Our guidebook recommended Ferme Castelas under the heading: "Live a Dream," which is the most…read moreappropriate phrase I can think of for our meal here. Eating here is a surreal experience. First, there is the drive. You will climb to a remote corner of the Luberon, passing through a mid-size village (Apt) to a small village (Saignon) to a much smaller village (Sivergues) before you abandon the paved road altogether and head up into the mountains on a dirt road. At the end of this dirt road you will encounter a magical place: an old stone farmhouse sitting on a hillside that drops away with views of much of the Luberon. If you get there early you will have time to admire this view in the shade of large old trees, and eventually you will be joined by a herd of goats that scamper out of the nearby forest to share the shade with you. When dinner is served the goats will follow you to the long, communal tables where they will eyeball you for the rest of the meal. Here at the table you will be spoiled with wine and sangria, starters of roast vegetables and thinly sliced ham. Then will come the sumptuous main course of roast pork and potatoes. Perhaps you think you are as full as can be, until the servers come out with platters of beautiful cheeses (at which point, you can thank the goats). And then, as the sun sets over the Luberon, you can enjoy the show with coffee and a chocolate dessert. It was an experience to be grateful for. We also had the extreme good luck of sitting with a local family from Sivergues who eat at the farm regularly. Despite our near-total language barrier, they were the finest company, and they did what they could to tell us all about their little corner of Provence. The place, the food, the views, the company...in a trip filled with memorable meals, this one will forever stand out in my mind. And to top it off? It was one of the least expensive.

My wife and I have visited Auberge Le Castelas for lunch on several occasions, once with our…read moredaughter and grandchildren, once with friends and a couple times just ourselves. We keep coming back because the setting is so magniicent, the simple meal -- ham from the farm's pigs, cheese from the farm's goats, crusty bread and salade -- and the very welcoming waiters. A more relaxing and enjoyable spot for lunch on a bright sunny day would be hard to find.

I've just booked room + dinner at La Table de Bonheur for the 4th time. Since we met Hans and Tiny,…read moretheir cosy and rural cottage in the lavander countryside and tasted Hans delicacies (he's a Michelin starred chef) we drive back to them every single year. Looking forward to see you again, Hans and Tiny.

It is extremely difficult to distill such a magical experience into a concise review, but WOW -…read moreExceptional in every way! This is a rental house - 3 Bedrooms + Attached Unit, 3 Baths (Sleeps 6-7), with a pool, on a huge estate that is on cliffs over a beautiful valley. It is heaven on earth! It will be nearly impossible to relate just how magical, special, romantic, and stunning La Cote Sud was. In fact, it was life changing. Bernard and Mathilde are consummate professionals, offering some of the most well appointed, clean, and stunning accommodations I have ever seen - and I'm a hotelier by trade! Bernard speaks English quite well, and they are completely ready to help with all sorts of advice, recommendations, and more. They respect your privacy, and are never intrusive, but always available and willing to talk. What's more, the land and location of Buoux is intoxicating - the lavender fields, the truffle oaks, the cliff edges and massif valley is a sight to behold - something that grabs onto you and never lets go. It felt like a mini Yosemite to me, and adventuring up and down the cliff faces was a joyous surprise. Hiking, Horses, and stunning views, the land was paradise. The century old Fort de Buoux was as impressive as it was mystifying... the Buoux Luberon truly compelled us, and it will be a place we will visit for the rest of our lives. It is remote, so that you feel like you are in a different world, and a different time. But it is also incredibly near the best of Provence, such as Lourmarin, and Bonnieux. From Farmer's Markets, shopping, wine, and incredible restaurants - it's a perfect location as your home base, with just a little bit of driving (15 minutes, give or take) to get around. For more options, the village of Apt is no more than 20 minutes. The kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom are immaculate, and the house was perfect for our purposes, in every way! I am a bit tall (6'6" / 2M ) and hit my head if I wasn't aware... but it's not that bad and only in one or two spots. The king size bed was a must for me, and we slept wonderfully! I will run out of space before finishing my kind words, but I must say thank you to Bernard and Mathilde! THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO! We will be back, and miss your estate terribly! What's more - any guests will do themselves a disservice if you leave without some of Bernard & Mathilde's Truffles! They are quite affordable, and incredibly delicious! Thank you again!

We had the chance to stay at Villa HautVallon during our trip to France in June 2016. It was the…read moreperfect base to visit downtown Gordes, lavender fields in Sault, and Fontaine de Vaucluse. Since it's a little tucked away in a residential area, you definitely need a car to get here but parking is free. We wanted to stay in the Natural History Suite all 3 nights; however, the first night, it was booked. So, we spent 1 night in the Flower Room and 2 nights in the Natural History Suite. Flower Room- This is a very spacious 2 bedroom suite, great for up to 4 guests. In the master bedroom there is a bed, large closet, tub, and toilet. If you go downstairs, you arrive at a second bathroom with 2 shower heads. Finally, if you go upstairs from the 2nd bathroom, you access the second bedroom (more like a loft). Both bedrooms in this suite had A/C units. Natural History Suite- This was more appropriate for our party of 2. We had a large bedroom and bathroom with a tub and shower. If you walk outside of the bedroom, there is a separate bathroom with toilet only. They did not have A/C in this room, but there was a fan above the bed. Amenities- Villa HautVallon is more like an airbnb than hotel. There is a slightly heated (~75 degrees) pool with plenty of lounge chairs. The grounds are impressive, so I'd recommend sightseeing in the morning and then returning in the afternoon to relax and enjoy the pool and garden/lawn area. They have a breakfast room that overlooks the pool area, which has complimentary tea and coffee. One afternoon while my husband swam, they served us warm pistachio madeleines. You can also pay extra for breakfast in the morning (I think it was about $30/person), but we did not choose this option. Additional notes- The owner lived in CA for some time, so she speaks English very well. Decor is absolutely gorgeous and the rooms/furnishing are in great condition. If you have any guests that have difficulty with mobility or stairs, I would recommend staying elsewhere. Villa HautVallon has the original stairs from the 1800s (if I remember correctly) so they are very uneven and slippery. Even as a 30-year-old, I had to be cautious and descend the stairs slowly to avoid slipping. If you do have the chance to stay here, I'd highly recommend it! It was my favorite place that we stayed in France during our 2 week trip, and I am so glad we chose to stay at Villa HautVallon over the hotels near downtown Gordes.

From the owner: Maison d'hôtes de charme sur 3hectares de terrain située à seulement 10mn à pied du centre du…read morevillage de gordes.

From the owner: Ancienne bastide provençale du 18e siècle, Le Galinier,…read moremaison provençale à nichée dans son parc de 3 hectares, vous invite au dépaysement le plus total. Comme dans un jardin idéal, fleurs et arbres centenaires côtoient bassin de nage et jeux d'eau pour vous offrir un havre de paix et de fraîcheur aux senteurs de Provence. Offrant plusieurs espaces qui conjuguent intimité, convivialité et confort, cette maison d'hôtes présente une décoration provençale classique ou un style résolument contemporain d'où se dégage une atmosphère si personnelle qu'elle donne l'impression d'être sinon chez vous, du moins chez des amis.