Discounts on Last-Minute Provence Rentals

This time of year, I often get emails from villa owners and rental agencies looking for help filling up empty weeks. Sometimes it's because of a last-minute cancellation; other times it's because the owner changed his plans. Sometimes it's just because. And because I'm exceedingly gracious, I always try to help...but first I (ungraciously) ask them to offer my readers a discount to make things, as the French say, ''more interesting.'' So here are a few wonderful houses you can rent during August and September, with original and discounted prices. And of course all of these houses are available at regular prices the rest of this year and next. Book early and book often!

From JustFrance.com:

La Tourelle (top photo) is located in Sarrians, between Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise... and near Vaison-la-Romaine. This Wine Country home is available August 17 to 31. It has five bedrooms and four baths in the main house and one bedroom, one bath in the guest house. All bedrooms have AC and the pool can be heated. Original price per week:   $10,200. Discounted price $9,200. Note: This is for the main house only for up to 10 guests. An additional reduction is available for smaller groups. That means, you get $1,500 off for up to 6 people; $1,750 off for up to 4 people and $2,000 off for 2 people. The guest house can accommodate two guests max for $1,200 per week. For more info, click here.  

La Perle de Goult (photo #2) is in Goult, in the Luberon, and is available August 17 to September 14. It has three bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The company writes: ''This house is extremely popular and already firmly booked for late August through mid October of 2014." Original prices for one week: $7,000 a week in August, $6,200 a week in September. Discounted prices: $6,000 a week in August, $5,200 a week in September. For more info, click here.

La Maussanaise (in Maussane, near Les Baux) has four bedrooms and three baths. It's open from August 31 to September 14. Original price for two weeks: $16,000. Discounted price for two weeks: $15,000. That means: if you rent the house for two weeks or more, you get $500 off per week. For info, click here. 

From Just-Provence.com:

La Gallardo (photo #3) is within walking distance of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and sleeps ten. It has an alarmed pool for safety, 3000 square meters of landscaped gardens and its own petanque pitch. The house is available from August 17 to 31. The original rate is 5,640€ per week; the discounted rate is 4,680€ per week. For info, click here.

Mas des Florettes (photo #4) is within walking distance of Bonnieux, in the Luberon. It sleeps 15 in seven bedrooms. Normal weekly rates are 5,995€ (September) and 4,795€ (October). The discounted rate is 7,195€ for a 2 week booking in September or October, subject to availability. For more info, click here

Mas du Temps, between the historic perched villages of Ménerbes and Lacoste, has four bedrooms, a heated pool and lots of other nice amenities. For the first three weeks of September, the company is offering the house at 3,650€ per week instead of 4,560€ per week. For more info, click here.

From Owners: 

Mas La Belugo (photo #5) is located in Mas Blanc, 10 minutes west of St. Remy. The house has five bedrooms, three of them with en suite bathrooms, a family bathroom and a guest bathroom. English-language TV with DVD library, WiFi, iPod docking station, laundry room, high-end kitchen (two ovens, two American-style fridges, etc.), large pool and secure parking are a few of the nice amenities. The week of September 7th is now €2950 (normal price €3950) and any week after October 20th until Christmas is €2150 (normal price €2950). For info, click here.

Charming village house in Eygalieres, with three bedrooms and two baths, is available Aug 3 to 24. Normally $1800 per week. Now $1300 a week or $2500 for any two-week period within those weeks. For info, click here. 

This Elegant Provencal style town-house in St. Remy de Provence sits on the grounds of an old chateau, with secure private parking and electric gates. The house has two bedrooms and one bath (sleeps two to three), plus a kitchen/dining room, salon, a small private terrace and WiFi. The location is ideal: just a five-minute walk from the medieval town center of St. Remy, in a quiet garden setting. The owner is offering a nice discount on the listed price to my readers from October 13th onward: 800€ per week. You can see photos and get more info here.

This brand-new duplex "eco" home called Appartement Insolite (photo #6) was completed just a month ago and sits in the heart of the village of St. Remy. Perfect for a single or couple (3 people max!) it has a small terrace with dining table, fully equipped kitchen, small living room with fold-out couch, bedroom and tiled bathroom with shower. It has lots of light, gated parking, washer/dryer, AC and WiFi.  Total size is 40 square meters. Insolite is available the week of Aug 24, the week of Aug 31 (590€ per week, Saturday to Saturday) and the week of September 21 (350€). October, November and December (except Christmas week) are also 350€ per week. For info, call +33 (0) 6 10 92 64 87. If you speak French, see the apartment listed here...and/or email the owner at: marie-pierre13210@hotmail.fr. If you don't speak French, you can email me at juliemautner (at) aol.com and I'll be happy pass your message along to her.

*Note if you have empty space in your Provence rental property for August or September, feel free to leave the info as a comment below. Make sure to include a link so readers can see your property online.