Attending a convention in Bordeaux and can add two days to the beginning of the trip and two days at the end. Would love to see Paris (never been)! What suggestions do you have of where to start, where to go and what to see within those parameters.
Thanks

Get a car and drive around the Arcachon area for two of the days.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57627163616289 The first 12 pictures in the set. You might want to take a look at my trip report from June 2011; click on my name to find it.

An alternative two days would be the Charente area for its cognac, pineau des Charentes and Romanesque churches.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622845839973/

I agree that with two days around Bordeaux, Arcachon and the Dune du Pylat and Cap Ferret would be about perfect. When the conference is over, hop on the TGV and zoom to Paris, but only if you can fly home from there (I wouldn't do it if you've got to get back to Bordeaux for a return flight home).

Hi,
I am going to Bordeaux for around 9 days end of June and will be arriving in Paris, Charles de Gaulle around 11:00 AM. Can anyone assist with timing & info on the best way to get to Bordeaux via the train systems (from the airport, then on to Bordeaux)?

Thank you.

Take the Air France Bus to the Gare Montparnasse and a TGV from there to Bordeaux.

You could also take the RER from the airport to Gare Montparnasse but the bus might be easier to use. There could be a delay due to traffic depending on the time of day; using the RER would eliminate that possible delay.

NO! You do NOT have to go to the Gare Montparnasse - you can easily hop a TGV right from the airport. There's a TGV station right in aérogare 2. You can get schedules and buy tickets from www.voyages-sncf.com. Allow at least 2.5 hours between your arrival time and departure on the TGV, especially if your plane lands at aérogare 1 and you have to transfer to the other terminal.

Hi mor,

>can add two days to the beginning of the trip and two days at the end. <

Fly into Paris.
Send a note to the convention that you are unavoidably delayed and will not be able to attend.
Stay in Paris.

Fly home.

PS,

If that is not practical, you can find some ideas of what to do from my trip report
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...oes-france.cfm

Definitely spend as much time as possible in Paris, both before and after your convention.