estate agents are hired by vendors to find a buyer and get the highest possible price. Vendors usually list …

Rebecca Ronane has looked “reinvention” in the face more than once in her lifetime. She has had to refocus her career goals several times; from a one-time dream of acting Rebecca became a travel tour director and an English as a foreign language teacher. Now, Rebecca is helping women redeploy …

After six months away from my home in France, I’m on the way back to Uzes! I’ve had a wonderful time in the U.S. with family and friends; and now it is time to continue my life-changing adventure in the south of France. My dear friend, Geoffrey, is picking me …

“Where I was born doesn’t help clarify anything, it just complicates things! Born in Paris but moved when two weeks old so not exactly a Parisienne! Pure coincidence that I’m now married to a Frenchman and living in France. I have two passports, British & Australian but feel international.” That …

The village of St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume is located 30 minutes South of Aix en Provence. There is fabulous history in this village, including the tombs of Mary Magdalene and St Maximinus (who the village was named after). There are also beautiful spots to stay and visit including the Hotel Le Couvent Royal (Hotel …

Hilda Stearn shares a series of posts from her visit to Provence in November.  Don’t wait until the fall to visit Forcalquier in Haute Provence it is beautiful all year round and the summer market is delightful. Read on to find out where Hilda stayed and her impressions of the …