Travel Guide Avignon: best hotels

If you are going to stay in Avignon during the annual festival in July, you must make reservations well in advance. Here is our list of favorite hotels in and around the city. The main disadvantage of staying within the walls is there is hardly any parking. This is cumbersome if you want to spend some of your time exploring Provence. You will have to park in one of the lots outside the walls. The hotels outside Avignon which are recommended here are not that far at all and it is easy to get to Avignon, park just outside the city walls and explore the city on foot.

Hotels inside the walls of Avignon

Hotel d’Europe: A restored 16th century mansion turned into a luxury hotel inside the walled city. Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens once stayed there.

Hotel d’Europe Avignon

La Mirande: historic boutique hotel at the foot of the Palais des Papes, has an excellent restaurant and outdoor dining terrace.

Hotels outside the walls of Avignon

La Magnaneraie: luxury hotel with swimming pool and lush gardens outside Avignon.

Le Prieuré: A former convent, now a Relais et Chateaux five-star hotel renovated in 2007, just outside the walled city, in the town of Villeneuve-les-Avignon.

Auberge des Noves: Located 10 minutes from Avignon, boasts one of the best restaurants in the region with outdoor dining terrace, has 23 rooms, beautiful gardens — perfect for enjoying the weather in southern France.

Auberge des Noves

Travel Guide Avignon: best restaurants and bars

Le Bercail (162, rue des Cannotiers): Grilled meat and fish, pizza and Provençal specialties.

Christian Etienne (10, rue de Mons): The most highly regarded restaurant in Avignon (next to the Palais des Papes), creative Provençal cuisine, magical experience, the chef is a Maître Cuisinier de France (Master Chef of France, one of the highest honours in France).

Le Gambrinus (62 rue Carreterie): Longing for a beer, especially when it’s hot outside? Gambrinus has an astounding selection of beers from Belgium and Germany, and whiskies, too. The menu consists of dishes that go well with beer: mussels with fries, hamburgers, sausages, steaks, and charcuterie.

METropolitan, Collection Lambert (5 rue Violette): Restaurant designed by Andrée Putman, set in the courtyard of the Collection Lambert, a museum housed in an 18th century mansion. Quiet atmosphere, modern cuisine.

83 Vernet restaurant and bar (83 rue Joseph Vernet): Located in a 14th century building, serves Provençal cuisine in atmospheric surroundings.

83 Vernet

Travel Guide Avignon: main attractions

Avignon is one of the best preserved historic cities in France, a walled city filled with splendid hôtels particuliers (grand private mansions, many of which have been turned into boutique hotels) and churches. Avignon was the seat of the Popes between 1309 and 1423 and its history dates back to pre-Roman times when the settlement on the Rhone River was already inhabited by Gallic tribes well before the Romans arrived.

The Romans turned Avignon into an important trading post because of its advantageous position along the Rhone. Together with other Roman towns, Avignon formed part of a flourishing network of settlements in Gallia Narbonensis, the area we now know as Provence and Languedoc. But it was the Papacy in the 14th century that turned Avignon into what it is today. The Popes built the walls that surround the city and the imposing Palais des Papes (an impregnable fortress complex), commissioned magnificent churches and homes for the clergy, and attracted rich merchants and bankers (who in turn built one of the first foreign exchange markets, the Avignon Exchange).

Here are the must-see places in Avignon:

• Palais des Papes: get there very early or late in the afternoon.
• Avignon Festival: Takes place in July each year, music/dance/theatre.
• Saint Benezet Bridge: This is the bridge you see in all photos of Avignon.
• Les Halles gourmet food market
• La Cathedrale Notre Dame des Doms
• Collection Lambert (museum)
• Musée Calvet
• Musée Louis Voland
• Musée Lapidaire

Travel Guide Avignon: shopping

(1) Moulin de la Chartreuse: This ancient olive oil mill was built in the 14th century and thrives to this day. Locals bring their own olives and have oil extracted from them. You can buy olive oil, tapenades, and olive oil soap. There is also a bistro that serves fresh local cuisine and a salon de thé for afternoon tea with wonderful desserts.

