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Hotels in Bordeaux

Hi, 2 seniors taking the RS Basque tour next month. Needed a two night stop between Paris and Bayonne (the start of the tour). Unfortunately, I booked hotel and trains to Sarlat, not realizing getting to Bayonne by train will be too long a trip. So now, I'm thinking of Bordeaux as the 2 night stop. Any recommendations for Hotels and dining would be greatly appreciated. Merci

Posted by
18 posts

Hi, heissmiami,
My information is four years old, but it might give you a starting point. My husband and I stayed at the Hotel Bordeaux Etche Ona, which is on a narrow side street off the plaza in front of the Opera. It was easy to drop off our bags and walk to the river and the sensational Place de la Bourse. I loved our recently renovated jewel box of a room, but my husband thought it too small. We like food but aren’t foodies. We enjoyed dinner at Melodie (with reservations) our first night and at Le Bouchon Bordelais (again with reservations) another.

Posted by
1301 posts

We spent two nights in Bordeaux in June, ten days apart, bracketing a stay in the Dordogne region. The first stay was at Hotel St. Louis Beaulieu. It is an abbey converted to a hotel with modern rooms. Clean, a bit spare. No tv or ac, but very comfortable and quiet and with modern elevators. Good breakfast for 7.5 euros pp. Rooms surround a serene courtyard. Abbey is till used for conferences and educational seminars, usually of a religious nature. The chapel on site is still used for masses. It is in old Bordeaux, but not downtown. We walked one long block to catch the tram (fast, inexpensive and frequent) to see the Bourse and eat at one of the numerous restaurants in the pedestrian friendly quarter. Stops along the way are the museum and cathedral. The hotel was quiet, had secure free parking, and rooms were 85-90 euros per night for two people. I would definitely stay there again.

Our second stay was near the Gare St. Jean, where we returned our rental car and it was within walking distance of the train station and several restaurants. It was the Hotel Particulier St Jean, an apart/hotel. We were one flight up in a two room flat. Separate bedroom, two tvs, a/c, modern bathroom, very clean and comfortable. Kitchen area had microwave, small fridge, coffee maker and k-cup machine, toaster, dishes, etc. and a washer/dryer machine. Parking was 1/2 block away in a locked parking structure for 15 euros per night. Our room was 120 euros. A good bargain as well. We took the tgv to Paris the next day, so the location was perfect.

These places may not be what you are looking for, but if you need a safe place for a car and don't want to spend too much money, they will fit the bill. We were very happy and comfortable at both places. They were both also quiet, which we wanted.

BTW, the Cite du Vin is worth a visit, but parking there is terrible! I hear the Lumieres de Bassin is worth a visit also. And, of course, a day's wine tour sounds nice as well! Bonne journee!

Posted by
1162 posts

We did 1 night in Bordeaux and 2 nights in Sarlat before the RS Basque tour last May. We stayed at Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre. It was a great location off Rue St Katherine and close walking distance to restaurants, shops and the historic city center sights. We ate at Melodie for dinner and made reservations. Cite du Vin is a must if you’re a wine lover. My friends took the tram there. We really wanted to spend time in Sarlat and the Dordogne so we hired a private driver and guide via Taxi and Touring ala Carte who took care of us. We can’t say enough about our experience with them. I wrote a review about them if you’re interested. Just click on my name and it should lead to my contributions. Anyway, the transfer between Sarlat and Bayonne was so easy because they drove us! The Basque tour was amazing as well. Our guide was Francisco and he was the best!

Posted by
25 posts

thanks so much Claudette. We are actually booked into the Quality Hotel Bordeaux already. Glad you liked it. We are looking for a driver to take us around since we will only be in Bordeaux 2 nights. I have reached out to the tour driver you recommended, but haven't heard back as yet. Thanks again.

Posted by
1162 posts

I hope you hear from them! It’s run by Christophe and his wife and they are the only two drivers. Tell him I said hi!