St Emilion Trip Report
Nov 24th, 2005, 01:09 PM
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St Emilion Trip Report
Had a fantastic long weekend recently in St Emilion.
Arrived on a low cost airline from the UK (£3 each return plus taxes) at Bordeaux and hired a car to drive to St Emilion. On arrival we were breathless at the beauty and history of the place. We found our hotel - Hostellerie Plaisance and then did a walking tour of the village. It became clear quite quickly that there was nothing else in the village other than restaurants and wine shops (and we were later to discover that most of the restaurants were closed in the evenings).
We took our time walking around with a glass of wine in one place and a hot chocolate in another, and then took the tourist train through the vineyards which was great - so atmospheric.
The first evening we dined at the hotel and opted for the degustation menu with surprise wines. Amazingly expensive, but truly one of the best meals we experienced in the whole of our lives (ignoring the cold dining room).
Saturday we ate at a local restaurant Envers Du Decor which had a gorgeous 3 course menu for €25 - fantastic value for the quality.
We went to wine school one day; 2 hours and they tell you about the Bordeaux region, the importance of mixing grapes delivering the end taste, and you get to do some sniff tests and tastes. Our English class was at 3pm, I think the French one is at 11am.
The hotel was superb, I have to say one of the best I have ever stayed in. We had small standard room for €120/night. I thought it was going to be like a cupboard. It was actually bigger than many other rooms that don't tell you they are small. It was great value for that quality of the hotel.
Lastly, because of time constraints we decided to have our final lunch at the formal dining restaurant at Bordeaux airport (after a recommendation from another Fodor writer). It was excellent, we forgot we were in an airpot, but still had the comfort of knowing we were checked in.
I would say that if you are into good wines, food, and atmospheric villages then St Emilion would be perfect. Be warned though - there are no shops other than those that sell wine, and most of the bars and restaurant are closed in the evening (at least in November - perhapsd it's different in the summer season).
We both agreed it's one of the best weekends we have had in a long time.
Arrived on a low cost airline from the UK (£3 each return plus taxes) at Bordeaux and hired a car to drive to St Emilion. On arrival we were breathless at the beauty and history of the place. We found our hotel - Hostellerie Plaisance and then did a walking tour of the village. It became clear quite quickly that there was nothing else in the village other than restaurants and wine shops (and we were later to discover that most of the restaurants were closed in the evenings).
We took our time walking around with a glass of wine in one place and a hot chocolate in another, and then took the tourist train through the vineyards which was great - so atmospheric.
The first evening we dined at the hotel and opted for the degustation menu with surprise wines. Amazingly expensive, but truly one of the best meals we experienced in the whole of our lives (ignoring the cold dining room).
Saturday we ate at a local restaurant Envers Du Decor which had a gorgeous 3 course menu for €25 - fantastic value for the quality.
We went to wine school one day; 2 hours and they tell you about the Bordeaux region, the importance of mixing grapes delivering the end taste, and you get to do some sniff tests and tastes. Our English class was at 3pm, I think the French one is at 11am.
The hotel was superb, I have to say one of the best I have ever stayed in. We had small standard room for €120/night. I thought it was going to be like a cupboard. It was actually bigger than many other rooms that don't tell you they are small. It was great value for that quality of the hotel.
Lastly, because of time constraints we decided to have our final lunch at the formal dining restaurant at Bordeaux airport (after a recommendation from another Fodor writer). It was excellent, we forgot we were in an airpot, but still had the comfort of knowing we were checked in.
I would say that if you are into good wines, food, and atmospheric villages then St Emilion would be perfect. Be warned though - there are no shops other than those that sell wine, and most of the bars and restaurant are closed in the evening (at least in November - perhapsd it's different in the summer season).
We both agreed it's one of the best weekends we have had in a long time.
Nov 26th, 2005, 06:46 AM
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Hi anna,
>Arrived on a low cost airline from the UK (£3 each return plus taxes) at Bordeaux ....<
Go ahead, rub it in. It cost us $700 ea.
Glad you enjoyed St. Emilion. Thanks for sharing.
>Arrived on a low cost airline from the UK (£3 each return plus taxes) at Bordeaux ....<
Go ahead, rub it in. It cost us $700 ea.
Glad you enjoyed St. Emilion. Thanks for sharing.