(2) Yannerick Serignan Antiquités: Founded in 1919, this antique shop has been in the family for three generations and is located in the centre of Avignon, in a 15th century chapel. They speak English and deliver antiques to anywhere in the world.

(3) L’Ami Voyage (5 rue Prevot): Remarkable book shop with art and architecture books, and a cozy tea room.

(4) Galerie 5.6.7 (17 rue de la petite Fusterie): vintage designer furniture from the 1960s and 1970s.

Galerie 5.6.7 Avignon

Day trips from Avignon

Avignon is situated between Languedoc and the Luberon. You are within 30 minutes by car from the ancient city of Nîmes (known for its well-preserved Coliseum and Roman temple), Arles (where Van Gogh lived and painted), Uzès, and the hill towns of the Vaucluse (Gordes, Roussillon, Menerbes, Bonnieux).

Read our Provence articles, including hotel and restaurant reviews.

Travel guide Avignon: best hotels, restaurants and shops is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The hotel’s most distinctive features are the individually decorated rooms designed by the owners’ friends, who happen to be artists and interior decorators. If you loathe the bland standard fittings of most hotel rooms, you will feel right at home at the Hotel Edgar Paris which has verve and personality.

There’s free Wi-Fi and air conditioning (this is critical in the summer when the city can get extremely hot). The hotel has a small restaurant that serves delicious seafood dishes and if the weather is fine, you can sit outside on the terrace for drinks. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.

For a complete guide to Paris, read our articles on Paris hotels, restaurants and shopping.

Hotel Edgar
31 rue d’Alexandrie
75002 Paris, France
+33 (0)1 40 41 05 69

Hotel Edgar Paris: quirky boutique hotel with artsy rooms is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

L’Auberge Basque is famous gastronomic restaurant and hotel 7 kilometres north of the coastal town of Saint Jean de Luz and 22 kilometres from Biarritz in France. If you are looking for a place to stay in and around Saint Jean de Luz, this is it.

Five years ago, Cédric Béchade, chef and owner of Auberge Basque, bought what was a traditional bed and breakfast inn constructed in the late 1600s, renovated it and turned it into a temple of fine cuisine and relaxation in the French Basque country. The decor is a blend of traditional and contemporary with a neutral colour scheme.

Each bedroom has a unique décor designed by Flamant Home Interiors. All rooms feature large, comfortable showers with the ecological “rain dance” system, flat screen TVs, king-sized beds and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have a private terrace that overlook the mountains and the valley below. There is a spa with massage and beauty treatments that use products from the luxury Parisian brand, Cinq Mondes. Breakfasts at the Auberge Basque are another culinary extravaganza with delicious Basque cakes, fresh fruit juices, brioches, sheep’s milk yogurt and more.

The reason people come to Auberge Basque is for the restaurant, a bright airy space that looks out onto the garden and the hills beyond. Cédric Béchade creates light, healthy dishes of unusual flavour combinations using local products from the Basque Country such as Banka trout, bonito from Saint Jean de Luz, and Ibaïona ham. The kitchen pays special attention to the aesthetics of food, presenting the dishes with flair and creativity. Auberge Basque offers several tasting menus as well as a la carte dishes. Here are examples from the spring 2013 a la carte menu: calamari in its ink with leek and sesame, stewed dover sole with pine bark and yuzu aïoli, veal with green cabbage and wasabi-sour/sweet fruit, and pineapple in tiramisu with apple and juniper berries. The wine list is extensive and features wines from different regions ranging in price from 26 EUR to 136 EUR.

The Auberge Basque restaurant’s decor is simple and elegant: tables in light oak designed by Isabelle Juy (Flamant Home Interior); glass chandeliers by Flamant; matching dishes specially created by Céramiques Cazaux in Biarritz; Onatiss towels; Bernardaud china; wine glasses and decanters by Jean-Pierre Lagneau.

If you are going to Auberge Basque to eat and stay for the night, ask for a room with balcony facing the hills. I opted for one of the smallest rooms and it was tiny and did not have a view, but it was comfortable. Make sure you take the time to sit out on the chairs on the lawn outside the restaurant with marvelous views of the valley and hills just at sundown. I had a wonderful stay at Auberge Basque and would stay and eat there again if I come back to the Saint Jean de Luz area. It is such a peaceful hideaway, perfect for getting away from the stresses of life.

