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Dec 30, 2014 | 2:44 pm

pricesquire

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Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Barcelona

Posts: 3,317

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux and Spa

Introduction Want a full review, including pictures and video? <a href="http://www.isserbtravels.com/blog/2014/11/13/the-grand-bordeaux-hotel-spa" target="_blank">Click here</a>. The Grand Bordeaux Hotel & Spa November 20, 2014 Finding myself in Bordeaux for a night, and in need of a hotel, my first stop was Virtuoso.com; and, somewhat surprisingly, only one option came up: the Grand Bordeaux Hotel & Spa. So, that's what I did. With starting rates coming in around 320 euro per night, I was expecting a middle of the road 4 star city-hotel experience [as is often the case with European cities of this size]. I was wrong - the Grand Bordeaux was nothing short of a 5 star experience. Even better, I'd chalk this one night up as one of the better hotel experiences I've ever had. What's so great about this place? Almost everything. Virtuoso The Grand Bordeaux is a Virtuoso preferred supplier. Your Virtuoso amenities include: For 2014 Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests 85 EUR Food & Beverage credit, once during stay once per stay in any of the F&B outlets of the hotel (non-transferable, no cash value if not redeemed) Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability For 2015 Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests A 85 EUR Spa credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full) Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability Other Virtuoso properties in the area: Chateau de Mirambeau Location To say the Grand Bordeaux is "in a good location" is an understatement of epic proportions. The location is nothing short of perfect. Flawless. Without any mistakes or shortcomings. Hyperbole aside, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better located city hotel anywhere. The hotel is right inside the "Golden Triangle" [Triangle d'Or] - bounded by three of France's finest boulevards [Cours Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance, & Alles de Tourny]. Furthermore, it's directly across from the Grand Threatre, walkable to the tram system & the waterfront, and a stones throw from the Place de la Bourse. Closest international airport: BOD [0:24] Lobby The lobby was a lot smaller than I expected, being that the building itself was quite the monolith. Even though it wasn't the biggest lobby, it was perfectly suited for it's surroundings. Furthermore, after the check-in & concierge area, it opened up into quite a large lounge area. After I checked in, I managed to take a look: live music and a hopping bar scene! Not bad. Room The Grand Bordeaux has nine [9] different room categories, ranging from your entry level room [the "Superior Room"] all the way up to the "Royal Suite." For what it's worth, there is a lot of variation from room to room, both in design and layout. For instance, you could have two Standard rooms on the same floor that are designed entirely different [with a completely different layout, too]. The reason? First, an old European hotel is going to have a lot of variation from floor to floor, room to room. This hotel is over two centuries old, so there is a lot of post-construction connectivity between buildings that were probably - back in the day - not a singular unit. Secondly, the hotel was decorated by one of France's most famous interior designers, Jacques Garcia. Every inch of space was designed with intention. In other words, this is the last place to go for cookie-cutter rooms. For my stay, I was booked into a Deluxe Room, which is essentially a category two room. There are two main feelings I had towards the room: (1) it was really beautiful; (2) it was really dark*. Mixed feelings, sure, but overall I thought the room was one of the most comfortable, and luxurious, I've ever stayed in. *Disclaimer: it was nighttime when I arrived, so that definitely added to the "too dark" impression. I'll be the first to admit the pictures I took of the bedroom, at night, aren't the most flattering. As the day softened, and dawn turned to afternoon, the room got about 50-75% lighter [and the room pictures got better!] [Don't feel like uploading a dozen pictures, so excuse to references to pictures! Go to website for those...] Quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if you're looking at these pictures and the words "gaudy" or "old fashioned" pop into your mind. Not only do I get that, but I had similar thoughts looking at pictures once I got home. All I can say is, the room is neither of these things, and somehow: it just works. Beautifully. Bathroom The bathroom was split into two separate rooms: the toilet was it's own room & was one door over from the bath and vanity. I liked the setup, but I'm sure it's not for everyone. I really liked the bathroom. Was it the best I've seen? Not even close. The Park Hyatt Paris, the St. Regis NYC, the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta...the list goes on [bathrooms that I can think of instantaneously that are better than the Grand Bordeaux's.] Comparisons aside, I thought the bathroom was more than serviceable. I will say one thing: the placement of a fresh cut flower on your bathroom vanity is one hell of a classy move! Dining I only managed to eek out one meal from the Grand Bordeaux, and a fantastic meal it was: breakfast. The hotel has a very impressive breakfast spread, delivering both hot, cold, and made-to-order items [crepes!]