Reviews for Arles Vacation Rental - VRBO 48576 - 2 BR Provence House in France, Lovely Vacation/Holiday Townhouse in Old Arles, France

Your house is indeed very charming...and very clean as well!

Guest Liliane
Date of stay 04/06/13
Review Submitted 05/01/13

We felt very well in your beautiful house and spent a very nice time in the Camargue, in Arles, in the Alpilles... weather was quite well, we only had rain on Saturday when we arrived. We were really comfortable in the house. The inside of the house is very tastefully decorated and warm. We found the house in an excellent condition and very well equipped. We also appreciated to have a toilet on each of the three floors. All the functions in the house were very well explained in the documentations. We always found parking space next to the house. Your house is indeed very charming...and very clean as well. The cleanest house we ever spent holidays in! We had everything we needed, so we didn't have to call the house manager. With kind regards from sunny Switzerland and all the best to you Liliane & Antonietta

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Wonderful holiday in Arles!

Guest Family with small children
Date of stay 03/25/13
Review Submitted 05/13/13

Our stay in Arles was wonderful, and we wished we could have stayed longer. We loved the town and the residence was perfect. It was a wonderful location and despite being so close to the motorway, it was very quiet. It was one of the best kept, well stocked rentals we have stayed in. Everything felt safe and clean (which is important to us!), the beds were very comfortable, and we used many of the kitchen items for our breakfasts and dinners. We even braved the chilly weather and enjoyed the rooftop patio one afternoon - the furniture and plants made us feel like we were in our mini-oasis! Our kids loved the English television channels before bedtime, and we loved the wireless access to communicate with friends and family at home. Robert was extremely professional and thorough to work with, and we will pass along his information to anyone we know traveling to Arles. His staff in Arles does a tremendous job, too!

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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I would recommend a trip to Arles-- and a stay in this beautiful home-- to anyone!

Guest BillandTalia S.
Date of stay 03/16/13
Review Submitted 05/01/13

Our stay in Arles was filled with many lifelong memories. The home we stayed in was absolutely wonderful, and greatly added to our overall experience. We felt able to assimilate with the local community, and though there were many excellent restaurants nearby, it was also nice to pick up food at the local markets, boulangeries, et cetera and occasionally eat in! The home was perfect for our family of four, as our boys enjoyed playing in the basement (they loved the ping pong table!) while my wife and I read on the main floor or shared a cup of coffee on the patio. The home and neighborhood have a great deal of charm unique to Provence, and it's very easy to get on to the highway for day trips to other local towns. Internet accessibilty with the computer provided made planning much easier as well. I would recommend a trip to Arles-- and a stay in this beautiful home-- to anyone! Bill & Talia

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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The house exceeded our expectations!

Guest Pam L.
Date of stay 12/29/12
Review Submitted 01/12/13

The Arles apartment exceeded our expectations. The location and the accommodations were both wonderful. The kitchen was well equipped and the nearby markets had all the elements of some wonderful meals prepared with local ingredients. In fact, just a couple doors down, one of the neighbors sold fresh baguettes out of his window! Yum! My only regret is that we weren't able to go to the Saturday market while we were there, but we did manage to visit markets in nearby towns and loved the produce - even fresh legumes and truffles and the like. The beds in the apartment were very comfortable and it was great to have a phone to call home, plus WiFi and a computer. For us, English-speaking television with a wide range of movie channels made a nice evening diversion after a day sight-seeing. We alternated playing ping pong (in the darling arched stone basement) with movies. In fact, the only slight downside of the apartment was the parking, which was a bit tight. Still, we always managed to get a space close to the apartment. We would absolutely stay in the Arles house again; it was perfect. The folks in the town were friendly as well. We got up early to get fresh pastries for breakfast and always met a smiling shopkeeper. It was exciting to see places where Van Gogh painted to say nothing of the Roman ruins. And, it was quite close to other darling towns of Provence and Christmas Markets (which I loved!) Pam & Tim

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Parking is always a bit of a problem in old towns like Arles as there is no parking inside the town itself, so everyone has to park on the outside. One of the reasons we picked this house is that it is in the old town, but on the outside, so that you can park your car right in front of the house ... but as Pat and Tim found out, it can sometimes be a bit crowded. In that case, there is free municipal parking 5 minutes walk away and there is never any trouble finding parking there. So if necessary, you can stop in front of the house to unload your shopping and drop off your passengers, and then drive the few minutes to the municipal carpark.