Check the opening days and times of the restaurant before you decide to go and make reservations.

L’Auberge Basque
D 307 vieille route de St Jean de Luz
64310 Helbarron / Saint-Pée – France
+33 (0)5 59 51 70 00

L’Auberge Basque: great food, rustic hideaway near St. Jean de Luz is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Buddha Bar Hotel Prague offers state of the art Spa facilities, and hotel guests are offered complimentary use of brand new fitness located just next to the hotel. Siddharta cafe, located in the hotel, offers contemporary French Colonial food with Asian influence.

See Other Mapplr Favorites in Prague

Buddha Bar Boutique Hotel Prague
Jakubská 649/8 – 110 00 Prague
Czech Republic
Tel +420 221 776 300

Buddha Bar Hotel Prague: Contemporary Asian in the Heart of the Old City is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Greek Temple in Sicily

Getting to Sicily and planning your trip

The best time of the year to go to Sicily is early fall (September) or spring (May and June). September is best for people who love to swim in the sea. The water is warm and inviting. Never go in late July and August when Italians take their annual holiday. That is when hotels charge the highest prices and the beaches are overcrowded.

Most people fly to Palermo or Catania airports which are served by traditional carriers and budget airlines. You can take an overnight ferry from Naples, but it’s cheaper and faster to fly. You can also take the train from Rome or Naples (again the train is more expensive than air travel), but be prepared for a long railway journey. There is still no bridge between the mainland and Sicily, and if cynical Italians are to be believed, there will never be one, even though the crossing is very narrow. What happens is the train arrives at the “toe” of the Italian boot, Reggio di Calabria, and the Italian railway workers put the rail cars on a ferry and, 25 minutes later, unload them at Messina in Sicily for the trip to Palermo.

Catania is a more convenient place to fly in and out of than Palermo, if you plan to stay mostly in Taormina and the eastern/southeastern part of Sicily. Rent a car and explore Palermo for one to two days. Although most of the preserved Greek temples are in Western Sicily (Agrigento and Segesta), that part of the island has fewer hotels and amenities for travelers (you can read our guide to Western Sicily and Erice).

A word about driving in Sicily: If you want to explore the island, you will have to rent a car. Roads are in good condition, thanks to money from the European Union. Driving is easy and stress-free around the island, except in Palermo where signage is virtually non-existent, street markings are a rarity and traffic is a nightmare. Drivers give each other about 3 centimetres of space on either side. There is only one rule in Palermo: don’t hit anyone or anything. If you drive in Palermo and survive unscathed, you will be proud of yourself and feel much more confident to drive anywhere in the world (except perhaps in India).

Sicily Travel Guide: favorite destinations on the island

Taormina

Taormina is the most visited town in Sicily. Since the days of the Grand Tour and for almost two hundred years, famous people such as Goethe, Alexandre Dumas, Johannes Brahms, Cary Grant and Woody Allen have stayed in Taormina. When you arrive in Taormina, you will understand why. Built on high cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, the town has lovely squares surrounded by cafes and restaurants, splendid palaces (which have been converted into luxury hotels) and an impeccably restored Greek Theatre that is still used for performances. The main thoroughfare of Taormina is closed to automobile traffic so you can stroll leisurely past designer boutiques and gelato bars, and wind your way to the large square that overlooks the sea, where locals and visitors spend the better part of an afternoon. It’s not just the views over the sea that attract visitors to Taormina, it’s the atmosphere to the place.

Hotels in Taormina

There are many hotels in the town and just outside it for all budgets. My favourite is the Ashbee Hotel: an early 1900s villa converted into a luxury boutique hotel with stunning views over the sea and the coastline, a quiet private location, onsite parking, swimming pool, breakfast and dinner on a lovely garden overlooking the Mediterranean. I stayed at the Ashbee and would stay there again.

