Note: I am already being nagged by some of you out there about posting a trip report of our recent marathon jaunt through Portugal, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. Life being what it is, I haven't been able to do that yet, so I will be posting a few reviews first, while I work on the larger reports.
On our recent European trip, we had some free time between the Rick Steves Portugal tour, which ended in Porto, and the Basque County tour, which started in Bayonne, France. We thought a few days in Bordeaux would be interesting. We booked a room in a delightful Bordeaux guest house, Les Chambres d’Art, 6 Rue du Portail.
Les Chambres d’Art consists of two guest rooms in the home of the Bruno Cittone family. Both guest rooms are at the top of a staircase, one floor up. We had the “Burdigala” room. It is huge, containing a queen bed, another daybed, a large wardrobe, two desks, several end tables, an occasional table, and comfy chairs. There were huge windows opening onto the quiet residential Rue Portail, filling the room with sunlight. Everything was thoughtfully laid out and very comfortable.
The private bath was not en suite, but was just across the hall. It had a tub and shower, as well as toilet and sink.
The other guest room, the “Piraillan,” is plainer, but has a small balcony overlooking the courtyard and an en suite bath. Having seen photos of it, I prefer the room we were in, although I do love a balcony.
Breakfast was included in the €140 per night rate. It was served in the family dining area, and was lovely. We were served breads, croissants, freshly squeezed orange juice, ham, cheeses, fresh fruit, a very good yogurt and cream cheese topped with honey and nuts, and a choice of hot beverages. Bruno prepared the breakfast, and his espresso machine made dandy coffee. When we first arrived at the guest house, Bruno had offered us drinks. I had requested a sparkling water, and every morning thereafter a glass of it appeared at my place setting. Very thoughtful.
Bruno was a great host, offering us maps and suggestions for excursions. When I showed him a list of places I thought we might want to see, he immediately critiqued the list, evaluating each choice. He also noted the location of each on the excellent map he had given us, and made suggestions about the best routes to take to each place.
The Cittones are art collectors; the walls of the house are covered with interesting and eclectic paintings and drawing, and Bruno enjoyed telling us the stories behind some of the pieces. According to its website, the Chambres d’Art occasionally hosts works and performances by local artists, but none was scheduled while we were there.
The location is good, about a 15 minute walk from the train station, or a 5 minute walk from a tram line. There are restaurants, markets, and interesting sights nearby. Many of the major museums and sights in Bordeaux are within walking distance. In fact, once we were settled in, we didn’t take public transportation again until we were leaving, and then only because it was raining.
Les Chambres is available through booking.com, but if you book directly via email, you’ll get a cheaper rate, as well as personalized instructions and directions from Bruno himself.
Thoughtful, conveniently located, attractively priced, and run by interested and interesting people: we loved this place, and recommend it wholeheartedly.