Can anyone rec. travel agencies that specialize in these areas.Also rec. places for a upscale dinner and places to stay.Also any advice on making appts.at the wineries would be helpful.

I would check the Michelin Red guide with all the great places to have meals. I have had wonderful meals at Michelin rated restaurants. The Michelin guide also has good places to stay. I don't have any wineries in mind; I don't know Bordeaux that well, but I do know that you should make appointments in advance. Most of the large wineries usually don't require appointments as they always have people visiting them, but it's always best to give them a call.

Hi C,

What's your budget?

When are you going?

See http://marksquires.com/jul95.htm

http://goeurope.about.com/gi/dynamic...om/france.html

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~visi-vin...whoumon_e.html

Ira,
We would like to go at the end of August or the beg. of september.We want to stay at luxury places eat well and visit the first and second growth wineries if possible along with some relaxation.

Check out the Chateau Grand Barrail, just outside of Bordeaux near St Emillion. Lovely place nestled in the vineyards.

Hi C,

Wine harvest is in mid-Sept. Weather is better than August.

Also consider www.franceby.com.

You should have no trouble finding 4* accomodations in Paris.

You can buy train tickets Paris/Bordeaux at www.sncf.com as early as 60 days in advance. PREMS fares as low as 25E pp each way. (I presume that you are not interested in cheap travel, but you can save enough to buy a bottle of Chateau Margot.)

Stay at the Chateau Cordeillan-Bages In Pauillac ( 55km from Bordeaux). It is a member of Relais and Chateaux group. The restaurant had two ** when we were there. It might have three*** now. The owner Jean-Micheal Cazes also owns the Chateau Lynch Bages winery and will make appointments for you to visit Chateau Latour (1er Grand Cru), Chateau Mouton Rothchild(1er Grand Cru), Chateau Pichon-Longueville (2e Grand Cru) and many others. We did not use a travel agent. They were most gracious to help us without an agent.

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