The Ashbee Hotel in Taormina

Other hotels that look good:

Grand Hotel Timeo: the first hotel to be built in Taormina, this luxury hotel overlooks the sea and is close to the Greek Theatre.

Hotel Villa Ducale: luxury boutique hotel with only 11 rooms and 6 suites, breathtaking views over the Mediterranean, spacious outdoor terraces.

Hotel Imperiale: renovated in 2009, this contemporary luxury hotel has a large swimming pool and spa, views over the sea, and private balconies.

Shalai Resort near Mount Etna: Not in Taormina but close by is this wonderful hotel in a restored 19th century mansion. Perfect for exploring the area around Mount Etna.

Restaurants in Taormina

Like any popular tourist destination, Taormina has restaurants that serve authentic Sicilian cuisine and others that cater to tourists’ perverted notions about Sicilian cuisine. There are three restaurants I recommend, which serve local specialties such as spaghetti with sea urchin and pasta with tuna and mint.

La Tavernetta: via Timoleone 22 (hidden on a series of steps).

La Botte: Piazza Santa Domenica, 4 (tucked away on a tiny square opposite a small church).

Il Giardino degli Ulivi: Located in the garden of the Grand Hotel San Pietro, this chic restaurant has great views over the sea and serves Sicilian food with a modern twist.

All restaurants have outdoor seating and serve lunch and dinner.

Baroque towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica

You will need at least 2 days to explore Noto, Modica and Ragusa, a cluster of towns known for their baroque churches and palaces.

The baroque town of Modica

The towns were destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1693 and reconstructed in the Baroque style. These Baroque churches and palaces were restored recently with money from the European Union.

Hotels in the Baroque towns

My advice is to stay in Noto at the atmospheric Seven Rooms Villadorata, an opulent guesthouse of seven large suites in a renovated palazzo in the center of Noto and to use Noto as a base to explore Ragusa and Modica.

Seven Rooms Villadorata in Noto

If they don’t have a suite available at Seven Rooms Villadorata, check out these other hotels in Ragusa and Modica:

Villa Carlotta (Ragusa): Former aristocratic estate turned into a modern boutique hotel just outside Ragusa. One of the highlights of this hotel is its excellent La Fenice restaurant which balances traditional Sicilian cuisine with contemporary interpretations of local specialties. It is also known for its wine cellar of more than 900 bottles.

Eremo della Giubiliana (Ragusa): Luxury resort-hotel in a restored former convent, a few kilometres south of Ragusa.

Restaurants in Noto, Ragusa and Modica

Ristorante Il Cantuccio (via Cavour 12, Noto): This intimate restaurant is just down the street from Seven Rooms Villadorata and serves local specialties. It is reasonably priced and has a good selection of Sicilian wines. I ate here twice and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the excellent service.

Fattoria delle Torri (Vico Napolitano 14, Modica): Serving creative dishes that are a modern take on Sicilian cuisine, this elegant restaurant is a bit difficult to find but well worth it. Extensive wine list, more expensive than Il Cantuccio in Noto; a great find in Modica.

Duomo (via Capitano Boccheri 31): Located in the heart of Ragusa, this elegant restaurant features local cuisine cooked to perfection with meat and fish dishes to please every palate.

Siracusa and Ortigia

Siracusa (Syracuse) and the tiny island of Ortigia that is connected to it via bridges, are among the oldest settlements in Sicily. Founded 2700 years ago by Greek Corinthians, Siracusa is also the birthplace of Archimedes. You can explore Ortigia in a day or stay there overnight if you want to have more time to walk around the narrow atmospheric streets of its ancient quarters.

Hotels in Siracusa and Ortigia

You can stay in Ortigia itself or very close to it (5 minute walk to Ortigia) in Siracusa. There is hardly any parking in Ortigia; you’ll have to park just outside by the harbour.

Hotel Cavalieri: Just across Ortigia by the harbour, a modern boutique hotel, reasonably priced, with parking options.

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel: Located in Ortigia, this recently renovated historic hotel boasts one of Ortigia’s most important ancient sites in its basement — a 6th century mikva (Jewish ritual bath).