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Trip of a lifetime

Guest User
Date of stay 09/15/12
Review Submitted 10/16/12

We four ladies rented this cozy home for 2 weeks in September of this year. This home afforded us the comfort and room we needed to relax and enjoy our vacation. Arles provided us with a good central base . We were enthralled with the city and the easy access to train and bus. We managed to squeeze in a lot of our ambitious tour list while here. Provence has so much to offer the curious and energetic , We could have easily stayed longer , we were so at home. Thank you

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

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Wendy, Dale, Greg, and Pam (Alberta, Canada)

Guest Wendy Butler
Date of stay 07/28/12
Review Submitted 02/08/13

This rental property was everything we had hoped it would be and more. The spaciousness of this rental was so beneficial for four adults who could enjoy breakfasts and dinners on the top patio or have a few minutes alone in the den, our rooms, or the living room. There was nothing like waking up and taking our coffee out on the patio, sitting out and enjoying the hot sun, or having a BBQ on those beautifully clear nights. From our hide away we could be in Avignon in less than an hour or enjoy the incredible beach on the Mediterranean twenty minutes south. We could drive to Cassis and spend a wonderful day and return to Arles and have dinner, then return to our little oasis on the roof. Every evening we welcomed the little gecko who entertained us with his hunting prowess. Seriously, this was such a beautiful respite from a day of walking through the streets of Arles or coming back from a day trip. I cannot overstate how central we were to so many of Southern France's beautiful destinations. You will not be disappointed by renting this property. It will be all you want and more for a wonderful French experience. We would go back in a moment!

Recommended for: Girls getaway, sightseeing.

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Live like the locals

Guest canuck
Date of stay 03/15/12
Review Submitted 04/12/12

If you enjoy fresh baguettes, open air markets, walks along the Rhone River, and the unique experience of living in a typical Arles house, this might be the place for you. The comfortable three level house is well equipped for self catering, is within walking distance to all of town's architectural interests, offers a sunny and secluded balcony for relaxing with a bottle of local wine, and most important, has ample parking and easy access to the major highways and routes outside the town, when planning your day trips to the neighbouring villages. The property is just on the edge of the old town, but all restaurants and small grocery stores are within a 5-10 minute walk. The owners were very helpful and responsive in suggesting places in Provence that would be of interest to both tourists and those of us who like to get off the beaten track. At the same time, we would recommend the tourist destinations such as Les Baux, the Camargue, Bonnieux, Aigues Mortes, because these are quite interesting and in some cases breathtaking. We also recommend the huge and lively open air markets of Arles itself, Isle sur la Sorgue, Lourmarin, and Beaucaire, to name a few, where you can purchase anything from live chickens to fur hats. All of these destinations are within a comfortable half hour to hour and a half drive, where you can enjoy lunch and an espresso in the brilliant sunshine (Van Gogh moved to Provence because of it's unique light), while peoplewatching to your hearts' content. In hindsight, we were happy to have based ourselves out of Arles rather than our intial selection of St Remy de Provence, which we found to be too small, or Avignon, which we found to be too hectic. But this a subjective preference, and while all of Provence is certainly worth a visit, the two weeks we spent there gave us just a little taste of what southern France has to offer.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A great base from which to explore the area

Guest Ed & Nita
Date of stay 10/09/11
Review Submitted 10/24/11

Robert, we very much enjoyed our stay in Arles, it’s a great base to travel the area from and the house was great. You have been a great host, keeping contact and the information package you put together on the house and the area was most helpful. You have a great resource in your house manager, she provided us with some useful tips.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Ed and Nita have pointed out one of the best things about our house - and that is our house manager. She lives just round the corner from the house, she's a lovely lady who speaks perfect English and she knows everything there is to know about Arles and the region. If you decide to stay with us then you will not regret calling her and getting her suggestions and advice for your vacation.

