Montpellier

Saturday Montpellier

A noisy night. The alarm went off seven times and of course there was nobody there to turn it off.  The builder started work at 6 a.m. hammering in the room underneath us.  Got a big apology and a discount off the bill, but for a chateaux in the woods it wasn't very peaceful.  Got on to the motorway without too much trouble and drove to Arles -- a charming little town.  Being Saturday it was much quieter.  We cruised the market and the old lanes, and saw the amphitheatre and the garden where van Gogh painted.  Had lunch then back on to the motorway to Montpelier where the stress started.  Couldn't find the station easily, and when we did we couldn't find the rental car return.  Drove the wrong way up a one-way street to unload, then had to back up through traffic lights.  Literally had to go all the way through town and back around to get to the station again.  It took 45 minutes in a traffic jam.  Eventually found the rental return and walked back to the hotel.  Turns out the hotel was being renovated, had no guests, and wasn't expecting us!  Eventually found as a room.  Wandered down to the middle of town for yet another night market.  Nice town -- crappy motel.  Power went off without warning several times due to the renovations.

Please don't stay at the De France hotel. Easily the worst hotel of the tour. The other reviews all say the same.