Restaurants in Siracusa and Ortigia

Oinos Restaurant (via della Guidecca, Siracusa): Located in the ancient Jewish quarter of Ortigia, they serve delicious fish dishes such as seafood cuscusu and pasta con le sarde.

Regina Lucia (Piazza Duomo 6, Ortigia): Located on one of the most beautiful piazzas in Sicily, this restaurant specializes in local cuisine with an emphasis on seafood.

Western Sicily

Please refer to Mapplr’s dedicated travel guide to Western Sicily (and Erice) with recommended hotels and places to visit.

Palermo

Palermo is the largest city in Sicily. It is a bustling city filled with ornate churches, crumbling palazzi and food markets. These are the must-see places in Palermo:

Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo: Macabre and creepy, this underground cellar of dim passageways lined with dead people’s skeletons (still wearing their robes), preserved by the Capuchin monks over the centuries, is one of the most memorable places you will ever see. Not a good idea to go alone simply because by the time you come to the end of the first corridor, the hair on your neck and arms will be standing straight up. The preserved 2-year old girl (who died in 1920 and has the honour of being the last person embalmed by the monks) in a glass-covered cradle is morbidly fascinating because she seems to be in the bloom of life with her chubby red cheeks and curly locks.

Cappella Palatina: Royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily located on the second floor of the Palazzo Reale built in 1080 distinguished by its Byzantine architecture and dazzling golden mosaics.

Monreale: A small town just outside Palermo, its main attraction is the Cathedral of Monreale constructed between 1174 and 1182 by William II and is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the world. Like the Cappella Palatina, the cathedral’s ceiling and upper walls are decorated with impressive Byzantine mosaics.

Cathedral of Monreale

Viucciria: This market has been providing fresh fish, vegetables and fruit to Palermo residents for 700 years. Check out the astounding variety of fresh fish.

*Tip for a sunny afternoon: Head to Mondello just outside Palermo along the coast. Mondello’s white sand beaches and warm waters are the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Have lunch at one of Mondello’s beachside trattorias. There is an excellent restaurant in Mondello called Bye Bye Blues on via del Garofalo 23.

Mondello Beach

Hotels in Palermo

There isn’t one hotel in Palermo that I’m crazy about and would wholeheartedly recommend. The two hotels listed below are the best of the lot.

Grand Hotel Villa Igeia: Located on the waterfront, this hotel has large rooms, swimming pool, gardens, outdoor dining. You need to take a taxi to the center of Palermo to see the main sights.

Hotel Porta Felice: Modern boutique hotel near the port, less expensive than Villa Igeia, need to take taxi to main sights.

You can stay outside Palermo at the vineyard resort of Agrirelais Baglio di Pianetto in Santa Cristina Gela (20 km from Palermo).

Restaurants in Palermo

Osteria dei Vespri (Piazza Croce dei Vespri 6): Located on a hidden square where Visconti filmed the principal part of “The Leopard” (Il Gattopardo), this restaurant serves modern Sicilian cuisine. The food is marvelous and the atmosphere is memorable because you dine under the stars in one of the oldest quarters of Palermo. Reservations are absolutely necessary because it’s a small place. Ask for a table outside if the weather is good.

Gigi Mangia (Via Principe di Belmonte 104): fresh seafood and pasta, local dishes and desserts.

Sicily travel guide: What to eat in Sicily

This is not the time to go on a diet, nor is it the time to be squeamish. Sicily is all about the seafood and fresh vegetables, many of which you don’t find outside Sicily.

(1) Pasta with small sweet red shrimp: If you find this on the menu, eat it. The shrimp has an intense red colour and is very sweet. It is a type of deep water shrimp called aristaeomorpha foliacea which breeds in the summer off the coast of Western Sicily and lives in deep waters (200 metres and more).  This is the best shrimp I have ever tasted.

(2) Cuscusu: Seafood couscous is found mostly in Western Sicily, but is served in seafood restaurants around the island.

(3) Pasta with tuna and mint: Unusual combination of flavours that work well.

(4) Pasta with sea urchin: Like pasta with tuna and mint, sea urchin and pasta are a divine combination. The sea urchin gives the pasta a slightly unctuous texture.

