Bordeaux Neighborhoods

Bordeaux is a pretty easy city to get around. I stayed there for a month this summer for a conference. The old city isn't near the train station but the tram will take you there. Not sure about the airport, since I arrived via train.

I'd say either the old town or Chartrons would be a nice spot to stay. It's a great city. Some real gems.

I stayed in the (charmless) area around the train station. It worked OK for me, but another poster mentioned afterward that the all-important tram doesn't run very late at night. I'm usually back in my hotel room by 8 PM, so I hadn't noticed that, but the lack of later trams was a problem for him.

Bordeaux seems to be adding to its pedestrianized core, so you may be able to find a hotel in the historic center where traffic noise, at least, won't be an issue: https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2022-02-01-in-bordeaux--the-pedestrian-zone-is-gaining-ground.HybyovZDCY.html

Unfortunately, that article doesn't include a map of the pedestrian zone(s) in the city.

Haven't yet been to Bordeaux but scheduled to be there on an upcoming trip. There is a publication called pocket guide to Bordeaux, published by lonely planet I think. May be available from your local library as it was from mine. Excellent guide, with maps, sites, accommodations and food recommendations. We, too are trying to figure out where to stay. I probably need to check out the pocket Bordeaux again. What acraven said about the tram not running late at night is, I think quite important. I myself did not realize that so, thanks, acraven. There appears to be frequent bus service from the train station to the airport. About 30 minutes each way. Seems to run 2 or more times per hour. Transportation in Bordeaux seems quite inexpensive including the airport bus. Good luck on finding the perfect place to stay for your upcoming trip.

Thank you all for your timely replies - they help a lot. Amazon has the Lonely Planet guide to Bordeaux available.

The Lonely Planet is great. Mine was written in French, but I imagine it has the same information. Make sure to try dunes blanches pastries. And the canelés are no joke either! I prefer the vanilla canelés from Baillardran (just around the corner from les dunes blanches).