Planning our first trip to this region next April. There are many excellent threads here focusing on food/restaurants, which I will be consuting later on. My question is how would plan an 8-9 day itinerary flying in and out of Bordeaux? We were thinking of the first two days in Bordeaux, possibly staying at the Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel (If possible, we’d like to stay at properties affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy or those that could be booked thru AMEX Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserved). Would prefer to spend more than one night in each stop if possible. One question is whether a stay in Biarritz is recommended or if people would recommend skipping it for more time in Spanish Basque area? San Sebastian and Bilbao are musts. Any other Basque cities recommended?
Thanks in advance
For me Biarritz wasn‘t as nice actually the 2-3 times I have been there
Love the Arroka Berri in Hondaribia, right at the french/basque border
Best Oysters ever in Andernos-les-Bains, west of Bordeaux on the Bassin d’Arcachon
Highest Sand-Dune of Europe in Dune du Pilat, close to Arcachon, south-west of Bordeaux
These three places are on the way by car from Bordeaux to San Sebastian / Bilbao.
For me the Guggenheim in Bilbao was well worth the visit (2x so far and will go there again)
Not Basque Country but it is just an hours drive from Bilbao to Haro / Rioja.
We just did Bordeaux to Bilbao this April. Would you be willing to fly out Bilbao? Paid the extra $300 one way drop off fee for the rental car and felt it was worth it not to have to backtrack. If you’re going from Chicago, it’s going to be a one-stop anyway. Feel free to PM me.
Thanks much. I am very curious about the “best oysters” - will have to make a stop
Thanks Patrick. Definitely willing to consider flying out of Bilbao. We will be arriving from the Midwest into Bordeaux, but will be flying next to Amsterdam, which should be doable from Bilbao.
That is where I connected to Chicago though.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xgqrrzuJv5M3YLuj9?g_st=im
Plenty of places at the harbor, picked Le Tamariou based on Tripadvisor and have been very happy
We prefer St Jean de Luz to Biarritz.
Mikka Grossman opened a bricks and mortar Les Enfants du Marche in Biarritz. I’d like to go.
We stayed at the Renaissance Bordeaux and enjoyed it. It’s a little outside city center, but the scenery was good and it’s adjacent to the Cite du Vin. It’s a 20-30 minute walk to the city center but enjoyable as it’s by the riverside. Parking is in the Cite du Vin parking deck and it’s easy access heading north to the Left Bank. I don’t recommend city center driving in Bordeaux
We flew out of Bilbao (changed planes in Paris). Easy to navigate and recommended if it’s close enough from an airfare and car rental perspective.
Stayed at Yndo and it was very nice. A little pricey (after all it is AMEX Plat), but quiet and an easy walk to most stuff. The credit covered breakfast for two for one morning. We were upgraded to a very nice suite with a hilarious large bathtub. It felt like the scene from Eternal Sunshine where he’s a little kid under the table:
