This is a great place to stay for those who are tired of generic hotel chains. From outside, there are no signs and it looks like a typical French residence. Inside, there is a lobby and dining area on the first floor and the rooms can be accessed via spiral stairs. The room was large compared to the ones we experienced in hotel chains in France and beautifully decorated. The property is located on a pedestrian road and our room faced the courtyard so it was very quiet. The AC was quiet and the amenities in the bathroom were really nice. The staff who greeted us was also very friendly and gave us a list of recommended restaurants. We also had breakfast at the property and the prices were reasonable for the quality. The selection was somewhat small (coffee, hot chocolate, toast, two or three types of pastries, and yogurt topped with fruits) but the quality of the ingredients were excellent.

That being said, we did notice some drawbacks. First, there were no elevators and the rooms were located starting from the “first floor (i.e., second floor for US standards)” so stairs are unavoidable. This was not a big issue for us but if you have mobility issues or have large luggages this may be a problem. Also, there were no refrigerators or safety deposit boxes in the room. Finally, the “front desk” was not staffed 24 hours so this may be problematic in the case of an emergency at night.

Overall, we had a positive experience at this property and would recommend.

As I was planning a very last minute trip to Aix for a friend’s wedding, I came across Maison du Collectionneur in my hotel search and thought that it had to be too good to be true for the location and last minute availability. Luckily it surpassed my expectations! The location was perfect- an easy walk from the train station, on a very quiet street right near the cute Rue d’Italie and close to the Cours Mirabeau. I was on the 3rd floor with a view of a pretty church. The room was lovely and the hotel in general was filled with a great art collection. Breakfast was outside in an adorable little courtyard. The service definitely made the stay though. Lucille was super helpful in answering questions and to give suggestions for Aix and for my next destination. I was arriving during late check in hours and so they were helpful in helping to coordinate that as well.

I plan to recommend this place to any friends heading to Aix in the future. I’d say that you should probably choose a room on a lower floor rather than the 3rd floor if steps aren’t your thing. And it’s especially good for somebody who likes a bit of independence in their travel and doesn’t feel the need for 24 hour front desk, while still wanting great service. In a way it had the best elements of a luxury hotel, an Airbnb and a bed and breakfast all together in one place!

Small hotel that is so pretty, comfortable and fun. The owner and employees are super accommodating and made our stay there so enjoyable. Location is great and the hospitality is first rate. The room was good sized, had all the amenities we could want, modern large bathroom, comfortable bed, lovely view ... perfect!