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What a grand location from which to visit Provence and the Cote d'Azur!

Guest Don
Date of stay 10/02/11
Review Submitted 10/25/11

Robert, We all enjoyed our visit in Arles, made especially better by your well furnished and comfortable home. What a grand location from which to visit most of Provence and the Cote d'Azur! Arles itself with its Roman ruins and Wednesday and Saturday markets would alone have made our month in France complete, but your home as our jumping off point gave us so much more. The four of us ate every breakfast in your well equipped kitchen and dining area and I even prepared two evening meals with local foods and spices. The cellar proved perfect for my morning stretch! We all agreed we'd return to Arles if your home remained available. Thank-you Robert, and if you ever come our way, please come for a visit.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Yes, the markets in Arles are spectacular ... there's no other way to describe them. And, of course, they are not just beautiful, they are the best places at which to buy farm-fresh produce, including delicious stall-cooked food ready for a mouth-watering lunch. In fact you could go to a different market every day as each town and village in the area has a market - although none that I have seen come close to the market in Arles. And on your way back to the house from the market you can always, as Don says, take in a Roman site or two - or just enjoy the beautiful medieval town with it's Italianate architecture and narrow pedestrian streets.

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We had a great time in the house and are planning to return next year!

Guest Chiara
Date of stay 07/02/11
Review Submitted 07/11/11

When we arrived the house was spotlessly clean and ready to use. It was much larger than expected with a fantastic outside terrace where we spent most of our time while we were eating. The location was perfect for us as it was close to the supermarket (5min walk max) and around the corner form 3 different bakeries. Perfect for the early morning croissant run! Most of the sights of Arles are within very easy walking distance from the house which makes popping back to the house during the hottest hours an easy option. Perfect for a family or group of friends!

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: One of the nicest things about Arles is that it is a small medieval town with huge character - every part of it is easily accessible by foot ... but you could spend months there and still have loads to see. If you want a real taste of Provence, with its markets and bakeries and festivals then Arles is the best place that I know. And our house is a great base from which to see it.

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Charming, Comfortable and Very Well Equipped

Guest Wayne
Date of stay 04/01/11
Review Submitted 06/28/11

We had a wonderful 4 weeks in Arles and Provence. The house is charming, comfortable and very well equipped. The location is perfect for easy parking and is just a short walk to all major attractions and restaurants. The roof top deck is a great place for BBQ's, dinners and cocktails or for just relaxing in the sun. The owner and house manager are easy to work with and are very responsive to any inquires. Robert, your house was perfect and lovely. When we return to Arles, we would love to rent it again.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Wayne and his family spent a month in our house - which is a long time for a stay in a self-catering accommodation in a foreign town and country. But as he said to me during his stay: "we are having a ball!" ... and this I'm sure has much to do with the exotic charm of Arles. I also think that our house is a really good base for a week or for a month as it is very comfortable and well-equipped, without losing its character as a house that has evolved over hundreds of years in this beautiful and ancient town.

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We enjoyed our stay in Arles immensely!

Guest Edward
Date of stay 02/13/11
Review Submitted 07/11/11

We enjoyed our stay in Arles immensely, in large part because of the personal attention provided by Robert and his house manager, Tuyet, and the care they take to make the house comfortable and attractive. The house is extremely quiet and well situated, and comes with such bonuses as a ping pong table and laptop computer. It's located a short walk from museums, restaurants, and shops. Arles itself is an attractive and friendly town, small enough to make one feel at home even during a short stay. We intend to recommend Robert's house to all our traveling friends.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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The most charming town and best house!

