Greg Gallagher

Hi, <BR> <BR>We are going to be visiting the Bordeaux region of France and would greatly appreciate recommendations of clities to visit and any three or four star hotels you stayed at and would recommend. We are taking the train from Paris and will be renting a car once we get there, so a central location would be terrific. Thanks so much in advance.

elvira

The area around Bordeaux has something for everybody: seacoast, vineyards ad infinitum, castles, walled villages, mills, canoeing, horseback riding, prehistoric caves...Bergerac, Monpazier, Limoges, Nontron, all of Perigord... rather than ask 'what interests you', I'd rather ask 'what would bore you to tears or make you puke'. I'm taking 11 women to that area this fall, so I've got all sorts of info. Sorry, we stay in tourist class hotels, so can't help you with 3* or 4*. You might also consider a b&b, or staying at a chateau at a vineyard (talk about heaven). How long is your stay? You can rent houses, some of which are quite spectacular (a few even come with cook, housekeeper).

Martha B

St. Emilion is a must because it's not only a Bordeaux wine town, but an historic city. Lots of wine tasting tours. <BR>In my experience, the area around Margaux and Pauillac seemed more Serious Agribusiness than tourist destination. However, Hotels et Auberges de Charme en France (Fodors publishes an English-language edition) lists the Chateau Cordeillan-Bages in Pauillac, which sounds very nice. <BR>The seascape around the Arcachon basin is also nice. You haven't said what your interests are, but the highlight of my parents' recent trip was the Parc Ornithologique du Teich (on the basin not far from Bordeaux) to see the nesting storks. For a fun, tourist thing Europe's Largest Sand dune at Pyla is worth a giggle. (Half again as large as the dunes at Warren, Michigan.) <BR>Elvira's suggestion of heading inland to the Perigord area is very good. It isn't very far from Bordeaux, and quite different, as well as being an excellent tourist destination. If you get farther east in that area, the Chateau de la Treyne, at La Cave, east of Souillac, is a lovely hotel-restaurant, in an historic chateau overlooking the Dordogne River (and when I say overlooking, I don't mean a tiny glimpse of the river in the distance, I mean don't lean too far over the terrace railing!)

topper

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Martha B

Thank you very much, topper, but I believe Elvira and I are both capable of finding more subtle ways to push a message to the top when we want to. For instance, I can now comment that the Perigord is the traditional French region which corresponds roughly to the modern French Departement of Dordogne, and that if Greg does a search under Dordogne, he will find scads of useful and interesting information.

Stefan

Hi Greg, <BR>I have travelled through ("Northern")Europe by train last June with a friend and we also stayed in Bordeaux for 2 nights. We made a day trip to Archachon from where we visited the Dune de Pyla by bus. We enjoyed it a lot - and another friend of mine who has just been there last week told me they were there for several hours enjoying themselves walking in the sand...

Greg Gallagher

In May we visited the Champagne area of France. In preparation for the trip we posted here and in other newsgroups to get ideas and recommendations. This really is a great forum for travel tips - including all my Foder's books! We stayed at the Hotel d' Angleterre in Chalons en Champagne. A three star hotel. The Hotel is small, cozy, very clean and recently redone. The bathrooms were very large and bright, clean with Italian terra cotta tiles. Came with Shower and Bath. The restaurant is 5 star quality. I can't say enough about the food, hotel and staff. Anyone who every said that the French are not warm need to visit this incredible hotel. Rooms were 590 francs a night and breakfast 70. More than reasonable for what you get. It would exceed anyone's expectations. We spent four days touring the area by car rental and the highlight was a visit to the amazing Pommery Champagne estate. A must visit. <BR> <BR>Since everyone's tastes and budgets are different we just appreciate all the great ideas and personal experiences that always contribute to a terrific trip. Thanks! <BR>

John

Hi, Greg, <BR>I second (third?) Perigord and the Dordogne...the whole area for that matter. The countryside, villages and most of the smaller cities are out of this world. Visit some of the Bastides (fortified villages from the time of the English rule) if you can. It's a great region for getting lost in a car, then coming upon an inn or a rural restaurant and experiencing bliss. Also check out http://www.chateauxethotels.com/ for some other (usually very nice and fairly affordable) accommodations all over. We've used this group and found them pretty reliable. Bon Voyage!

Katy

Hi Greg, <BR> <BR>My husband and I are planning to stay in Bordeaux for 4 days. We will be taking the TGV train from Paris. Where did you wind up staying and do you recommend it? Merci