Chambres D'hôtes Mas D'eymard

The rooms are huge, and we had a peaceful day just relaxing in ours and walking around the property. The roosters and birds stayed quiet, and the countryside setting was idyllic. Food delivery worked fine for us, though the choices may not suit picky eaters. Burgers did the job. We came to unwind at the property after seeing the ruins in town, so it was a pleasant stay. If you want the small, quiet Arles city center experience, this isn’t the place for you. Plan your arrival around check-in, from 5 to 7:30 pm. We were told that showing up earlier would get a stereotypically French response and no help, while during check-in the staff were kind and accommodating. A car is essential in Arles. Don’t count on finding a taxi whenever you want one on a Sunday. Book taxis ahead, and don’t expect Uber to be available.

Set in the Arles countryside, this is a lovely B&B with genuinely helpful, friendly hosts. Breakfast was homemade and delicious, with plenty of choices. Book a dinner at the table d'hôte while you're there, it was a fantastic gastronomic experience.

The dinner at the table d'hote was unforgettable. The food was fresh, carefully balanced and elaborate, and it felt like haute cuisine for an affordable price. Breakfast was generous too, with homemade cakes, biscuits and pancakes, plus fresh cheese and ham, bread, butter and jams. The farm itself is wonderful and out in the countryside, but my stay didn’t match the dream I’d expected. I like animals, yet the three large dogs roaming around, including during breakfast, bothered me because the owners didn’t seem to manage them. The woman running the place came across as indifferent and a bit rude. When we left, she didn’t know I’d already paid in full or what the exact price was. I also found it frustrating that the rooms weren’t cleaned or tidied during our stay. The owner said this was to respect our privacy, but it felt more convenient for them than for the guests.

The setting is lovely, and the owner was at his charming best the next morning when we came down looking smart, showered and combed for breakfast. The evening before was another story. We were two exhausted women cyclists in our seventies, and we clearly weren’t his favorite guests. He ignored us for 20 minutes when we arrived, without a smile or gesture. The place is tucked behind a nasty roundabout that you don’t want to cross twice. I’d asked by phone message and email whether table d'hôtes was available. He knew we were desperate, but waited until 17:01, when he said his workday began, to tell us there was only a cold option. It felt as if he’d kept his finger over the send button until then. We had to leave our bikes in the car park, and when we mildly expressed frustration, he actually threatened to throw us out.