We are finalizing plans for our family's visit to Bonnieux in June. There will be 7 of us, which includes my parents as well as my family of 5. It would be easiest for us to have a minivan so we can all travel together, but I worry about having such a bulky vehicle. Will it be difficult to park in the villages? Has anyone rented a minivan in Provence? We are happy to get two smaller cars instead if this is a better option. There might be advantages to two cars in our case because my parents will probably want to do more day trips. I'd love some guidance. Thanks!

With friends we have once rented a 9-seater when we were based very near Bonnieux, at Lacoste. I don't remember too much hardship as we drove all over the Luberon all week. But I understand that a minivan would be bigger than that, n'est-pas?

I think most European minivans are smaller then a nine seater. Minivan equals an European MPV.

Our group of 7 rented a minivan when in Provence in 2006. We had no trouble driving, parking, etc., and it was such fun all traveling together. I believe I ordered it from Auto Europe. It took a bit of time because we wanted an automatic transmission on the vehicle. When we arrived, it was a brand new minivan that only had few miles on it. It had AC and all else we needed.

A few years ago, friends rented a Renault Espace (7-seater) and had no trouble anywhere -- narrow village streets, our rental's steep and rocky driveway, etc.

Joan

I ended up with a minivan, a Renault Espace, on one of my trips to France (long story). It was great. We loved being high up off the road, for the visibilty, and we didn't have too much trouble parking. The Renault Espace seats 7 if you put in the two removable rear seats that face, if I remember, backward.

But if all you won't want to go everywhere together as a group, then renting two smaller vehicles might make more sense. It would give you more flexibility.

Another problem with Renault espace minivan is its lack of luggage space. If all 7 of you are well-disciplined about travelling light, fine…

Having 2 cars, as Ken suggested, does offer more freedom for a not-small group.

Good point about luggage space, Americana. With all seven seats installed, there really isn't any in the Renault Espace.

Thanks for the input everyone. It's good to know we shouldn't have trouble getting around in a minivan. I think I'm leaning toward wanting to keep the group together, but I am a little worried about the luggage issue. We may have to be very disciplined about packing (my husband is guffawing).

We rent minivans and minibuses in Provence several weeks a year. We rent from Kemwel and we have rented the Espace minivan (7 passengers) and 8 and 9 passenger minibuses (larger vans) made by VW and Mercedes.

As others have said, if you have seven passengers, there is no room for luggage in the Renault Espace minivan. This is a really nice vehicle and easy to manage, but with seven adults it is very crowded. Even if each person had only one small suitcase and a carryon, it would be very very difficult to drive to and from the airport or train station.

The minibuses are quite a bit larger. We've driven all over the Luberon, but there are some challenges in the small villages and mountain roads. I have had to back up on the main road through Bonnieux a couple of times to let a motor coach or camping car by. There are places where you may need to pull your side mirrors in. There are narrow roads in places, like around Buoux or down to the Abbaye de Senanque. These are not normally difficult, except when meeting large vehicles.

Parking can also be a challenge with these larger vans, but there are big lots in most villages where you will have more room to manuveur.

There's not a lot of luggage space in back of the 8 and 9 passenger minibuses either, but if every seat is not taken, you have more flexibility.

Kathy

Here is a picture of "Big Blue," the Fiat minivan six of us rented in 2002, on a visit to the Luberon. The photo was taken at the Avignon TGV station, where we picked up the car. We managed to get 3 couples and all our luggage in the car.

We stayed in Bonnieux and took several day trips around the Luberon area in the van, with few problems except coming pretty close to scraping the roof in a garage in Aix.

Of course, we didn't have the luggage in the car for our day trips. It was a bit crowded with all of us and the suitcases on the day we left to drive to Burgundy. But the Fiat had a pretty good luggage space in the back, and I think we only had to have one suitcase on a back seat for that leg of the trip.

- Roz

Driving in a vehicle of minivan size will be slightly more difficult than a small car. Parking being the biggest issue. At worst you may have to park on the fringes of a village or venue to get the space you need. Try doing it in a 24 foot RV like our Papillon. Some days just do not go as well as you would hope.

Enjoy the ride

Pas de problème for a minivan in Luberon. Just want out for those narrow alleys in towns or Aix-en-Provence.

I was trapped not once but twice in my Peugeot *sedan* and had to rely on some extremely friendly locals to extricate the car. So don't tempt fate

Thanks so much for the firsthand accounts. I would not have predicted that the luggage would be an issue in a minivan. We have decided to rent two vehicles--a Renault Espace for group outings, and a smaller Citroen for quick jaunts for my parents and to facilitate luggage transport. We looked at the larger vans (9-seater), but this two car option ended up being cheaper. Thanks for the guidance. I think this will work very well for us!