Guest Tim, Lizz, Holly & Tom
Date of stay 01/15/11
Review Submitted 07/11/11

My family rented this house for a week in January of 2011 as part of a 6-month trip we were taking around Europe. Arles is a fantastic base from which to explore Provence, and was the most charming town we visited in the area. This house was probably the best we rented on our entire trip. The kids were comfortable sharing the room upstairs. Our room on the middle floor was comfortable and bright. The house has an amazing rooftop terrace, an upstairs sitting room with a computer and broadband internet, and a large downstairs living area with English and French satellite TV. The kitchen is large and fully equipped. There is a table-tennis table in the basement our kids enjoyed. The house has all we could have needed, including washer and dryer, music station, dishwasher, phone, and DVD player. It is very attractive, quiet, close to great bakeries and restaurants, and has that Provencal feel. The owner Robert is very personable and a pleasure to deal with; available and happy to answer questions. We felt like welcome guests in a real home. We will definitely stay here on future trips to Arles.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Townhouse in Old Arles

Guest Roger & Rosemary Verrall
Date of stay 09/18/10
Review Submitted 10/11/10

We have just returned home after spending 2 weeks in this townhouse in Old Arles. The townhouse has been very well maintained and was spotless when we arrived. We appreciated the spaciousness of the townhouse and found the kitchen to be well equipped. After being out of touch for 2 weeks prior to our arrival in Arles, we appreciated the use of a computer to keep in touch and to make other travel arrangements. The townhouse is located very close to the major highway which made coming and going very easy but did hamper our quiet time in the evenings and certainly took away from the enjoyment of the rooftop deck. Our dealings with Robert were above and beyond and we appreciated his concise instructions - directions to the townhouse and the operation of appliances, etc. which were sent to us prior to our departure and were followed up with copies in the townhouse.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

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Our BEST Holiday To-Date!

Guest Jack
Date of stay 08/07/10
Review Submitted 07/07/11

My wife and I, with our teenage son and daughter, spent two weeks in Robert's house in Arles and it was the best holiday we've had as a family to-date. Arles is a unique town, absolutely wonderful; the Camargue to the south is extraordinary. But what made the holiday for us was the house: it is a gorgeous 17th century stone house, spacious, comfortable and very well equipped - better than advertised! We had such fun playing ping-pong in the stunning 'cave' (or stone cellar) and most evenings we had a barbecue on the lovely roof-top terrace - nicely rounded off with a fine Cote du Rhone! Having wifi broadband was BRILLIANT - it took a lot of pressure off my wife and me as our kids were able to do their thing with their internet gadgets. Having SKY TV was also great as we could laze-out and watch English-language channels on those evenings when we were too exhausted from site-seeing to do anything else. The house is on four levels which meant that we could all have as much privacy as we could possibly want and yet be together as a family. We had a few hot days when the wind blew from the south and the air conditioning in the bedrooms was a god-send! I had some work to do on the second week and having a PC connected to the internet in a comfortable study saved me a lot of phone calls. On previous holidays we have stayed in hotels and B&Bs and we never will again - self-catering is the way to go (at least for us) as it not only saves a lot of money but is so convenient and it so nice not to be restricted to one room but to have a whole house. It's wonderful being able to get a cup of tea or a cold drink or snack without having to go to a cafe or restaurant (which ends up being very expensive, especially with four of us!). Robert and his house manager (who is fluent in English and a really nice lady) were tremendously helpful and informative. We will certainly return and cannot recommend this house more!!

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: The houses in Arles are beautiful almost without exception - however our house is particularly interesting as it is in fact two houses combined, back to back. The only common part is the vaulted stone cellar which dates back to Roman times and which therefore pre-dates the house above it by centuries. The front half of the house was originally a bargeman's or fisherman's house. The front and back houses were then combined. The top story was subsequently added and at some point the front room of the top story was converted into a terrace. When we purchased the house the cellar was pretty much buried in earth and we have converted it into a really beautiful room without touching the magnificent stone vault and walls. It's a wonderful room, warm in the winter and cool in the summer and it's a lovely place to sit and read a book, have a game of cards or of table-tennis. We have changed very little of the rest of the house (except to paint and furnish and add some modern touches such as air conditioning) and so it has the higgledy-piggledy charm left by the past owners, with each room having it's own quite distinct character. Cathy and I really hope you enjoy the house as much as we do!

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Like coming home!

