Bordeaux or Malaga for long weekend?
Mar 8th, 2011, 04:52 AM
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Bordeaux or Malaga for long weekend?
A friend and I are planning our "girls weekend" away for the end of May. We'll be away for 4 nights in total.
We're looking for places neither of us has been, with good flight times from Dublin, and have more or less narrowed it down to a choice between Bordeaux and Malaga. I'm looking for votes / input as to which one we should opt for.
We are both mid 30s, enjoy nice food and wine, strolling around, relaxing and generally taking things easy.
I've seen some negative comments on this board on Bordeaux (that there are more beautiful places, and not a lot to do there). On the other hand a number of travel supplements I've read have said that Bordeaux has changed a lot in recent times and has very pleasant pedestrian areas and a good buzz. Bordeaux also attracts us because we would both enjoy a day trip to StEmilion. I'd love to hear from someone who has been to Bordeaux recently, to see if you thought it is a nice city now.
On the other hand the weather in Malaga will probably be better (not so much rain?) and the parador just outside Malaga looks lovely.
Of all the places we went in the last few years together, our favourite was Dubrovnik and our least favourite Lisbon, simply because there was so much to see and do in Lisbon we came home exhausted. Plus it rained a lot. Not sure that either of those is relevant, but I know people find it helpful to know our likes and dislikes...
Many thanks
Jane
We're looking for places neither of us has been, with good flight times from Dublin, and have more or less narrowed it down to a choice between Bordeaux and Malaga. I'm looking for votes / input as to which one we should opt for.
We are both mid 30s, enjoy nice food and wine, strolling around, relaxing and generally taking things easy.
I've seen some negative comments on this board on Bordeaux (that there are more beautiful places, and not a lot to do there). On the other hand a number of travel supplements I've read have said that Bordeaux has changed a lot in recent times and has very pleasant pedestrian areas and a good buzz. Bordeaux also attracts us because we would both enjoy a day trip to StEmilion. I'd love to hear from someone who has been to Bordeaux recently, to see if you thought it is a nice city now.
On the other hand the weather in Malaga will probably be better (not so much rain?) and the parador just outside Malaga looks lovely.
Of all the places we went in the last few years together, our favourite was Dubrovnik and our least favourite Lisbon, simply because there was so much to see and do in Lisbon we came home exhausted. Plus it rained a lot. Not sure that either of those is relevant, but I know people find it helpful to know our likes and dislikes...
Many thanks
Jane
Mar 8th, 2011, 06:26 AM
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I can't comment on Malaga. As I was reading through your post I was preparing to tell you how much Herself and I enjoyed Bordeaux as a place for wandering around, seeing some interesting stuff, eating very well, drinking good wine, etc.
Then I read that you didn't like Lisbon, and I wonder if we are on different wavelengths.
Then I read that you didn't like Lisbon, and I wonder if we are on different wavelengths.
Mar 8th, 2011, 07:20 AM
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Bordeaux is a wonderful place IF you've already spent time in France - I don't think of it as a jump-off destination for first-timers to France. It's a beautifully laid out city, full of gardens and parcs, chock-a-block with great cafés and restos, gorgeous architecture, a lovely beaux arts museum, great cathedral, etc. Marvelous place to wander around and unwind. And the Maison du Vin and the Touris Office, which are practically side by side, can organize some great mini-tours for you. Besides St-Emilion, you could go out to Arcachon and Cap Ferret and the Dune du Pyla, though you might need a car for that.
Mar 8th, 2011, 07:37 AM
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Málaga is genuine Andalusian atmosphere, excellent tapas bars, cafés and perhaps the most easy-going people in all of Andalucía.
Close to the main shopping and bar/restaurant/café area around central Marqués de Larios street, you'll also find the recently excavated Roman theater, the 8-11th century Moorish Alcazaba, the great 16th century Cathedral and both Picasso's birth-place and the new Picasso museum (2003).
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm
Late May would be a great time of year to go, not too hot yet but full summer by most standards. Weather statistics for last week of May in Málaga based on the past 14 years:
Average highs between 75 and 85ºF and 9 hour sun pr. day.
http://www.wetteronline.de/Spanien/Malaga.htm
"Málaga: Authentic charm of an overlooked treasure" from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html
Close to the main shopping and bar/restaurant/café area around central Marqués de Larios street, you'll also find the recently excavated Roman theater, the 8-11th century Moorish Alcazaba, the great 16th century Cathedral and both Picasso's birth-place and the new Picasso museum (2003).
