Les Templiers - Aigues-Mortes, France     

We spent 2 nights in picturesque Collioure in early July, which is a highly recommendable Mediterranean experience right on the Spanish border of France, a bit off the beaten tracks of the Riviera and Côte d'Azur. The beaches are small, but the (mostly) car-free village has a lot to offer: great views from hilltops, a medieval castle and church, narrow streets and cosy restaurants. Our **hotel "Les Templiers" was a really charming, typical hotel above a restaurant (which we didn't try out) in one of the main pedestrian/market streets. Staff are friendly, the double rooms are good size and very clean, and certainly a great deal at ca 70 Euros per night! Our room was overlooking the main street with a very nice view of the harbour and the castle. There are no discotheques or loud bars (Collioure is definitely not a party place!), but you could hear people talk and laugh throughout the night, so maybe a room on the backside of the hotel would be recommendable. Overall, absolutely a place and a hotel we'd go back to!