Loft in antique house, 110m2, Arles

We recently spent 4 nights in this lovely apartment.It is ideally situated , within walking distance of many restaurants and shops but far enough off the beaten track to be restful and quiet.The apartment is clean and has all you could need for a comfortable stay .Our hostess, Estelle , is a dear lady who speaks good English and is very helpful...she even drove us to the station when we couldn't get a taxi! An ideal spot to break a hectic itinerary.

Estelle house is a slice of paradise in the heart of Arles. It is code walking to the market on Saturday, wonderful bakery, shops, restaurants, museums, and parking. Estelle's son was visiting while we were there and he gave us some excellent tips on where to go. Don't miss Dt. Remy's market on Wednesday. I would return to Estelle's home given the chance. As a caution we arrived during. Heat wave and there is no air conditioning, however there are fans in 3 of the 4 rooms.

We stayed for a week in this apartment and we recommend it highly. As shown in the pictures it is nicely decorated and has all the modern conveniences, including TV and WiFi. Estelle is delightful to work with and she made our stay very comfortable. The apartment is located in the old part of the city with quiet narrow streets and very few cars. The kitchen is well equipped and perfect for breakfast or a simple dinner after a day of sightseeing. A market, cheese store, butcher and pharmacy are all conveniently located a short walk away. The bakery is just steps from the apartment and provides fresh bagettes and croissants. A great place to use as a base to discover Provence!

We wanted a base to explore Provence. Arles turned out to be the perfect choice, in large part because of this wonderful apartment. Estelle, the owner, is a gracious, kind, considerate and thoughtful host. She is also a well-known decorator in France and her apartment reflects her impeccable taste. The pictures online, although accurate, do not do the apartment justice. It is an old building, with four stories, that was recently rehabbed and decorated to blend the old with the new. Original floor tiles and ceiling beams from the 1600’s are mixed with modern touches such as an elevator (very handy for moving suitcases). Wooden spiral staircases connect the levels. The apartment shares a beautiful courtyard with Estelle’s own apartment next door, but has a separate entrance via a charming little cul de sac. The ground floor includes a washer/dryer and an extra toilette. From there, you go upstairs to a fully equipped kitchen and living room with couch, rocking chair and large flat-screen TV. We spent many hours sitting there, listening to the birds and the fountain splashing water into the pool, while we planned our many trips around the Provençal countryside. Yes, there’s also a swimming pool and patio chairs for your use! The next floor up includes another sitting area and a huge bathroom/dressing area with two separate sinks (and electric hairdryer). The top floor is the bedroom with a wonderfully firm, king-sized bed. The building is in the old quarter of Arles, apart from all the tourists and famous sites. Just around the corner is a lovely bakery, and a couple of blocks away is a small square, triangular really, with many shops and restaurants. There is a Carrefour grocery store across the street from the “triangle” square from which you can walk up to the main shopping street leading to the main square. We spent several evenings just sitting in the square at the end of the day, watching the children play and friends talking. The main tourist attractions of Arles, such as the Roman Arena, are an easy walk from the apartment. We really can’t praise Estelle enough. She has created a beautiful retreat for travelers to Provence. Having this wonderful space to ourselves really made our trip to Provence a memorable experience. It was the perfect place to have coffee in the morning and plan the day. And every evening, when we returned from our excursions, it felt like coming home. It would be difficult to imagine a better place to stay in southern France.

We can't recommend this place enough! Estelle is a very charming hostess as well as being a talented decorator. This beautiful apartment is conveniently located in the old city, with easy access to free parking a short walk away. It's a perfect location as a home base to see the rest of Provence, but be sure to see all the great things Arles has to offer.

The apartment is very well appointed with every convenience, and after a long day of walking, it was so great to come back to. It's a beautiful combination of the old and the new, very comfortable while retaining the charm of it's 18th century origin. Estelle gave us great advice on what to see and do and couldn't have been more helpful. If you want to be sure at least one part of your trip will be how you hope it will be, this apartment will not disappoint!