TO BRIGNOLES – FIRST OVERNIGHT STOP BACK IN FRANCE.
22nd November, 2016
LA COTE D’AZUR – WHAT A RIP-OFF – WE DIDN’T EVEN SEE THE SEA
To reach Brignoles, our destination for that night, the quickest way was on the A8 ‘Coast Highway for the Cote D’Azure’. I have decided that I hate that route; especially as it rained all the way. This toll road was lined by 1930’s 2-up-2-downs. We were charged upwards of three Euros when we passed by each of the Riviera towns from San Remo and Monte Carlo to Frejus, above San Tropez. There were about four of them as I recall, but they were not visible – no sight, nor even a sniff – of the desirable sea. We thought it a very unfair rip-off.)
HOTEL HIDDEN IN A CAR PARK
We had chosen Brignoles for our first overnight stop. Just because it was the first small town in France past all those exhausting tunnels above Genoa. Back in La Casa di Plinio in Pompei, Martina had hastily booked for us a night at an Ibis hotel, having heard they were cheap and good.
After much circling around and around an industrial park we eventually found the Ibis Hotel. It was hidden away next to a small slip road running by the toll road we would take in the morning. We were pleased to see armchairs in the lobby. All were occupied by young women sipping coffee, clustered around tiny tables.
A very pleasant, handsome Frenchman was running the place. When I showed him our booking form he told us we were not staying there –we had booked the ‘Ibis Budget’ hotel next door. I felt cheated, as I thought the price I’d paid (around £45 – though I may be mistaken) would have covered a room in the modest building we were standing in.
WE GET LOST – THEN HAVE TO LEARN A CODE
We searched high and low for the ‘Budget next door’ and in the end had to go back for Mine Host to point the way – obvious when you knew where to look!
He showed us how to tap in numbers on a machine to give us a card with OUR room Number. This would effect us entry into the secured front door, and later, our room. Nobody was manning the front desk. They would be in from seven pm until 10pm he said. He added ‘You can buy breakfast in the main hotel in the morning’.
We thanked him and I opened the front door for Graham to bring in our nightly backpacks. There was a drinks machine in the lobby, and one selling crisps and chocolate.
OUR ROOM WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE
Hmm, I thought; but when we found our room we were pleasantly surprised. All white, small but very clean. It was well appointed, down to a hairdryer attached to the wall in the bathroom. Also, an ironing board and iron were in the tiny wardrobe. There was a good shower, adequate fluffy towels, and even a range of free toiletries. The bedside reading lamps worked, too – so not such a bad deal, after all. www.ibis.com/Brignoles
BRIGNOLES – A VERY ATTRACTIVE SMALL FRENCH TOWN
When we had washed and changed we emerged to find a very friendly girl at the front desk. She gave us directions into the nearby town, which we found very pleasant. It was raining, so we drove round for a bit before parking, then walking to the very attractive main square. It looked really ‘French’.
A PRIEST TRIES TO DIRECT US
Here Graham stopped a priest and asked for a nice local French restaurant. The patient priest, huddling under his umbrella, kept trying to direct us to the ‘best Chinese in town’. I expect he was trying to help out the owner.
BRIGNOLES – A LOVELY AUTHENTIC FRENCH RESTAURANT.
However, I had seen an attractive small place in a back street,and remembered the way. We walked there and discovered an empty, rather dignified square right opposite. I waited while Graham walked to fetch the car and park there.
Here is my Trip Advisor revue of La Hotel/Restaurant de Provence, Brignoles.
(It appears under Graham’s name, because I use his web page):
“It was sad that we were just getting over ‘flu and travelling slowly back to England when we found this charming restaurant in a side street. If we ever go back we will book a bedroom there, too – because their prices are very reasonable for a high standard of country living – French style.”
DELICIOUS FOOD IN LA HOTEL/RESTAURANT DE PROVENCE, BRIGNOLES.
I cannot now remember what we ate, but only that it looked attractive and tempting, and what we could manage to eat was delicious. It was, after all, the first full meal we’d ordered since catching ‘flu over two weeks previously. We had to apologise for the food left on our plate, and explained that it was in no way a shortcoming in the cooking. The hostess/waitress was very understanding. We left full of gratitude. Do try this pretty dining place.
(ADDRESS: Place du Palais de Justice, 83170, Brignoles, France. (phone: +33 4 94 6901 18)
Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)
Photographs by – Graham Usher.
Feature Image of – Moustier – Sainte-Maire, by Simone Olckers – Unsplash
January 24, 2020 @ 8:22 pm
Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