Sometimes the best trips are the ones that utterly surprise you.
Admittedly, I knew almost nothing about Bordeaux to start off with, and I certainly don’t drink wine thanks to my alcohol allergy; but neither of those things stopped me from booking a trip for mid-December when my schedule allowed.
My good friend and fellow travel writer friend Jenn Rice was visiting me in Paris, and we decided a quick getaway to the southwestern city in France would be a fun adventure.
Boredeaux is just over three hours by train from Paris, and a pretty seamless commute to get from one city center to the other. We stayed at the gorgeous YNDO Hôtel, which was such a delightful experience in every way imaginable.
The YNDO Hôtel is a five-star boutique hotel that’s unlike any other property in the city. Its presence is stately and luxe, complete with whimsical interiors, a welcoming staff and homemade breakfast served daily. The rooms are spacious and glamorous, right down to the Hermès toiletries in the bathroom.
There’s only 12 guest rooms total, so your stay promises plenty of personalized service from the moment you arrive. It was such a fun hotel experience and the perfect place to call home for the three nights of our girls getaway!
There was also a relaxing courtyard and a scented garden, with bicycles for guests to use during their stay.
It wouldn’t be a proper girls trip without some serious spa time, and we were lucky enough to book Premier Cru facials at the world-famous Les Sources de Caudalie Spa! The experience was truly transformative, and a complete sanctuary when it comes to skin and body care. The tranquil spot is about a 25-30 minute drive from Bordeaux, and surrounded by beautiful vineyards as far as the eye can see.
I’m a city girl through and through, but I absolutely loved this relaxing setting and felt such utter peace the entire time we were there. My skin felt rejuvenated and refreshed, which is exactly what it needed this time of year!
Beyond our spa day, we also enjoyed delicious meals, great shopping and fabulous sight seeing. The city is so enchanting with beauty at every corner–without the hectic chaos and overwhelming crowds of Paris or London.
The public garden is also so lovely and we had so much fun just wandering around aimlessly. For couples, I think Bordeaux would be such an ideal destination for a romantic weekend away.
Here’s a short list of some of our favorite discoveries in the city. If I could spend more time in Bordeaux, I would have LOVED to have visited a chateau to finally make my European castle dreams a reality!
The Poulaillier d’Augustin–for a very local meal that’s delicious and economical, definitely stop by here for their famous rotisserie chicken and potatoes. We had an unforgettable meal after a long day and the guys that work there are SO nice! (A refreshing change in personality types from Parisians!)
Le Petit Mignon–An authentic French restaurant with a wonderful prix fixe menu with several delicious options, no matter your budget. A hard-working duo handled the demands of a packed restaurant with great attention to detail and a live musician even stopped by to entertain us while we dined.
Jardin Public–A gorgeous garden that’s serene and spacious. It reminded me of Vondelpark in Amsterdam.
Monument Aux Girondins–a gorgeous and dramatic water fountain with incredible sculptures from the base to the top.
In short, Bordeaux was incredible and I would absolutely go back in a heart beat!
xx Jenn
Jenn Rice says
Rotisserie chicken for life!
JenniferC says
Haha such a memorable meal!!!