Getting There
Airports and Train Stations
If you are staying in inland Provence, the most convenient airport to fly into is Marseilles Interna-tional Airport (MRS). The majority of the villas offered through Only Provence are approximately a 45-minute drive from the Marseilles airport. The Nice airport is 2.5 hours away from inland Provence–so we only suggest flying into Nice if you have secured a vacation property in the Cote D’Azur / Riviera.
For those traveling to France for the first time, Paris should not be missed. Many Only Provence clients fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and take the TGV (fast train) to either Avignon or Aix-en-Provence in time for the Saturday check-in. See the link to the left for Rail Europe to book your train tickets. We strongly suggest seeing Paris on your way out of France since an overnight in Paris is usually necessary anyway to catch an early flight home. Otherwise you will have to reserve a hotel in Paris on both sides of your Provence vacation.
Renting a Car
There is simply no way around it–renting a car is a necessity for your stay in Provence. Even if your villa is located in a village, exploring the region’s villages, wineries and historic sites will require a car. In the summer, the lines at the airport car rental agencies can be painfully long.
We highly recommend Hertz Gold as they have expedited services. Rent your car through us here.
Sign-up is free and easy and will save you at least 30 minutes upon arrival.
Theft
Tourists anywhere in the world can be a target. While Provence is a very safe place to travel overall, cameras and purses are stolen from rental cars in the summer months in the main tour-ist villages. Make sure your rental car is locked at all times, with personal items out of plain sight. Close the shutters and lock the doors of your villa when you leave.
Renting your Villa – How it Works
Terms and Conditions
Please see our complete Terms & Conditions page.
Payment Process
Once you have selected your villa, a digital contract will be sent to you via email.The signed rental agreement and payment of the 50% rental deposit must be received within seven days to confirm the reservation. The properties are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis upon receipt of a rental deposit. The remaining balance is due 60 days before arrival. We will email you a reminder 75 days before your booking date.
Cancellation
We have a no refund cancellation policy, but usually succeed in rescheduling cancelled reservations to the Spring or Fall or re-booking the cancelled period to another group and refunding your deposit. Failure to pay the final balance (which is due 60 days before arrival) or provide required information for the security deposit may be deemed a cancellation with no refund due. Clients are advised to consider Trip Cancellation Insurance with the carrier of their choice at the time of confirmation.
Arrivals and Departures
Bookings are made from Saturday to Saturday. Each villa differs slightly on their accepted arrival times, usually between 4-5pm. Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions as staff needs ample time to prepare each property properly between guests. We can, however, arrange for you to drop your bags off early and recommend some local places to explore and enjoy a bite to eat. Check-out is firm at 10am.
Directions to your Villa
You will receive written directions and exact GPS coordinates to your villa after your second payment has been made.
Other Helpful Information
When to Go To Provence
Visions of lavender fields and rolling hills of sunflowers might have you immediately thinking that summer is the best time to go. Yes, Provence is magical in the summer months and time does seem to stop as you sip wine on the terrace with the hum of cicadas in the background. But other seasons offer a peace and charm not found in these more touristed weeks. September and October are ideal months to rent your villa in Provence. The days are still filled with hot sunshine and allow for lazy meals to be enjoyed outside around the pool, yet there is that slight nip in the air, tempting you to get cozy around the fireplace at night. The villages and markets are less busy with tourists, bringing out a slower paced and authentic Provencal life. It’s within these fall months that the precious grapes are harvested–life just seems to take on a special buzz during this “vendange” period.
Money Matters
Travelers checks are now a thing of the past and ATMs are the way to go. Found in almost all villages and at grocery stores, ATMs are the easiest method for access to cash in euros. Limits at each machine hover around the 300-500 euro mark per day. While your bank might charge a small fee to use ATMs abroad, it will be less than what you pay to exchange money at the airport or at a bank. Only Provence suggests getting a small amount of euro from the ATM when you arrive to the airport in France as the toll booths heading into the Luberon require cash — most foreign credit cards are denied at the booth. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted across Provence, the only exception being the toll booths and the odd gas station.
Grocery Shopping Upon Arrival
While you will enjoy the local markets for regional specialties, Provence has fantastic, large grocery stores–Casino, Carrefour, Auchan, SuperU and Intermarche are the major names. Many of these stores also have foreign sections stocked with items from home. While the stores may resemble those from home, Provence has yet to make the jump to 24/7 operating hours. Smaller grocery stores will still close for lunch, as well as Sundays or Mondays. As most travelers will be checking into their villas on Saturday afternoon, we suggest making sure you know where the closest larger grocery store is found (Coustellet for the Luberon and St Remy for Les Alpilles) to shop upon arrival or on Sunday morning. Grocery store information can be found on the website page for the villa you are renting or on the Only Provence Village pages. Please note most stores will be closed Sunday afternoon. Pharmacies are not housed within grocery stores and are normally closed at lunch and on Sundays.
Tipping
Almost all restaurants include tax and a 15% service charge (service compris) in their prices. If you found the service exceptional, feel free to leave a little extra change for the waiter (between 2 and 10 Euros). It is customary and expected to tip your in-house chef and maid. We suggest 15% for the chef and between 75-200 Euros per week for the maid, depending on the size of your group, length of stay and the level of service you received.
Note that it is typically for house staff to take Sundays off.
Bugs and Bees
It comes with the territory. Provence is known for its spectacular countryside and with this comes bugs and some bees. No matter how luxurious your villa, there is no way to rid Provence of its natural side. Bees and wasps will come to the pool for water and flies come and go freely as most houses do not have screens on the windows.
Noise
What is considered “noisy” is a relative matter. Understand that Provence is an agricultural region that has noise associated with it—ex: tractors tending the fields in the morning hours, or roosters that crow! Also, please be mindful of the noise that your group creates, especially in the late evening hours in a village or hamlet setting.
What is an underfloor heating/cooling system?
These systems work by running hot or cold water through piping under the stone floors of the houses. Please note that they work very well to cool a house down and like AC, work best when windows and doors are kept closed. This system should not be confused with AC / forced air system, but still is very effective, ecologically friendly and helps to keep the house cool during the heat of the Summer, or warm and comfortable during the Winter.
