France - Wine Regions

[ComeFlyWithMe]

You and I must be staying at diff 5* hotels CFWM - in 20+ yrs have never had anything lifted - but we all march to a different drum - but I certainly appreciate you taking time to post.

No problem, I haven't had anything stolen either but I still wouldn't trust hotel cleaning staff, not necessarily for theft, but chocking hotel doors open for hours while they do their cleaning rounds, allowing anyone to enter and steal your property.

Having stayed in both Reims and Epernay, Epernay is far more picturesque and beautiful, Reims is just like any other town and there are no vineyards (plenty of cellar doors though) in town. Epernay is just gorgeous, all low density and surrounded by vineyards.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Also highly recommend the Bordeaux region, you can fly domestically from Paris very cheaply, or take the train. I recommend getting a car at the train station or airport and exploring the region. The downside is someone has to stay sober. You can do some great door to door tours also if you prefer that style, but you miss a lot as its all pre planned. The things I've discovered by just driving and exploring have made my trips.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Also highly recommend the Bordeaux region

Yep we'll get to that in good time.

 

[TheRealTMA]

You and I must be staying at diff 5* hotels CFWM - in 20+ yrs have never had anything lifted - but we all march to a different drum - but I certainly appreciate you taking time to post.

We've also been lucky in 35 years of travel and never had any issues with theft in hotels, but one hears stories, that are admittedly mostly 3rd hand. One of the consistent themes in such cases is that many didn't take even basic precautions of using the hotel safe for main valuables and locking other things out of sight in a suitcase. Such issues seem less likely in 3/5 * hotels in smaller French wine areas than in, say, Asian hotels or London.

There's no reason to be overly concerned in French wine ar as IMHO but one should take sensible precautions to allow you to leave the hotel and enjoy the trip.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have zero concerns about hotels - I asked the Q re hotels V apts solely because I can see far greater potential for problems emanating from apts security wise. Like if an apt is let to 2 diff tenants weekly then keys could be in hands of up to 100 tenants annually - how do you control that?

Electronic keys in hotels useless post any single stay - and potential thief has to get past hotel security plus most 4 and 5 star hotels nowadays you cannot even get elevator to activate unless you have active room card.

Travel wallet and important docs including passport always safely locked in hotel room safe - I just cannot get my head around security of apartments.

 

[TheRealTMA]

?..I just cannot get my head around security of apartments.

Mrs TheRealTMA can't get her head around Apts because she wants someone to make the bed and clean the bathroom every day

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Mrs TheRealTMA can't get her head around Apts because she wants someone to make the bed and clean the bathroom every day

Yes there is that aspect also.

 

[kpc]

Cruiser Elite, you need to PM infinity http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/private.php?do=newpm&u=31862 who is currently skiing in Japan, and get him to post to this thread...I believe he has been to the wine regions in France several times, and he can tell you his secrets on how he brought back dozens of bottles of French wine each trip

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Having trouble getting a deal on a particular hotel I want to book in Bordeaux - doers anybody have access to a TA who might specialise in European hotel bookings - Bordeaux and San Sebastian in particular?

Citi Prestige Concierge can get me a deal at both hotels I am trying to book for basically 1 free night at each - ie stay 5 / pay 4 at rates which exactly match hotel web sites if booked direct but for different room types and not for the exact room types I want - might just need to cast net a bit wider.

I contacted my former Centurion contact but she is just not permitted to even touch the booking as I no longer hold Cent or even Plat - bummer.

Advice greatly appreciated

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Having trouble getting a deal on a particular hotel I want to book in Bordeaux - doers anybody have access to a TA who might specialise in European hotel bookings - Bordeaux and San Sebastian in particular?

Citi Prestige Concierge can get me a deal at both hotels I am trying to book for basically 1 free night at each - ie stay 5 / pay 4 at rates which exactly match hotel web sites if booked direct but for different room types and not for the exact room types I want - might just need to cast net a bit wider.

I contacted my former Centurion contact but she is just not permitted to even touch the booking as I no longer hold Cent or even Plat - bummer.

Advice greatly appreciated

Anything a travel agent can do you can find on various booking websites like Expedia, hotels.com, booking.com etc. IME.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Anything a travel agent can do you can find on various booking websites like Expedia, hotels.com, booking.com etc. IME.

Prestige Concierge have just put a dent in that theory CFWM - but I guess they aren't a TA either.

Next query good France experts - best site to book train travel? Need to get from Reims to Bordeaux.

 

[JohnM]

Prestige Concierge have just put a dent in that theory CFWM - but I guess they aren't a TA either.

Next query good France experts - best site to book train travel? Need to get from Reims to Bordeaux.

Try Rome2Rio for options in one place: https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Reims/Bordeaux

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Prestige Concierge have just put a dent in that theory CFWM - but I guess they aren't a TA either.

Next query good France experts - best site to book train travel? Need to get from Reims to Bordeaux.

I've found the concierge services to be completely underwhelming.

I use RailEurope.com.au - it seems to be what many of the TA's use.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I've found the concierge services to be completely underwhelming.

I use RailEurope.com.au - it seems to be what many of the TA's use.

Actually booked through here - Travel by Train in Europe, Best Ticket Prices on Voyages-sncf.com - they showed availability on services where RailEurope were showing none.

CFWM check my post in Prestige thread - I had to work pretty hard on Concierge as in not accepting their initial quotes but we eventually got the rooms we wanted at rates = to best available on hotel web site and will receive basically a 20% statement credit for 4 bookings - could not find any alt at near these rates. I had previously held similar view on Concierge but not anymore.

 

[RB]

I think that man that sits in seat 61 all the time is still the guru for trains! Plenty of info there
Train travel in France, a beginner's guide | Paris to Nice from €25

 

[Madam Mina]

I have always used voyages sncf for train tickets wholly within France and never had a problem its much more user friendly than its Italian equivalent! Pre booking on the website in advance can save you a considerable amount of money too. The man in seat 61 is a fantastic resource for train travel all over the world. I thought it was probably also worth pointing out that the man in seat 61 is also active on the train travel section of the Tripadvisor forums. He answered a question I had about traveling from France to Italy through the alps a while ago and actually suggested a much better route which was very helpful. So if you have any tricky routing questions it wouldn't hurt to ask it there.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thank you MM - my routing Reims-Bordeaux is fairly simple and I agree I found the voyages sncf site quite easy to navigate - it needs to be when I am booking.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

SNCF is great, although I'm usually booking international itineraries where RailEurope is more useful.

Perfect for France only though! Sounds like a great trip!

 

[ellen10]

I use voyages sncf.
Best deals are released 90 days out.
I've always managed to get 1st class seats for the same price as 2nd class at 90 days out. They are called Prems.

 

[The Flying Brick]

The Man in Seat 61 website is invaluable for travel across Europe by train.
We recently travelled by TGV from Paris to Zurich for 25 Euro's each thanks to his advice (2nd class but still quite comfortable).
Also, booking on SNCF Voyages is quite easy as is checking comparison fares at the best price - some of the rail booking agencies add substantial commissions so I have found it is always best to check against the actual Rail Operators own fare offerings.