Hôtel de l'Horloge

The hotel is just off place d'Horloge, which is packed with open-air cafés and restaurants. The Palais des Papes, Pont Saint-Bénezet and the Rhone are less than 500 yards away, and all the other sights of Avignon are within half a mile. Gare Avignon TGV is five miles (eight kilometres) from the hotel. For regional trains, Gare Avignon Centre is less than a mile away. Avignon-Caumont Airport is around six miles (10km).

The small, unassuming reception area, opening off Rue Felicien Davide, has polished wood-effect floors and a couple of leather armchairs. A lift gives access directly from the lobby to upper floors. Corridors and other public areas are blandly decorated and functional. There's no bar or restaurant, but a separately owned and managed cafe-restaurant shares the ground floor, with tables on Place de l'Horloge.

The reception desk is staffed 24 hours around the clock by helpful, multilingual staff and there is also a concierge service. Facilities include a library lounge that doubles as a small meeting room and so is not always available to guests.  There is a business nook with PC and printer, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout. Paid parking is available 200 yards from the hotel.

The  hotel has 65 rooms, some with views of the Palais du Pape, plus one suite with roof-level terrace. Some have parquet floors, basket-weave armchairs and seagrass mats, and are decorated pale tan and beige. Others have dark-leather club chairs with carpets and soft furnishings in tones of lilac, grey and fawn. In-room perks include Nespresso machines, minibar, fluffy bathrobes and designer toiletries in bathrooms, which have over-tub showers and full-sized tubs.

Breakfast is presented buffet-style in a sunny conservatory overlooking the street and features cold cuts, cheeses, fresh bread, a choice of fruit juices, yoghurt and cereal. The only hot options are boiled or scrambled eggs and sausages. No other meals are served. 

Double rooms from €87 (£75) low season; and from €121 (£106) in high, excluding breakfast (€18/£15). Wi-Fi is included.

There is a lift to upper floors. Three bedrooms are designed for guests with reduced mobility.

Family rooms sleep two adults and two children. The resident family of teddy bears are a cute touch. Younger children enjoy the traditional carousel on Place de l'Horloge, less than 100 yards from the hotel.