Mr & Mrs Smith

Absolutely beautiful hotel. Possibly a 7-Star hotel. Rooms big and spacious, I had a suite. Only two little areas that could have been better: friendlier staff and better upkeep of the grounds, it looks like no one has up-kept the courtyard in 3 years.

In Limoux (Languedoc) we found the blanquette, the first sparkling white wine in the world before champagne (dating back to 1531). Limoux is not a great place, but there are a lot of interesting caves where you can taste this kind of wine.

We (my mum and I – not so romantic) had a super few days in Arles. It is such a fascinating, pretty town. The hotel's location was perfect for discovering the old part of town and had the feeling of being a real 'find'. It did not appear particularly Moroccan to us, but very French, so perhaps there has been a change in the design atmosphere. Similarly the toiletries have changed – no Gilchrist & Soames, so I was a little disappointed but had come prepared. They have obviously sourced Etro products in the past but were only providing the soaps in the bathrooms which I felt was a little mean when we were spending €329 a night. On that note, I did expect breakfast to be included (but noted on checking that this was not mentioned in our booking confirmation). On checkout, three days at €21.50 per person had added up and we did not feel it was worth the money, especially given the fantastic offerings in the town's patisseries. True Mr and Mrs Smiths would no doubt have been unamused that our large double bed comprised two single mattresses – a pet hate of my husband.

Somewhere which has to be worth a mention is 'L'Autruche', a nearby restaurant which has entered into 'partnership' with L'Hotel Particulier. It is set in a narrow street a stone's throw from the hotel with tables in the street and a chalk board to choose from – the food was divine. We had a Provencal speciality with ecrevisses and spinach – the fisherman who caught them in the bay of Marseilles was even in for the evening for a chat with the owner and French Canadian chef. I would say you should avoid the bars/bistros in the Place du Forum – pretty dingy with appalling service. We ate at a fantastic cafe on Rue de la Liberte (bordering the square) which I noticed previously had been packed with locals – it serves poin poilane tartines, from mozzarella, basil and tomato (pizza style) to slivers of foie gras with caramelised onions – and flourless chocolate cake to die for...

My husband and I very recently enjoyed a two night stay at L'Hotel Particulier, what an unexpected haven we discovered in the courtyard beyond the unpretencious black door in the laneway. We found the decor very serene, but chic and the staff very helpful. Having enjoyed a beautiful breakfast in the quiet, sun-dappled courtyard in the mornings, we decided not to eat in, but rather discover what local french cuisine was available close by.

Our best discovery by far was a very traditional french restaurant just a few streets away on rue du Dr Fanton, called "Au Brin de Thym". Visitors to Arle should try to partake of the wonderful hospitality of this small restaurant - the food was divine, the prices sensible, the atmosphere convivial, but beware to make a reservation in advance!

We stayed at L'Hotel Particulier for our honeymoon in October and were completely taken with the place. The hotel itself is delightful and has a very relaxed atmosphere that made us feel instantly at home. The staff couldn't have done more for us, especially the manager Gilles, and the fire was lit for us every time we walked into the Salon. The kind room upgrades for the 'Lune de Miel' were also very nice. Food was very good, although the menu doesn't really change during the week; the wine list is small and locally sourced and the ambience in the restaurant was very chic! Arles itself is relatively small and the mix of modern art and photography, the abundance of Van Gogh, and the ancient ruins really makes it a destination rather than a day trip. The museum of Roman antiquity is a little way out but well worth the walk. There are some really interesting modern galleries and in fact, these for us were the highlight. Restaurants are very mixed. The much lauded L'Atelier is ridiculously overpriced, whereas Ostriche next door is well priced and the chef was trained by Alain Ducasse (this is close to the hotel). The cafe on that corner is basic but full of locals and good. The best food however was at the hotel itself. Honeymoon aside, we would definitely go here again, probably for three days, before going up to Avignon or down to Aix. A delightful stay and we couldn't have been happier with our choice.

Such a shame that the hotel review is already covered, because I could go on forever about the exquisite beauty of L'Hotel Particulier and how well we were treated. Aside from this I would say that our daily outings into the beautiful streets of Arles threw up a new revelation each day – for such a small town there was so much to see and experience. As far as restaurants go, if you fancy treating yourselves to something special Il Cilantro was excellent. Not only did we get endless little taster courses that we didn't order (all of which were delicious) but I had the chocolate pudding which looked and tasted so good it inspired our neighbouring diners to stare and strike up a conversation about how lucky I was! And for an end-of-holiday romantic dinner, the terrace at Les Marques (in the Jules Cesar Hotel) should not be missed. Food quality here was top-notch. We had actually booked a table at the Nord Pinus in the square, as had read a few reviews raving about it – but on closer inspection it was all inside dining and this isn't really worth it when the weather is warm and there's so much going on outside in the square. And finally, make sure you go for an early evening drink at the Van Gogh café to watch the people go by while you decide which one of the many Arles eateries you're going to visit for dinner that night.

LHôtel Particulier – one of the best hotels we've stayed in for the standard of attention and service. Could not be faulted. Place du Forum is very atmospheric and dynamic but do not eat at Café de la Nuit – poor food hurredly served! We had a very good meal at Le Criquet in rue Porte de Laure – a quiet street near the Theatre Antique and Amphitheatre. Arles is a good location for visiting western Provence.