Fodor's Expert Review Hôtel Sainte-Victoire Vauvenargues

If your heart is set on staying in Aix center, this snazzy hotel 16 km (10 miles) outside of Aix—in a classic Provençal landscape at the foothills of Cezanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire—will make you think again. Contemporary and luxurious without a hint of pretension, the hotel capitalizes on the eye-popping views of the mountain and Picasso's Chateau Vauvenargues (where he is buried). All of the rooms—many of which have terraces—are spacious; beautifully decorated; stocked with all the extras (Nespresso machines, kettles, international channels, robes, slippers); and flooded with light. The views are also stellar from the fabulous pool, bar, and "bistronomic" restaurant, which serves sophisticated Brazilian-Mediterranean cuisine.