Issue #3
Bordeaux Mini Guide, new flight routes to interesting places, and spooky season travel ideas.
Welcome to Next Vacay issue #3! Read on for our Mini Guide to Bordeaux, France plus headlines about new flight routes, haunted hotel stays, and more... Feel free to grab a glass of wine for this one. 🍷
Mini Guide: Bordeaux, France
Perfect for: Oenophiles. Let’s be honest - if Bordeaux is a place that you’re interested in visiting, you probably are into wine. It’s really the foundation of the region’s culture and best things to do.
Couples - everything here is so romantic and picturesque. Not to mention the free flowing wine.
Also good for a countryside sojourn to break up stops between cities.
Best Time to Visit: May through October.
Peak season is during the wine harvest - usually late August / early September through October.
We went in shoulder season - November - and really enjoyed the less crowded streets and vineyards, plus the more reasonable hotel rates. Just keep in mind that many local shops close up their businesses in August and December.
Budget Meter: $$$ = fairly affordable, with options for high/low
Depending on when you go and the type of place you want to stay, the luxury hotel rates can set you back a pretty penny.
Overall though, the food options, wine tastings, transportation and attractions all were very reasonable in price. You can go high-end with Michelin-star tasting menus and expensive bottles of Grand Cru Classe, and you can also enjoy cozy bistros and cafes with a great local pour by the glass.
Sustainability Meter: Mostly Green.
The farm-to-table concept is more of a way of life here than a trend, so most everything you’ll eat and drink is grown and harvested locally (sometimes even on site) or from a nearby region. And there’s a zero waste policy when it comes to wine 😉
Electric vehicles are becoming more prominent, and public transportation is very efficient, meaning less need for cars. The cigarette smoking does knock a few points off the theoretical meter.
Getting There:
There are multiple flight options to Bordeaux (BOD) from within Europe. We flew via AirFrance from Paris (CDG), and it was about 1 hour. This worked for us because it was at the beginning of our trip, and we were already flying into Paris that morning. Just leave plenty of time between flights if you go this route.
Depending on where you’re originating from, the train is also a pretty straight shot to get to/from Bordeaux. We did this when we departed to Paris for the second half of our trip, and it takes about 2 hours. You can book online here - we did Bordeaux-Saint-Jean to Paris Montparnasse. We’ll share our learnings from a minor setback we encountered in the full guide.
If this sounds like your next vacay, we’ve got you covered with all the details from our trip that included a visit to Saint-Émilion in our Full Guide to Bordeaux that will land in your inbox next Sunday.
Making Headlines:
United Announces Largest International Expansion Ever With Flights to Sicily, Mongolia, Greenland, and More (T+L): United adds 8 new nonstop flight routes from their US hubs (DC and Newark) to far-flung destinations in 2025, marking its largest-ever global expansion.
Would you let AI plan your next holiday? (BBC): AI is becoming a go-to travel planner for some, offering quick high-level itineraries, but personal recs still reign supreme due to outdated or overly touristy information ChatGPT is spitting out.
The 23 Scariest Haunted Hotels To Sleep At—Or Not (Vogue): If creaky floors, eerie whispers, and mysterious figures are your idea of a good time, these haunted hotels will deliver for your Spooky Szn stay 👻
The Buying Power of Your Credit Card Points Is Tanking (WSJ): Time to spend those hard-earned credit card points before they continue to drop in value.
On Our Radar
Here are some places we’re filing under ‘want to go’…
Los Cabos, Mexico: Incredible vacation home with thoughtfully designed spaces that maximize its natural setting. Sign us up!
The Dolomites, Italy: The mile-high views from this mountain range, part of the Italian Alps, are just next level.
If you enjoyed this newsletter and want to share it with a friend, we would appreciate your support in growing this community!
Until next time, stay curious.
Adding this to my list!