Before the start of the RS Basque Country tour in October we want to spend two nights in Bordeaux. Looking for personal recommendations for a hotel or B&B for two adults. We don’t want to just rely on online reviews. Just started planning so not even sure what neighborhood is best to stay in. Seems like it is easy to get around the city with public transportation. Plan to visit some major sites and take a wine tour to St. Emilion.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
15977 posts
If you are going to do a wine tour on one day, can you extend to 3 nights in Bordeaux? There is enough to see there for a full day especially if you like museums. The Museum of the Aquitaine was really awesome. The cathedral is where Alienor d'Aquitaine married her first husband who became Louis VII about 2 weeks after they were wed in 1137. There is only one wall of the nave still standing from that time, the rest have been rebuilt. Look for the statue of Modeste Testas on the Esplanade by the Garonne River. She was an enslaved woman from Ethiopia who was brought to Bordeaux then sent to Haiti. A grandson became president of Haiti.
I was on a Road Scholar tour there and stayed in the Hotel Best Western Bayonne Etche Ona. The hotel was nice, had AC and best of all was in a great location. You might want something less "chain hotel-like" though.
Posted by
Huntington Beach CA
1205 posts
We stayed 1 night in Bordeaux at Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre. It's located on rue Parliamente St Catherine which is a long street full of shops and restaurants. I thought the location was great. From there we spent a couple of nights in Sarlat with a stop in St Emilion before going to Bayonne for the start of the RS Basques tour. Enjoy the tour! We had a great time.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Thank you for your suggestions. Since we arrive early on our first day, we hope to get some sightseeing you mentioned in that day. On our last day we have the morning to wander before taking the train to Bayonne
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6821 posts
jo, when we took the Basque tour a couple of years ago, we spent a few delightful days staying here:
And here's a report of what we did in Bordeaux during that time: