We will have 2 days to spend in France (primarily traveling through Germany) and it looks like Dijon/burgundy region will be our best bet .. Have you been to this area? Recommendations for lodging? Wine? Other sites? We will have a car. Couple with a 8 mo old. My other question is, are wineries in France ok with babies? We live in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon) and it's totally acceptable to go tasting at a vineyard with babies (and sometimes kids in tow)...
Thanks!
Can't help with accommodations but on a winery tour in Champagne there were a couple of children.
Since wineries are not considered bars, taking your child with you should probably be fine. If you contact a winery before you, make sure you ask that question too. Id be surprised if they said no.
As for places to stay, Dijon is not a place that we research for our guidebooks. However, Beaune is very nice and very close to Dijon. Here are a few suggestions for hotels in that town. Rick's current France guidebook will have a few more suggestions as well as information on wineries in that area:
[$$$] Les Jardins de Loïs****, run by welcoming winemakers Philippe and Anne-Marie, is a four-star B&B. The five big rooms all overlook large gardens and show a no-expense-spared attention to comfort (Db-€145, big Db-€190, Tb-€200, includes custom-order breakfasts, air-con, Wi-Fi, on the ring road a block after Hôtel de la Poste at 8 Boulevard Bretonnière, tel. 03 80 22 41 97, mobile 06 73 85 11 06, www.jardinsdelois.com, contact@jardinsdelois.com). Their atmospheric wine cellar, Domaine Loïs Dufouleur, also offers tastings (€8 for 4 wines, free for guests, arrange ahead).
[$$$] Hôtel Athanor*** is a good choice with a privileged location--a block from the cathedral--and offers a nice mix of modern comfort with a touch of old Beaune. The atmospheric lounge sports a pool table and a full-service bar (standard Db without air-con-€101, superieure Db with air-con-€140, deluxe Db-€162, extra bed-€20, breakfast-€12, ask for Rick Steves discount when booking, elevator, Wi-Fi, 9-11 Avenue de la République, tel. 03 80 24 09 20, www.hotel-athanor.com, hotel.athanor@wanadoo.fr).
[$$] Hôtel Ibis**, centrally located with free and easy parking, has 73 efficient rooms. It’s a good value--even better if you have kids and want a pool. The bigger and better-appointed “Club” rooms are worth the extra euros (standard Db-€90-100, “Club” Db-€110, extra person-€10, lower rates on website, non-smoking floor, air-con, free Wi-Fi, free parking, a few bikes to rent, 5-minute walk to town center, 7 Rue Henri Dunant, tel. 03 80 22 75 67, www.hotelibis.com, h1363@accor.com). There are three other Ibis hotels in Beaune (two listed below), and a gaggle of Motel 6-type places--closer to the autoroute.
[$$] Ibis Styles Hôtel**, across from the main TI, is a sleek and “stylish” version of the traditional Ibis brand (Db-€109-125, Tb-€140, Qb-€158, secure parking-€8, 7 Boulevard Perpreuil, tel. 03 80 20 88 88, www.ibisstyles.com, h7572@accor.com).
[$$] Hôtel de France** is a good place that’s easy for train travelers and drivers (parking around the train station). It comes with reliable two-star rooms with big beds, air-conditioning, and fun, English-speaking owners Nicolas and Virginie (Sb-€65, Db-€72-90, Tb-€85-105, Qb-€105, guest computer and Wi-Fi, bar, good bistro, garage-€9, 35 Avenue du 8 Septembre, tel. 03 80 24 10 34, www.hoteldefrance-beaune.com, contact@hoteldefrance-beaune.com).
