Champagne & Bordeaux
 

Hi - considering Champagne region and Bordeaux for special anniversary trip in August. However now concerned that only the mass market/touristy places will be open and the town area shops and all the best restaurants will be closed? Looking for high-end luxury type of trip, accommodations, in addition mix of some special restaurants (e.g. Michelin star etc). I searched forum but many of the posts are old now.

Any input is really appreciated!

I think you should postpone until after French vacation period.

To be sure, check some of the restaurants that interest you and see if they are closed during your dates.

Does it have to be August?? I would prefer a (potentially) less hot and crowded visit to both regions... even a few weeks later in September.

You can look now for lodging availability. High-end/luxury, depending on how you define, should be fairly easy to find/book. You can also identify particular Michelin Starred and/or Bib Gourmand restaurants and determine which will be open on what dates in August, etc. FYI, some of the Michelin Starred/Bib restaurants are booked up months in advance. If you want to visit particular Champagne houses, check their August hours/days. The big, famous ones will be open, but smaller, less well-known ones could have reduced open days in August.

Champagne specialises at the high end. Look at the Epernay and Reims websites for a great deal. If it were me I'd stay on the avenue de champagne but up to you.

Bordeaux, oh boy, you can spend all you want and you might do ok. Lok at the Pauillac website for best ideas.

Thank you everyone! We are pivoting to Italy/Tuscany. The houses and restaurants we were interested in were all going to be closed so while some things would be open. Looks like a quiet time for many.

August in Tuscany.... certainly will not be quiet. Get your bookings in straight away

August in Tuscany... I hope you tolerate heat and humidity. Assume that your days will include some down hours in the middle/hottest part of the day.

Do you realize that Bordeaux is 740 KM southwest of Epernay?? Epernay, a small village, close to Paris. Bordeaux, a large city with more options. I would not do these two on same trip. Dijon is a 3-hr drive south of Epernay, which you may well combine with Epernay. Dijon a lovely city.