My husband and I started a 16 day trip to France and England with two nights at Les Carmes and wish we had more time (the familar lament of many). Mike and Ann were great hosts and anyone who has a chance to enjoy a dinner prepared by James (son) is crazy to let it pass. (One of my passions on this trip was for food and honestly- our one and only dinner at Les Carmes was one of the best if not the best of our trip. After 16 nights of eating...it gets a little hard to differentiate between perfect and merely fabulous!) The property is lovely and our room was huge and a pleasant delight. We overlooked the beautiful gardens and enjoyed the sunsets over those gardens. We did not see the other rooms as I believe they were all occupied. The breakfasts were also very good. The property is minutes from L'Isle Sur La Sorgue and the famed markets but could also serve as a wonderful base for day trips to so many places. It is what I would do the next time.

A good B&B in a great location and fantastic food.
This is one of the best B&B's I have ever stayed in. The rooms were very spacious and the grounds lovely. On top of that the food was absolutely fabulous. We were in the off season so it was not busy which was a bonus to us.
If I could recommend a few minor things...Internet in the room would be a plus. On arrival our room wasn't ready, which was not a problem as we were early. We were promissed that our bags would be brought to our room, but on return the bags were still not there.

It is unfortunate that we only had four nights to spend at Les Carmes. I cannot imagine a more perfect place to stay in Provence. The Vine Room at this stunning bed and breakfast was huge and beautifully appointed. Our host and hostess, Mike and Anne, could not have been more gracious. (When I dropped an earring into the sink they more than politely disassembled the sink and pipes, smiling to discover a spoon lost by a previous guest, and did so without complaint). Breakfast was perfection with entirely home made breads, muesli, croissants (chocolate!) and beautifully prepared eggs. But dinner.....beyond compare as prepared by James, their son, a master chef who left no stone unturned in impressing us with his brilliant culinary creations. The house and grounds were warm and we were constantly made to feel like special guests. And everyone is treated this way.

My only suggestion: stay longer. This gem should not be missed. Its location is perfect for visiting the beauty and variety of Provence.

Lesson Learned: always know where you are going. As we headed to Les Carmes we stopped at L'Isle Sur La Sorgue to ask for directions to Route Fontaine Vaucluse. (By the way there are two sections of this road, on either side of La Sorgue so be sure to find the one closest to Le Thor.) After driving for what seemed forever without finding the house number we saw a woman in her yard so we decided to ask for directions. My husband backed the car onto the short driveway but missed seeing the narrow ditch so our car was hung up with 3 wheels on the ground while the other was suspended a quarter meter above. We attracted the attention of the householder and she very kindly invited us to her patio where we tried in vain to find a tow truck. A call was made to Les Carmes and soon afterward Ann and Mike Parkes appeared to save the day. Mike was able to rig up a rope between our two vehicles and pulled us out. After thanking our hostess for her hospitality, we were on our merry way and following the Parkes, we made it to Les Carmes.

For Ann and Mike saving guests is all in a day's work. We were made to feel welcome at their fabulous establishment and shown our very comfortable room with ensuite bathroom, Les Pommiers, so named because it overlooks the apple orchard next door.
We were also shown the common areas in the house and given a tour of the beautiful grounds.

Dinner was being served that evening and we were able to partake. Along with 4 other guests we were treated to a feast created and executed by James, Ann and Mike's talented son. The guests gathered at 7:30 in the lounge for a glass of champagne before enjoying the following menu:

Pumpkin soup with a Chestnut Foam served in a glass

Scallops on a bed of pureed peas with home smoked ham. Ham on the bottom was soft while the ham on top was crispy like bacon

Rack of Lamb on a bed of pureed carrot, Swiss Chard on the side, and a wonderful wild mushroom sauce

Dessert was fresh berries in a champagne sabayon.

Coffee or tea was served with a delightful madeleine and chocolate covered ground cherry.

Each portion was perfect and everyone left their table feeling very satisfied.

At breakfast each morning there was a choice of baguette, homemade pillowy croissants or chocolate croissants, any kind of egg, cereal, yogurt, apple and/or orange juice and coffee or tea.

Ann, Mike and the rest of the staff are amazing. They are very knowledgeable about the area and can direct guests to appropriate destinations for sightseeing, shopping and most importantly, parking. Guests are made to feel very special by their attention to every detail.

We would highly recommend a stay at this wonderful provençal B & B. For a stay in high season be sure to book early as Les Carmes is a very popular destination. But, of course, a call or email should be made to see if a place is available.