Hi All

Im hoping for some help in planning a trip that is based on business but we want to turn it into a little getaway. We will be going down to Bordeaux from the states in probably late November or early December. I realize not ideal but its for purchasing farm equipment and we cannot go till after harvest. I assume we will fly into Paris and take the train to Bordeaux. We will need 3 days/nights there to get done what we need and see the area. I will want to wrap the trip up with 2-3 nights in Paris on the way out. I have been to Paris before. But what shall we do in the mean time on our way back up to Paris. We only have the flexibility of another 3-4 nights in 1-2 more places.

Any ideas would be appreciated. We are in our 30's and really open to anything. Maybe more of the wine regions since we are in the industry in the states?

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I'd spend the extra nights in Paris itself.

It is very easy to book though Captain Train. Just type the term into google.
I have not had any problems with my credit card use on this site. I have used both
For reserving trains in Italy and France.

I'd do a connecting flight on one ticket to Bordeaux on your arrival (AF or DL/AF). Will save time with train transfers and likely will cost less than train tickets. Plus, you don't need to worry about a misconduct at CDG. If you miss a train connection and have bought non-refundable discount train tickets, you're out of luck.

If you know the system, it's easy enough to nab a 20-euro TGV ticket from Paris to Bordeaux. Flying into Mérignac and having to get into Bordeaux is no picnic and adds an hour to your travel time.

I assume if you're buying farm equipment you'll have a car to travel aound the Bordeaux area? Do you plan to ditch the car and use trains to make your way up to Paris, or will you be driving? Either way, places to stop could include La Rochelle and Ile de Ré, Saintes, Nantes, or inland to Poitiers and the Loire Valley, or northwest to Brittany or Normandy.

Yes fly into Bordeaux if at all possible - there are some direct trains CDG Airport to Bordeaux but there are gaps in service and going into Paris to catch a train at Montparnasse station is a pain.

The discounted tickets are train-specific and can't be changed - if flying in leave a few hours of fudge-factor time if you have a discounted ticket or face missing that train and then having to buy a full-fare ticket.

Yes a connecting flight from CDG if reasonable would be smart.

St-Emilion I thought was a neat old town and literally surrounded by vineyards making that famous appellation.

Unfortunately or fortunately the neat town is still there but partially taken over by Marketing wine idiots who try to trap unsuspecting tourists into spending a lot of money, this means the place is crowded and has even come onto the chinese radar so the place can be heaving with people who don't want to buy anything. What was once a neat little town is now more ruined micky-mouse-wine-fun.

What was once pleasant has be touristed to death.

There are many places you can visit in the area, but you need a plan, and if you want to visit wineries you need a booking.

Like St C I now prefer places up the coast, look out for Rochefort for instance or the fortress at Royan

St-Emilion was delightful 20 years ago. Today it is a freak show. The monolithic church is worthy of a look-see; the 3-centileter splashes of wine going for 35 euros a sip at a very ordinary café are an insult.

Well yes 20 years ago when I was there it seemed to me, in August, a fairly sleepy town - with just a wonderful view of vineyards all around. Things change and I always take St-Cirq, a resident of the general area, take her comments with value.