Lux hotel within 3hrs of Paris
 

I am looking for an easy 2nt trip outside of Paris for early Nov. with a stay in a lux property, preferably with a good restaurant, and no need of a car. This would be for an anniversary celebration for Mr. Jac747 and myself and I am especially interested in Bordeaux or the Champagne region. We would just take the train then catch a cab to the hotel and would like to be able to walk around town during our one day there and possibly have a spa treatment. From the research I've done so far and looking mostly at Relais et Chateaux properties, we would need a car. Any recommendations? Thanks.

so not a Chateau? (like Crayeres, Bagnols)

and when you say "good" restaurant, are you specifically interested in X michelin stars?

La Maison Bordeaux
113, rue du Docteur Albert Barraud
Bordeaux, France

It's north of downtown. No car, good restaurants. Accessible by train. They'll provide private city tours, and are very small (6 rooms) so it's very intimate with the owners.

Les Sources de Caudalie
Chemin de Smith Haut-Lafitte
Bordeaux, France

A little tougher to get to though. Any Chateau

Not sure if they're still open in November or not.
Both very nice, but kinda small.

Good luck and safe travels.

I would love to stay at one of the chateaus but it seems a car would be needed for most of them. The hotel I'm considering is in St Emilion and is a R & C property and has a restaurant with one Michelin star-Hostellerie Plaisance. It may be quite a distance from the train station(half hour?) also so we may just have to rent a car. If we're going to rent a car, I think I may consider a destination with a shorter train ride.

if its a hotel in town, then couldnt you walk around town, regardless of the distance to the train station? (take hotel car or taxi)

if youre happy with walking the grounds of a chateau / onsite activities, i think many here would recommend a very luxurious one such as Crayeres or Bagnols - they both came up in the "best room" thread, and IIRC the "favorite hotel" thread as well.

although im not sure about spa offerings.

Les Crayeres looks very good since it's only a 10min ride from the train staion and has some nice packages that include meals, room, champagne tasting-doesn't sound like we'd be bored.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....3&postcount=20
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....9&postcount=28
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....&postcount=126

Lyon is 2 hours away by train and full of 1 and 2 star restos.... decent hotels too, but nothing too over the top.

Jac747, I stayed at the Hostellerie Plaisance many years ago. I had taken the TVG from Paris and rented a car. It was lovely with a beautiful, large room restauarnt (the Awannee dining room comes to mind, but I think my imagination is probably making it larger than it was). It was enough years ago to be a little uncertain, but my recollection is that it was far from a cab ride distance and more like a managable car ride from Bordeaux one one's way towards to the Dordogne. Happy to be reminded of this lovely place!

The Four Seasons in Provence would pick you up by car from Nice Airport or the railway station (TGV from Paris) - its about a 45 minute drive. This is an exceptional resort, and since I was there they have opened a huge spa complex as well which would go down well with your other half.

I don't think you can go wrong with Château Les Crayères. When I was there, foie gras terrine is only served in the afternoon as a snack and it is a must try!

The choices are so great in France that it's hard to decide but I think I will just consider renting a car for more options. Would love to go back to the south of France but Nice is too far for, basically, one day. Since we haven't been to the Bordeaux or Champagne area, that is where I will concentrate on but still think we may want a country type hotel/chateaux with a spa and great restaurant since it will be a nice change from Paris. Thanks for all the rec!

Chateau de Mirambeau in Bordeaux

That is one hotel I've been considering ABG-have you stayed there?

interesting timing of this article >

http://www.departures.com/articles/t...atetic-gourmet

login using - John Smith / 371909