Both Tarascon and the Hotel de Provence are hugely disappointing. Tarascon is an old, desolate town, and the noxious odors from the papermill and the slaughterhouse are so strong that they are nauseating. There are no decent restaurants, and the area, including neighboring Beaucaire, is depressed and dirty. The name of the hotel does not connote Provence at all--not even in terms of decor. The showpiece of the hotel is the giant head of a bull, mounted in the staircase, which appears to be a memento of the nearby slaughterhouse. The hotel is located in a questionable area on the main street, across from a fast-food restaurant, where the constant traffic seems unrelated to the purchase of food and raises obvious safety concerns. The private parking that the proprietor advertises is neither private nor guarded; you are parking on the main street, along with everyone else. An adequate breakfast and an old bed is what you get here, if you can stand the stench of the town and put aside your concern for your safety, especially if you have a terrace room. Hotel de Provence is grossly overrated. If you are interested in Provence, stay in Arles or Avignon.

My friend and I had a twin bedded room with a terrace. We spend three enjoyable nights there. Very close to excellent restaurants that Pascal recommended and to the train station.

Good value for the money.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Hotel de Provence. It was a delight to be welcomed with genuine warmth and friendliness. French and international travellers will feel perfectly at ease here. The spacious comfortable rooms are complemented by beautifully decorated public areas including a sunny sitting room overlooking the front balcony. Tarascon has some very good restaurants and makes an excellent base from which to explore the region. Highly recommended.

We almost went to the "Hotel Provencal" by accident! Thank goodness we then stumbled across Hotel de Provence. Run by a very nice couple, with a great breakfast. Our room was very bright and big and clean, with a new bathroom, A/C which was essential when we were there (>35C). I wasn't wild about Tarascon, but this hotel was great.