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm
Late May would be a great time of year to go, not too hot yet but full summer by most standards. Weather statistics for last week of May in Málaga based on the past 14 years:
Average highs between 75 and 85ºF and 9 hour sun pr. day.
http://www.wetteronline.de/Spanien/Malaga.htm
"Málaga: Authentic charm of an overlooked treasure" from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html
Mar 8th, 2011, 07:43 AM
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Hmm. Sounds good, thanks guys.
Yes we have already spent time in France, so Bordeaux sounds good.
Padraig I was debating whether I should say we didn't like Lisbon, because I have visited Lisbon on other occasions and enjoyed it very much.
I suppose what I meant was Lisbon didn't really work for a long weekend because there is simply so much to do and see you could spend 10 days in Lisbon if you wanted to see it all at a leisurely pace. I am hoping that Bordeaux would be smaller than Lisbon, with fewer "must-sees" so that we could just spend our time wandering around, sipping wine, popping into the odd shop etc. If there are 100 things we must see, we will feel we must see them, and end up not really relaxing. Hence smaller towns like Dubrovnik, Taormina have been better choices for our girly weekend in the past.
Long-winded way of saying: I would love to hear what you enjoyed about Bordeaux. Especially since it seems air controllers strikes in Spain are due for that weekend, so Malaga might be out for a different reason.
Where did you stay (and would you recommend it)?
Many thanks
Jane
Yes we have already spent time in France, so Bordeaux sounds good.
Padraig I was debating whether I should say we didn't like Lisbon, because I have visited Lisbon on other occasions and enjoyed it very much.
I suppose what I meant was Lisbon didn't really work for a long weekend because there is simply so much to do and see you could spend 10 days in Lisbon if you wanted to see it all at a leisurely pace. I am hoping that Bordeaux would be smaller than Lisbon, with fewer "must-sees" so that we could just spend our time wandering around, sipping wine, popping into the odd shop etc. If there are 100 things we must see, we will feel we must see them, and end up not really relaxing. Hence smaller towns like Dubrovnik, Taormina have been better choices for our girly weekend in the past.
Long-winded way of saying: I would love to hear what you enjoyed about Bordeaux. Especially since it seems air controllers strikes in Spain are due for that weekend, so Malaga might be out for a different reason.
Where did you stay (and would you recommend it)?
Many thanks
Jane
Mar 8th, 2011, 07:50 AM
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In Bordeaux we always stay at either the Etche-Ona or the Bayonne, two hotels owned by the same family right off the main rue Ste-Cathérine pedestrian shopping area. Bayoone is modern, Etche-Ona very old-world Basque.
Mar 8th, 2011, 08:07 AM
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Bordeaux is a typical French city: A beautiful riverbank, historic palaces, a nice pedestrian zone full of gourmet, fashion and beauty boutiques, several museums etc.
I definitly recommend driving through the Médoc north of Bordeaux and seeing those famous castles where wine is produced.
I also recommend driving to Arcachon and climbing the huge dune of Pyla. Should be lovely in May.
St. Emilion is a picturesque village with a lot of tourist infrastructure east of Bordeaux.
You won't be bored. But I recommend a car.
I definitly recommend driving through the Médoc north of Bordeaux and seeing those famous castles where wine is produced.
I also recommend driving to Arcachon and climbing the huge dune of Pyla. Should be lovely in May.
St. Emilion is a picturesque village with a lot of tourist infrastructure east of Bordeaux.
You won't be bored. But I recommend a car.
Mar 8th, 2011, 01:14 PM
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Herself and I were there about three years ago, and there was snow on the ground. Picturesque, but it limited the amount of time we spent outdoors.
Did all the tram-routes from end to end (a recreation we call "trambling"); liked the Musée des Beaux-Arts (smallish); loved the Musée a'Aquitaine (biggish). Found good bistro food all over the place -- I could show you the places if I were with you, but I can't remember their names. Riverfront is picturesque. Some pleasant cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Cathedral worth a visit. Several shopping areas, which would appeal to different types of market. It's an important university city, and has some of the buzz you might associate with that. Eat duck when you are there. St. Emilion is accessible by train if you want to control your own touring.
Did all the tram-routes from end to end (a recreation we call "trambling"); liked the Musée des Beaux-Arts (smallish); loved the Musée a'Aquitaine (biggish). Found good bistro food all over the place -- I could show you the places if I were with you, but I can't remember their names. Riverfront is picturesque. Some pleasant cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Cathedral worth a visit. Several shopping areas, which would appeal to different types of market. It's an important university city, and has some of the buzz you might associate with that. Eat duck when you are there. St. Emilion is accessible by train if you want to control your own touring.