. For what it's worth, the Executive Chef of Le Bordeaux has won multiple Michelin stars over the past 3+ years. The exact number is escaping me, but I do believe full breakfast at Le Bordeaux runs in the $50 USD per person range. Need another reason to book with Virtuoso? Free breakfast, daily. In total, the Grand Bordeaux has three restaurants, a restaurant/bar, a tea room, and what essentially amounts of a nightclub. Options are a good thing, right? The Grand Bordeaux's "crown jewel," so to speak, is Le Pressoir D'Argent. I don't know if there's a better description than the Grand Bordeaux's, so I won't even try to describe what makes it special myself: A major and unique feature of the "Pressoir d’Argent" is, as its name indicates, its lobster press. There are currently only five of these worldwide, one in Brussels, one in Berlin, two in Paris and a brand new one in Bordeaux. Its astonishing use shows that gastronomy is an art where the savours created by the artist are worked down to the finest detail. The "Brittany Blue Lobster" is presented alive to the client then fried in the kitchen. The dish is finalised in the dining room by pressing the legs and the lobster coral to make the sauce. It is the Chef 's wish that cooking at the table should be shown to advantage. If that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will. Reservations recommended. The Grand Bordeaux also has a place for a "quick bite": The Orangerie. While the hotel describes it as a place to grab a snack, I tend to think the menu is very expansive, bordering on a full dinner service. For a look at their offerings, click here. If you're looking for something more along the lines of a lounge or bar, Victor's Bar is your place. Like the Orangerie, the menu over delivers on options, and reads more like a restaurant menu. Not your typical bar snacks! For a peek at Victor's menu, click here. A Note On Wine Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine producing regions on earth [Napa, Tuscany, Bordeaux...]. So it makes sense that the Grand Bordeaux would have a Wine Concierge, right? Right. Long story short, you can customize your whole Grand Bordeaux experience around with world of wine. Private tours of vineyards, in-house wine tastings, wine-paired dinners, a Master Class with the hotel's sommelier - it's all available for the hotel guest. Even better: each experience is designed to go above and beyond guest expectations [wine tours in a vintage car, for example]. For more information on the Grand Bordeaux's wine-themed tours & happenings: click here. The Wine Concierge service is one of Grand Bordeaux's more unique perks, and the hotel is proud of their location in one of the wine capitals of the world. It definitely shows. Grounds The hotel is a stunner. Everything is meticulously kept, from the organization of furniture to the placement of fresh flowers. The place feels "clean" - and there's not an iota of staleness anywhere in the building The exterior of the building, the rooftop, and the interior courtyard views all get high marks Hallways can be excessively dark, especially at nighttime, early morning, or even when it's raining outside. Certain areas of the hotel can have an especially cavernous feel Pool The pool is located in the spa, so to be able to use it, you may need to pay for spa entrance [see below for pricing information] Aesthetically speaking, this is the nicest hotel pool I've ever seen. It's absolutely gorgeous. Functionality is also a plus: there are three settings to turn the [otherwise still] pool into a lap pool [adding currents for swimming laps] I thought the water temperature was a tad cold for a spa pool. Staff said the pool was "body temperature," but it felt a lot colder than that Spa Like the pool, the spa's hard product was incredible. As far as Western European spas go, this was one of the best I've seen. Gorgeous in almost every category. That said, make no mistake: there's nothing spiritual about this place [a lot of non-European spas sell themselves as spiritual getaways; this isn't Bordeaux's answer to Sedona's Mii Amo]. Both the sauna and steam room were as good as it gets; the in-spa tea, coffee, and fruit station was a huge plus There are relaxation chairs, nooks, and lounges at almost every turn; robes and slippers are plush and comfortable "It's the little things" - i.e., the "make your own ice bath" after getting out of the sauna [see picture below] The men's locker room was a little bare-boned. For instance, there was no toilet, and besides shampoo/conditioner & a blow dryer, there wasn't much in the way of personal grooming options [no razors, hair spray; deodorant; shaving cream; and so on] My deep tissue massage wasn't memorable whatsoever A note on pricing: gaining access to the spa, as a guest of the hotel, will set you back 30 euros per person. As a non-guest, that shoots up to 70 euro per person. Here's where the Virtuoso difference really helps out: access to the spa is included in all Virtuoso rates. Furthermore, in 2015, your Virtuoso rate will include an 85 euro spa credit! Overall __________________If you can't tell by now, I really love this hotel. By no means is it perfect, but it comes very close - and I can genuinely say this is one of the best European hotels I've ever stayed at. The Grand Bordeaux isn't for everyone. Obsessed with modernity? Not your place. Love the old world feel of the original St. Regis? This is for you. This Grand Bordeaux an old world hotel and shies away from any sign of "going modern." [All too often a hotel tries for a huge refurbishment and, in the process, loses it's soul. Not here.] Some visitors may be turned off from the gaudiness of the place - the gold light switches, the plush velvet cushions, and the drapes that are heavier than the suitcase you arrived with. Others may find that the place is "too old," even stale. I think it's none of these things. The Grand Bordeaux - and it's designer, Jacques Garcia - have done an incredible job fusing extremes: old and new, gaudy and vanilla, stale and fresh. There are a few misses, but they're few and far between. The rooms can be too dark, especially at night. Hallways tend to feel a bit cavernous. The fact it's almost impossible to find a toilet in the spa is simply ridiculous. But in light of the positives, you forget the above misses even happened. Not only would I recommend this place, but I'd go out of my way to come back here. The hotel is a destination, in and of itself, and a fantastic destination at that.