(5) Pasta alla norma (with eggplant): This dish originated in Catania and is composed of penne, eggplant, tomatoes, ricotta salata and basil. You can find this in many restaurants across Italy, but it is best made in Sicily.

(6) Pasta con le sarde: Bucatini with sardines, pine nuts, raisins, saffron, anchovies, wild fennel and breadcrumbs. This is the quintessential Sicilian dish and if you want to make it, follow the recipe of Giorgio Locatelli.

(7) Fava beans and peas pureed together, and served with ricotta, toasted breadcrumbs, and herbs such as mint.

(8) Polpette di pesce spada: fried ground swordfish balls served in a piquant tomato sauce.

(9) Involtini di pesce spada: thinly sliced swordfish fillets, stuffed, rolled and baked.

(10) Tenerumi in soup: Tenerumi are the vine tendrils of the cucuzza (pale, long courgettes) and they are most often used in brodetto (soup) in the summer.

Other sources of information

Think Sicily has an excellent list of villas to rent as well as short summaries of what to see in Sicily, where to eat and how to get around.

* * * * * * * *

If you have questions about Sicily or want to update us on hotels, restaurants and other tips, please fill in the comments section below.

Sicily travel guide: best hotels, restaurants, itineraries and cuisine is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Hotel Georgette Paris boasts 19 artistic rooms, each one as bright and unique as the other. The fresh, modern ambiance of the rooms provides a stark and wonderful contrast to the historic streets below. With a focus on art, bright pops of colour (greens, pinks, yellow) greet guests throughout the hotel. Spectacular chandeliers and striking art pieces round out the décor. Among the contemporary artistic themes to choose from are Pop Art style, Dada and New Realism. Tomato cans in the style of Andy Warhol hang on the walls of the Classic Room; a faded pin-up girl poster can be found in the Superior Room; and graffiti-style décor is painted on the wall of the Deluxe Room. Guests are surrounded by art during their entire stay at Hotel Georgette Paris. There’s also free Wi-Fi plus national and international newspapers in the lobby.

All rooms are air-conditioned and include a mini bar and television. A full breakfast is available from 7:00 to 11:00 am, with the possibility of room service upon request.

Parking is available nearby and the hotel is easily accessible by subway on line 11 via the Rambuteau stop and line 4 via the Etienne Marcel stop. With such convenient metro stops nearby, the main attractions in Paris, like the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral, can be reached with ease. Actually you can walk to the Louvre from the hotel.

Hotel Georgette Paris is truly a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel in Paris: it is affordable, centrally located and beautifully decorated.

Hotel Georgette
36, rue du Grenier Saint Lazare
75003 Paris, France
+33 (0)1 44 61 10 10

Hotel Georgette Paris: artistic hotel with a twist is a post by Brittany Trevick on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The farm has six executive rooms, each one is visually unique, designed with a sense of whimsy to accompany the clean modern design. Three of the rooms face the swimming pool while the other three look across the sprawling gardens. There are many activities to keep one busy The Farm Jaipur,  from yoga and massage to outdoor adventures, cooking and painting classes, all in a lively social atmosphere. Meanwhile, the atmospheric city of Jaipur beckons nearby with all its historic charms. While India has many small historic hotels, usually situated in old palaces, it is a welcoming development to see new boutique hotels developed from the ground up by young entrepreneurs.

Click here for other Mapplr favorites in Rajasthan

The Farm Jaipur Hotel
32 Surgeev Marg
Dhankiya Road, Jaipur 302026, India
Tel +91 9828023030

The Farm Jaipur: Eclectic Art Hotel in Rajasthan is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

A minibar and an LCD TV with satellite channels are standard facilities in the rooms and suites at Hotel Le Pradey. All rooms have free Wi-Fi access and some suites have a separate seating area and views of the city. Guests can enjoy the continental breakfast from the comfort of the rooms or indulge in the buffet in the breakfast room.

Hotel Le Pradey also has a bar where you can sip an aperitif before dining in the nearby restaurants. While the area is not particularly hip and caters mostly to tourists, it is conveniently located within walking distance from many of the museums and designer boutiques. Several metro lines provide excellent connections to other parts of the city.

