Avignon Hotels with Family Suites

None of the five hotels with family suites listed here is inside the ramparts, and that is an advantage for families: pools, gardens and parking are easier to find outside the walls. The choice comes down to what you want next to the suite, from the kids' club and playground at Mercure Avignon TGV Hotel & Spa to the indoor pool at Best Western Plus Le Lavarin.

Distance to the old town is the first thing to compare. Best Western Plus Le Lavarin Avignon is 2.5 km from the ramparts, the closest of the hotels where a distance is given, which keeps a trip to the Palais des Papes short by car or taxi. Brit Hotel Avignon Sud Le Calendal is 6 km from the city centre, and ibis Avignon Sud and Mercure Avignon TGV Hotel & Spa sit on the southern side of the city. Golden Tulip Avignon Le Paradou is set in a quiet park with private parking. With children, I would plan the old town for the morning and come back to the hotel pool in the afternoon heat.

For children, Mercure Avignon TGV Hotel & Spa is the most complete option. It combines family suites with a swimming pool, a kids' club, a playground and a game room, plus a spa for parents. The other hotels focus on the pool: ibis Avignon Sud has an outdoor pool with a sun terrace and a garden, Golden Tulip Avignon Le Paradou has a pool in its park setting with rooms overlooking the pool or the garden, and Brit Hotel Avignon Sud Le Calendal has a seasonal heated pool with a terrace. In a Provençal summer, any of these pools will be the most used part of the stay.

Outside summer, an indoor pool changes the picture. Best Western Plus Le Lavarin Avignon has an indoor swimming pool and a fitness room, which keeps a swim possible in spring, autumn or on a windy day when the mistral blows. Golden Tulip Avignon Le Paradou and Mercure Avignon TGV Hotel & Spa both offer spa and wellness facilities. Golden Tulip's rooms are also soundproofed and air-conditioned, a useful detail for light sleepers sharing a suite with young children. For a family trip in April or October, I would put Le Lavarin first for that indoor pool alone.

Meals and pets are the last points to weigh. Brit Hotel Avignon Sud Le Calendal serves a daily buffet breakfast with local produce and has a restaurant with traditional and regional dishes, and Best Western Plus Le Lavarin has a restaurant serving Provençal cuisine. ibis Avignon Sud, a 93-room hotel, serves a buffet breakfast every day. All five hotels accept pets, so a family travelling with a dog can choose freely on pools and location. I would still confirm the conditions for the specific family suite when booking, as policies can differ between room types.