Luxury Tailor Made Champagne & Bordeaux Holiday Ideas

Best time to visit Champagne

Champagne sits further north than Bordeaux, which means there’s a slight difference in the weather. Whilst still generally mild, Champagne does get a fair amount of rain. Champagne also gets less sunlight than its southern counterpart, but that’s no reason to count it out. The Champagne region vineyards are stunning, and you won’t be disappointed if you choose to visit on your holiday during the summer months or as the season changes into autumn. 

Best time to visit Bordeaux

The weather in Bordeaux is similar to the UK; it has mild summers and winters and isn’t immune to the occasional rainy spell. Summers in Bordeaux are warm, sunny, and of course, ideal for visiting the vineyards. It’s likely to be quieter in May, so that’s a perfect time for a laid-back holiday. Some vineyards are closed to visitors during the harvest period in early autumn, so it’s best to avoid September if that’s the case. 

• If you’re interested in all that Bordeaux has to offer, including the Bordeaux museums, Les Bassins de Lumières and La Cité du Vin, then it’s worth picking up the City Pass – this enables you access to these areas for up to 72 hours. 

• Château Mouton Rothschild Vineyard is next on our things-to-do list. For wine lovers, the Château Mouton Rothschild vineyard is the perfect introduction to wine in the region. The vineyard offers a couple of different tours – from those interested in the winemaking process to a chateau-focussed tour visiting the stately rooms and artwork while enjoying the beautiful views across the Médoc peninsula.

• Does the idea of the longest shopping street in Europe sound exciting? You’re in luck; the Rue Sainte-Catherine is the prime shopping destination in Bordeaux. This fully pedestrianised shopping street in the old town has everything from high fashion outlets to exceptionally smelling boulangerie. Whilst here, don’t forget to try the Canelés de Bordeaux, a soft pastry with rum and vanilla flavours and a crispy caramel crust. 

Things to do on holiday in Champagne

• Vineyards of Moët & Chandon are the perfect place to learn about Champagne making in the region, and it’s also a great place to try some. The Moët & Chandon offers a fully-fledged tour with demonstrations on the process, visits to the opulent underground Champagne cellars and tastings guided by sommeliers.

• Le Coeur de Troyes, Troyes is a 16th-century city filled with timber homes. Although ravaged by a fire, the city was rebuilt and today is a conservation area. The city has many attractions, from wandering the cobbled streets and alleys to visiting the arts and theatre districts for performances. Le Coeur de Troyes is a beautiful city for spending an afternoon on the terraces, soaking up some summer sunshine and people watching.

• The final pick for things to do on holiday in the Champagne region is visiting Reims. The Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims is 810 years old and features awe-inspiring stained-glass windows with beautiful gothic architecture. As well as the cathedral, Reims is the home of multiple Champagne houses, including Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin and Tattinger, so be sure to book an excursion with our Travel Specialists. 

This depends on which region you’d like to travel to. Our expert Travel Specialists are happy to create a bespoke holiday for you to both Champagne and Bordeaux, including setting up transfers, booking airport lounges and upgrading seats. If you’d like to create a twin-centre holiday to see them both, just let us know.

How to get to Bordeaux from the UK

The quickest way to get to Bordeaux is by plane. It takes just over an hour and a half to fly from London to Bordeaux Airport. 

How to get to Champagne from the UK

The Champagne region is close to Paris, making the best option a flight into Charles de Gaulle airport and then transferring to your hotel in the Champagne region. The flight time from London to Paris is around one hour and 20 minutes – a transfer to Reims in the Champagne region takes around an hour and a half.