For great shopping, check out the boutiques on the nearby rue St. Honore. rue Cambon and rue Faubourg St. Honore: Chanel, Prada, Gucci and other luxury designer brands are packed together on small, walkable streets. The atmospheric Palais Royal is home to the perfume heaven of Serge Lutens. If you are craving something other than traditional heavy French food, rue Sainte-Anne (close to the Pyramides metro) has many restaurants that specialize in udon, ramen and sushi. For a trendy bar, check out the bar at the Hotel Costes, favourite of fashionistas around the world.

For our other recommendations in Paris, check Mapplr Favorites in Paris

Boutique Hotel Le Pradey
5, rue Saint Roch
75001 Paris
Tél. +33 (0)1 42 60 31 70

Hotel Le Pradey: modern take on Haussmannian architecture in Paris is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

With a 7 km long coastline, Gili Trawangan is the largest and most vibrant of the three Islands. Gili Meno is the complete opposite — a calm oasis for those seeking a peaceful island getaway. Somewhere in between the two, you find Gili Air which has the most local feel of the islands. All three islands are within a five-minute boat ride from each other so you can easily visit all three.

The three islands have a “no cars/no motorbikes policy”, making bicycles and horses the only forms of inland transportation. Add to that a love of reggae music and a rasta-like lifestyle and you see why the Gili Islands are the perfect spot to slow down.

What to do on the Gili Islands

Most people who visit the Gili Islands plan on spending most of their time on the beach, eating freshly caught seafood and sipping fruit juices or cocktails. But should the urge to do something more active arise, the islands provide several options.

Scuba diving

The Gili islands have plenty of options for scuba divers.  With more than 20 named dive sites near the coasts of the islands, there are sites that suit both beginners and experienced divers. Pigmy seahorses, barracudas, reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and fish in all colors are among the many different species you may encounter. If you are new to diving, several operators on the islands offer scuba diving courses for beginners.

Snorkel with sea turtles

Put on your fins and mask (if you didn’t bring your own, they can easily be rented) and go searching for sea turtles just off the beach. There is a good chance you’ll be swimming with one of these beautiful creatures. If you have trouble finding turtles ask someone local and they’ll be glad to guide you to a good spot.

If you don’t like getting your head below water, you can visit the turtle hatchery on the main beach on Gili Trawangan where young turtles are getting ready to be released into the waters.

Bike or walk around the Islands

Bikes can be rented almost everywhere and are a great way to explore the islands. If you head inland on the small dirt roads, you will see village life as it is lived on the Gilis, which is slow-paced.  Bike along the coast and you’ll come by several small beaches where you can have a picnic on your own “private” secluded beach.

On Gili Trawangan, a popular walking trip is to the summit of the small hill on the southern part of the island, especially around sunset where you can see the sun set behind Bali. On Gili Meno, there is an inland salt lake that makes a good destination for a walk.

Explore nearby Lombok

Take a boat to Lombok and venture into the Gili Islands’ closest neighbor. Lombok is mainly Muslim, which means the culture is different compared to nearby Bali’s Hindu culture.

A day trip from the Gilis can include visits to unspoilt villages or trekking to waterfalls.  Serious trekkers should consider climbing the spectacular 3726 meter high volcano Mount Rinjani with a crater view that will take your breath away. A trip to the summit of Mount Rinjani is a 3-day tour.

Where to stay on the Gili Islands

Deciding which of the three islands you want to stay on depends on whether you are looking for tranquility or prefer a busier place with nightlife and a large selection of small shops and restaurants.  Gili Meno is the most peaceful of the three, Gili Trawangan is more happening, and Gili Air has a bit from both worlds.

If you are a light sleeper, it can be a good idea to avoid the area around the two mosques in the south when booking a hotel. The calls to prayer five times a day are part of the Gili experience and adds to the atmosphere, but it can be hard to sleep through them if you stay right next to the mosque.

On the Gilis accommodations are a mix of cheap bungalows and luxury villas. Most of the cheap bungalows can’t be booked in advance, but they are numerous and are usually easy to find.

