Bordeaux = Wine Mecca

It's easy to soak in the French-ness of Bordeaux, either by sipping coffee at a riverfront café or window shopping on the fantastic pedestrian shopping street rue St. Catherine. Of course, the highlight of any visit to Bordeaux is a trip to the acres upon acres of vineyards. When I visited in early September, the vines were heavy with grapes, and the warmth and sunshine made me want to spread out a blanket on a grassy field with a good novel and dream the afternoon away. Although it's the classic touristy way to "do" the vineyards (something I usually try to avoid), I took the group bus tour offered by the tourist office and was very pleased.

In addition to the vineyards, my other favorite part of Bordeaux was the striking Monument aux Girodins. Located next to the tourist office and the Esplanades Quinconces, this amazing structure of statues and fountains kept me mesmerized for quite awhile. If you take art with your wine, don't miss the Musee des Beaux Arts, which contains great works by artists such as Picasso and Matisse.

Quick Tips:

Bordeaux's tourist office is among the best I've visited, so don't hesitate to go there for any information or answers to questions. They arrange excellent wine tours and offer a nice gift shop. If you're into nightlife, pick up a copy of Clubs and Concerts for local event listings. For more information, visit www.bordeaux-tourisme.com

Best Way To Get Around:

I arrived at the train station around midnight and was definitely a bit intimidated by the surrounding neighborhood. Avoid walking in this area alone at night, especially if you're a female traveling alone, as I was. On the flip side, Bordeaux recently completed an efficient tram system that runs throughout the city. It was clean and modern, and I must admit, almost felt like a ride!

The majority of the time I was in Bordeaux, I walked, as everything besides the train station is within a reasonable distance. Pick up a map at the tourist office in case you get lost, and be sure to take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront.

Recommended by Let's Go, Hotel Studio is a pleasant, small budget hotel near the centre of the city perfect for my visit. I stayed in a single room not much bigger than the size of two twin beds, but I had a private bathroom with a shower and a TV for only 16€ per night. The facilities were clean but basic, and I enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep without any noise from other rooms. The front-desk attendant was friendly and spoke English well, and I was thankful that he let me leave my bag in the lobby since I arrived before check-in time.

The hotel is located on a side street about 2 blocks from Place Gambetta, which is reachable by bus from the train station. The surrounding streets are lined with fabulous little boutiques and countless cafés and restaurants. The main tourist office and waterfront are about a 10-minute walk away. Hotel Studio is ideal for budget travelers who might not need or want the social atmosphere of a hostel.

Wine is usually one of the main reasons visitors come to Bordeaux, so a tour of the vineyards is a must. Unless you have access to a car (or even if you do), the tourist office sets up a few different types of tours. I opted for the half-day tour, which departed at 1:30pm from the tourist office and costs 23€ (which I believe was a student fare - the full fare is 26€). The motor coach we traveled in was comfortable and clean, and I was happy to make friends with a nice Australian girl who I later had dinner with. The exact destination of the tour changes daily, and the Saturday I went we headed to the Medoc region. The drive itself was enjoyable and the guide was very informative, and we visited two vineyards, Chateaux Tour du Haut-Moulin and Chateaux Giscours, although we also drove by a few others. The guides at each chateaux, who are often members of the family who own the chateaux, were personable and provided information in both French and English. We enjoyed tastings and plenty of photo opportunities, and received a souvenir wine glass from Chateaux Giscours.

Even if you're not a wine connoisseur, the scenery and history wrapped up in the chateaux and vineyards are worth taking the tour. Or, if you really enjoy yourself, take another tour to a different region or a full-day tour and keep on swirling and swishing that wine.