While they had a sauna, gym and pool, I wasn't able to use the gym much because it didn't open…read moreuntil 0900. It had one cables weight machine that was quite limited, and some cardio machines. The pool was for toddlers, not deep enough to get my knees wet, so I really didn't enjoy that. I would have loved to use the sauna more, but you had to call in advance for them to heat it up. In Barcelona, you really don't need a pool anyhow, because the beach is only a short metro ride away. So, unless you've got big money and can stay in the really fancy hotels on the waterfront, watch your criteria for the other things. Push-ups and crunches can stand-in for a gym. Great things about the apartment were the apartment itself, the polite and helpful staff and it's proximity to the metro. We saved money by taking the metro during the day, and taxi by night. The shower was nice and big, and had plenty of waterflow, something to really appreciate in Europe. Not a shower-bath! Hotels.com was a great resource when booking, but I don't think I saved money on the plane-hotel combo because I booked the plane with them as an afterthought, and I booked everything almost last minute. I recommend Sensation Apartments also for It's location. You can be the first in line to see Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, and still have time to do other things. There are great restaurants nearby as well as the metro. A metro pass is an easy way to access the beaches and the rest of the city.

Seriously - N15* isn't even in The Great Yelp database yet?! For shame!…read more Fantastic option right in the heart of Avignon, a five-minute (charming) walk to the Palais des Papes. Very quiet, comfortable rooms, lovely chic decor that still shows off the house's 17th-century heritage. We stayed in the Amédée Saluces suite -- comfy bed, easy to adjust the temperature during the changeable shoulder season. Of course, L'Occitane bathroom products. The owner and host, Geraldine, is lovely and happy to offer suggestions for restaurants, sights, day trips, etc. The breakfast is delicious -- fresh fruits, pastries and baguettes, cheeses, etc. -- and, while we opted for continental (always go for the chocolate croissants, I say), Geraldine always offered hot options, as well. One very small note: you can drive through the streets of medieval Avignon, and there is (very limited) off-street parking at N15, but really, the smaller the car, the better. Check out the photos on the website. Truth in advertising: totally chic yet cozy. Now book your stay and sleep well, knowing you have made a good choice. And just for kicks here's a photo of the view from our room. Very relaxing. *Maybe under No15? Nope...

I spent a week during early July at Elisabeth and Roland's home in Aix-en-Provence, and I could not…read morehave hoped for a better experience! While there are several program options available, I opted for a week-long stay, with 15 hours of french instruction. I was thoroughly impressed with the way Elisabeth was able to specifically tailor lessons to my needs. I have been studying French off and on for years, but what really made the difference here was that she was teaching me French, *in* French. LOCATION: AMAZING. About a three-minute walk to the famous Cours Mirabeau, with many shops and restaurants. About eight minutes walking to the nearest Monoprix (basically the French version of Target). As the name suggests, this really was an experience "en famille"! Elisabeth and Roland were so warm and welcoming; I immediately felt right at home. At breakfast we shared fresh bread, coffee, delicious jams, and great conversation. I tried my best to speak in French, but it was very nice to be able to fall back on English when I was not able to express myself. Elisabeth is a great cook, and so willing to share her recipes and techniques. I learned an incredible amount in just a week -- I wish I could have stayed longer! I cannot recommend Provence-en-Famille enough. Website: www.provence-en-famille.com

First time I'm France for our honeymoon. We rented a home for a full week. It's very clean and…read morequaint! Picturesque European style home. They even sat out flowers for sans and fruit for us upon request.

I stayed at Lumani in June while traveling alone. I found the owners, Elisabeth and Jean to be…read morevery friendly and accommodating. They went out of their way to make recommendations for restaurants and helped me to book a local tour guide. It was very easy to make a reservation via email and telephone, and when I had a very early train departure, they helped me to arrange a ride. The common areas of the guest house include a wonderful courtyard with lots of seating in the shade and sun, a sitting room with tourist information, and a dining room where breakfast was served. Room Sables, where I stayed, was a small and simply equipped, but charmingly decorated, room on the second floor of the house. The room included a bed, nightstand, desk and chair, and private restroom/shower. A large window opens up over the courtyard, which helped provide fresh air during the warm weather. I had a few complaints with the lodging. The ceiling fan in the room did not work well, which meant the room was extremely warm in the warm summer nights; the garden and fountain attract many mosquitoes. Since the room was so warm, I had to leave the window open at night, and I was covered in painful mosquito bites. I'm told this is a problem everywhere in Avignon, but it made the nights a bit unpleasant. The free wi-fi did not work from the rooms, only the ground level rooms and courtyard. Finally, their website described the accommodates as self-catering and described a stocked kitchen; however, when I arrived, I found there was a sign on the kitchen door which essentially said it was off-limits to guests. Perhaps it's only available when you rent the entire house? This was a disappointment, as I enjoy shopping at markets to make my own snacks. The owners' attitude was that we should eat at Avignon's restaurants instead. I understand their perspective, but did not feel this was advertised properly. I do want to stress that the owners were very nice and very pleasant to be around. In general, I found the other guests friendly and pleasant as well.