When it comes to villas on the Gili Islands, Villa Julius and the eco-friendly Gili Eco Villas are among the most popular. Most villas on the islands can be booked through Vilondo Gili villa rental.

Places to eat on the Gili Islands

At night, many of the restaurants light up barbecues and grill fish and other seafood from their displays along the beach road. Often you will dine right on the beach. If you sit to close to the water’s edge, be prepared to get wet feet when the tide comes in.

For a more local authentic dining experience, head to square near the harbor on Gili Trawangan, where local fishermen prepare their catches of fish and seafood on small barbecues. Enjoy it with a cold beer, a squeeze of lemon and you won’t miss the tablecloths and candle lights found in some of the fancier places.

Restaurant Ko-Ko-Mo (Gili Trawangan)
Ko-Ko-Mo has one of the most ambitious kitchens on the Gili Islands and a beach location to match it. The kitchen is French with Asian touches. Prices are higher than most other places, but so is the quality.

Il Pirata (Gili Trawangan)
If you are hungry for pizza, try Il Pirata. You’ll be amazed that pizzas can taste that authentic on a tropical island thousands of miles from Italy. The restaurant is hidden down one of the small alleys from the beach road and fills up most nights.

Café Kecil (Gili Trawangan)
Close to Il Pirata you find the brightly colored Café Kecil. There is nothing extravagant about Café Kecil. The atmosphere is cosy and you can get a decent sandwich, a noodle or pasta dish for less than 2$. Good stop for lunch.

Mahamaya (Gili Meno)
If you  want a classy dining experience on Gili Meno, Mahamaya is the place to go. On top of delicious food and a service minded staff, you get a beautiful sunset with your pre-dinner drink if you get there on time.

Warung Gili (Gili Air)
Warung Gili is a family run warung right in the center of Gili Air. The food is local and prices are very reasonable.

How to get to the Gili Islands

Several places along Bali’s east coast have ferry routes to the Gili Islands. The most popular is the ferry departing from Padang Bai.

There are plenty of boat companies to choose from. Prices range between US$20 to US$100. The expensive options include pick up and drop off at your villa or hotel in Bali. If you go for the cheapest options, don’t expect much when it comes to maritime safety. Most likely you won’t find life vests for everyone or a working radio on board.

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This travel guide to the Gili Islands was contributed by Stefan Russel, who is co-founder of Vilondo.com, a villa rental company that focuses on Bali and the nearby islands. Bali has a special place in his heart and he enjoys blogging about and sharing his travel tips to The Island of the Gods.

Gili Islands, Indonesia travel guide is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

In Cassis, visitors can swim in the many hidden coves, taste the delicious wines offered in the area, bask in the sun, snorkel, hike the cliffs and shop in the markets. And after a tiring day of exploring the sights and sounds of the town, you can look forward to relaxing at Maison 9.

Maison 9 has a splendid pool with views of the surrounding cliffs and Cap Canaille. It is tempting to spend an entire afternoon on the  sunbeds, hiding under the umbrellas when the sun gets too intense. You can spend time in the garden, with its astounding variety of flowers and plants. You will also find plum, olive and fig trees and a bountiful, organic vegetable garden.

Maison 9 has four private modern suites which offer luxurious French bed linens. You will find a hair dryer, bathrobes and bath products for your personal use. Each room also includes a kitchenette in which a Nespresso machine, plates and dishes are included. Best of all you have a private terrace so you can enjoy the fresh air and the views over Cassis.

The residence is located close to the atmospheric old port of Cassis; the nearest coves are about 20 minutes away. You can take short excursions to Saint Tropez and the villages of Les Baux de Provence and Le Castelet. Cassis is extremely crowded from the middle of July to the end of August because of the French summer holidays, so it’s best to visit in the spring and fall.

Old port of Cassis, France

Maison °9
9 av. Du Docteur Yves Bourde
Quartier Les Janots, 13260 Cassis, France
+33 (0) 4 42 08 35 86

Maison 9: luxury bed and breakfast in Cassis, France is a post by Brittany Trevick on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.