moremiles

We will be in Paris for 10 days in early Nov. and I want to plan a 2nt, 1day trip to someplace we haven't been that is an easy train ride(no more than 3hrs direct) for our anniversary. I am thinking about Bordeaux or Reims but would love any suggestions to where we might go without a car and a wonderful hotel to stay in. We have had very good luck with all the Relais et Chateaux hotels we've stayed at in Provence and other southern points so would love something similar to them.

Christina

There are many places you could go to by train in that time. Reims is certainly one possibility -- you could also go to Strasbourg or Dijon. Lyon is even within that time frame, I believe. I haven't been to Bordeaux so can't comment on that. I personally would choose Lyon or Strasbourg, probably. I liked Reims, but don't know that I'd choose it over the others for a two night stay. If you are really into champagne and want to tour a champagne producer, you could fill up two days there, I suppose, but I think there is more to do elsewhere. Can't help on the hotels as I don't stay in that level.

moremiles

Thanks Christina, and I'm considering St. Emilion since there is a R & C hotel there that sounds lovely and is well situated for being without a car. With only one full day, I think we'd like to do some wine-tasting, walk around town and a spa treatment possibly.

StCirq

Much as like Bordeaux, it would be way down on my list of places to go for two nights unless this were about my 10th trip to France.

And how are you planning to get from Bordeaux to St-Emilion?

I'd choose Reims or Rouen or Stasbourg or somewhere in the Loire Valley.

moremiles

I was hoping to just take the train and then a taxi to our hotel-then walking from there around town. We have been to France over 10x so have been to the Loire valley, Provence, etc. but Reims sounds great too.

StCirq

Do you have a map? St-Emilion's not like a suburb of Bordeaux. It's a half-hour drive away, more if there's traffic, which there always is in spades in Bordeaux.

moremiles

It sounds like there is enough to do just in St Emilion with the wine tastings, etc. The other hotel I'm considering is Caudalie Spa.

Fodorite018

What about Bayeux? Only a 2 hour train ride from Paris. From the Bayeux station it is a very short walk to the center of town, and the entire town is walkable. Take a D-Day tour with Battlebus.

StCirq

I figured you were talking about Les Sources de Caudalie, but frankly if you have only two days I wouldn't do it. And it's not in St-Emilion, it's in Martillac. I'm afraid I don't understand your plan at all, but at any rate I'd forget going to SW France for two days. There's a Caudalie spa at the Hotel Meurice In Paris if that's what you want.ANd plenty of better two-day venues.

moremiles

My plan was a R & C hotel that gets good reviews in St Emilion but not if it's a half hour cab ride from Bordeaux train station. Even going to Reims sounds more enjoyable with a car in order to explore some of the wineries rather than just staying in town. I'm looking for someplace that would be an easy trip like Dijon was-we just hopped in a cab after the train ride and toured the city except this time I want a wonderful hotel/restaurant for two nights. I also considered Aix even though it's a 3hr ride and we've been there before, it's a charming city.

ira

Hi M,

I looked up the R&C properties in Alsace at the R&C website.

The Hostellerie Abbaye de la Pommeraie is in Sélestat, about 0.2 hr from Strasbourg by train.

moremiles

I'm not so interested in the Alsace region since we don't like the food as much. Anyone been to St Emilion or Reims or Bordeaux that can recommend a hotel/restaurant?

Christina

Actually, I can understand that issue, as I don't care for it, either. But I'm not such a big foodie that I'd let that dictate my trip -- type of local cuisine available -- rather than the things I wanted to see.

I've been to Reims for a one day trip so didn't have a hotel, but there is enough to do there in two days -- I spend one day and had things I wanted to do but could not (mainly a couple good museums, and I did not visit a champagne house as I don't like champagne, so that would have filled up two days).

There is that one amazing restaurant in Reims, isn't there, a Michelin 3*? I think it's a hotel/restaurant and is a R&C -- Les Crayeres.

Images2

I think Lyon would be excellent. It's only 2 hours by TGV from Paris, has wonderful food, and is very walkable. Lots to see also.

moremiles

Lyon is definitely a consideration since we haven't been there and it's not too far from Paris. Am also going to consider Les Crayeres since it's only a 10min ride from the train station and they have some nice packages with champagne tasting inc.