Guest Jon
Date of stay 07/24/10
Review Submitted 07/11/11

We've rented Robert & Cathy's house twice, and will again next year. It's a meticulous restoration, well appointed and with comfortable furniture, spacious for a family with bedrooms on different floors, and seals up tight (so it's dead quiet). Not Peter Mayle's Provence, 118 blvd Clemenceau is on the edge of the old city of Arles, where everything is within walking distance, including the promenade along the Rhone, restaurants, groceries, and several fine bakeries - for that fresh bread at breakfast on the roof terrace - besides Arles' tourist attractions. For fields of sunflowers and lavender, or a quick trip to the Camargue and the beaches, on-ramps to the autoroute are at either end of the street that's shielded and quieted by trees. Add an attentive manager who gets things fixed quickly and it's a perfect base for exploring the town and the region; fine for a family, two couples, those who'd like having a well-equipped kitchen and laundry, and for 55+ so long as stairs are not a problem.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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A Wonderful Place to Stay!

Guest ClydeB
Date of stay 01/07/08
Review Submitted 06/29/11

My family assembled from three continents to help us celebrate our Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in Provence. Partly on the basis of information received, we chose to be in Arles and to try very hard to get this lovely property. It proved to be a wonderful joy to us all! It is an attractive three story townhouse close to the Rhone, to restaurants, to major iconic sights, to a huge variety of shops, not far from the Station and on the bus and shuttle bus route. It has the Saturday morning markets just outside. The whole environment was quiet, well-served and inhabited by the kindest and most helpful people! The accommodation had enough sleeping space for seven, and a balcony for barbecues, and a cellar as a games room. We were in constant touch the the rest of the world through the TV and internet facilities freely available. Every amenity a family would have needed for recreation, meals and all the comforts of home, were there. If we ever needed anything, help was only a phone call away. For example, it was arranged, through the owner, for us to have a tour expert call upon us and he told us of magnificent opportunities nearby, including the Viaduct at Millau which is/will be the eighth wonder of the world! The hospitality, consideration and generosity of spirit by the owners of this property and the enormous suitability of the property itself, have made our visit a major event in the lives of the whole family. So appreciative are we of all this that if the owners ever visit Australia, we will want to show them equal joy, if that is possible, so that their lives can perhaps be as enriched as our lives have been! We invite any reader who would wish to contact us get our email address from the owner and we will be pleased to answer your questions. For a provincial home in Provence, the chance to enjoy the majesty of this whole part of France, and the safety/warmth/consideration and friendliness for which the Arlesiens are known, our whole family whole-heartedly commend this house!

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: One of the things that ClydeB mentions here is the friendliness and warmth of the Arlesiens. Arles is an absolutely fascinating town with a very rich culture and the Arlesiens are very proud of this. They are always more than happy to share it with visitors. I would very much encourage you to talk to talk to them at every opportunity - you won't regret it!

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Lovely Vacation/Holiday Townhouse in Old Arles, France [#48576] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (17)

Your house is indeed very charming...and very clean as well!

Your house is indeed very charming...and very clean as well!

Wonderful holiday in Arles!

Wonderful holiday in Arles!

I would recommend a trip to Arles-- and a stay in this beautiful home-- to anyone!

I would recommend a trip to Arles-- and a stay in this beautiful home-- to anyone!

The house exceeded our expectations!

The house exceeded our expectations!

Trip of a lifetime

Trip of a lifetime

Wendy, Dale, Greg, and Pam (Alberta, Canada)

Wendy, Dale, Greg, and Pam (Alberta, Canada)

Live like the locals

Live like the locals

A great base from which to explore the area

A great base from which to explore the area

What a grand location from which to visit Provence and the Cote d'Azur!

What a grand location from which to visit Provence and the Cote d'Azur!

We had a great time in the house and are planning to return next year!

We had a great time in the house and are planning to return next year!

Charming, Comfortable and Very Well Equipped

Charming, Comfortable and Very Well Equipped

We enjoyed our stay in Arles immensely!

We enjoyed our stay in Arles immensely!

The most charming town and best house!

The most charming town and best house!

Townhouse in Old Arles

Townhouse in Old Arles

Our BEST Holiday To-Date!

Our BEST Holiday To-Date!

Like coming home!

Like coming home!

A Wonderful Place to Stay!

A Wonderful Place to Stay!