Getting around
JetBlue 1407 arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport
9:15 am
Arrival at CDG.
Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Paris
Loire Valley, France & more…
Must go!$$$$$CouplesCultureFoodLuxuryNatureRomanticCityShopping
May
Cynthia Morgan9 daysDay 1
Getting around
TGV InOui 5224 to Blois-Chambord
11:17 am – 2:37 pm
From Aéroport Roissy CDG Terminal 2 via Saint-Pierre-des-Corps; arrives 14:37.
Stay
Les Sources de Cheverny
3 pm
2 nights
Two MICHELIN Keys. Luxury château-and-estate hotel amid Loire forests and vineyards, with pool, Caudalie spa and bikes.
Explore
Explore Hotel Grounds
3:30 pm
Estate facilities include an outdoor pool, hot tub, tennis court, mechanical bikes and a forest fitness trail.
dinner
Le Favori
7:15 pm
Michelin-starred restaurant with a nature-facing dining room and cuisine inspired by the Loire Valley and Sologne forest.
Day 2
breakfast
Breakfast at Les Sources de Cheverny
8:30 am
Buffet breakfast, also available delivered to the room in a basket.
Explore
Château de Chambord
10 am
UNESCO-listed French Renaissance château and national wildlife reserve.
Explore
Château de Cheverny
12:30 pm
Family-owned château with six themed gardens and a labyrinth.
lunch
Picnic at Les Sources de Cheverny
1:30 pm
Country ham sandwich, seasonal salad, cheeses, fruit salad and homemade travel cakes on the hotel grounds.
dinner
L’Auberge
7 pm
Country-inn restaurant focused on local, fresh and seasonal produce near the Sologne forest.
Day 3
Getting around
Train from Blois-Chambord to Bordeaux Saint-Jean
8:15 am – 11:09 am
Via Saint-Pierre-des-Corps; arrives 11:09.
Explore
Jardin Public
11:30 am
18th-century, 14-hectare French garden centered on a pond, with an arboretum and historic carousel.
lunch
Amicis
12:30 pm
Elegant two-story restaurant by Chef Alexandre Baumard, known for precise fish and seafood cooking.
Explore
Sightseeing in Bordeaux
2 pm
Includes Basilique Saint-Michel, Pont de Pierre and Place de la Bourse.
Stay
Les Sources de Caudalie
4 pm
2 nights
Three MICHELIN Keys. Vineyard spa retreat at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, known for Caudalie vinothérapie treatments.
dinner
La Table du Lavoir
7 pm
Traditional country-inn cooking; wines from Château Smith Haut Lafitte are available.
Day 4
breakfast
Breakfast at La Grand’Vigne
9 am
Breakfast buffet featuring chef-selected products. Two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the Graves vineyard, serving product-driven cuisine rooted in organic gardens and local farms.
Explore
Vineyard Tour at Château Smith Haut Lafitte
10:15 am
Guided visit of the 16th-century tower, winery, underground cellars and cooperage, ending with a tasting of first and second wines.
lunch
ROUGE
12 pm
Gourmet delicatessen and wine bar with South-West French products, Bordeaux wines and a relaxed terrace setting.
Explore
Explore Hotel Grounds
1:30 pm
Vineyard estate facilities include indoor and heated outdoor pools, barrel sauna, hot tub, trails, gym and tennis court.
dinner
Restaurant La Grand'Vigne - Les Sources de Caudalie
Trip highlight
Day 5
breakfast
Breakfast at La Grand’Vigne
8:30 am
Breakfast buffet featuring chef-selected products.
Explore
Explore Hotel Grounds
10:15 am
Vineyard estate facilities include indoor and heated outdoor pools, barrel sauna, hot tub, trails, gym and tennis court.
lunch
Picnic at Les Sources de Caudalie
12 pm
Seasonal salad, houmous, baguette, Bayonne ham and cheese sandwich, madeleine, cannelé and fruit.
Getting around
TGV high-speed train to Paris Montparnasse
1:46 pm
From Bordeaux to Paris Montparnasse.
Stay
Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel
5 pm
3 nights
Art Deco luxury hotel on Avenue George V, close to the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe.
dinner
Le Meurice Alain Ducasse
7 pm
Opulent dining room opposite the Jardin des Tuileries; tasting menus pair French tradition with creative cuisine and pastries by Cédric Grolet.
Day 6
Explore
Shopping: Dior and Chanel
10 am
Visits to Dior’s flagship at 30 Avenue Montaigne and Chanel’s historic flagship at 31 Rue Cambon. Made appointments in advance and spoke with sales associates to put aside desired items.
lunch
Costes
1 pm
Parisian restaurant with intimate dining rooms and an Italian-style patio terrace; serves seasonal signature dishes.
Explore
Shopping
2:30 pm
Visits to flagship stores on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
dinner
Arpège
7:30 pm
Alain Passard’s plant-focused restaurant, celebrated for produce from its kitchen gardens.
Day 7
Explore
Palace of Versailles
10 am
Visit includes the Palace, gardens and Estate of Trianon. It was my first time at Versailles, and I wish I skipped this. Please go to Chambord instead, it’s 10x nicer and 10x less crowded.
lunch
Ore Ducasse
12:30 pm
Restaurant in a 17th-century pavilion within the Palace of Versailles, focused on fine ingredients.
Explore
Louvre Museum
3:30 pm
I went with my parents since they hadn’t been before (Daniel and I did all the museums on a previous trip). They booked a wonderful guide, and it was a great visit
dinner
Il Carpaccio
7 pm
Italian restaurant at Le Royal Monceau with a conservatory-like dining room and a wine cellar strong in Piedmont and Tuscan wines.
Day 8
Explore
Roland-Garros
11 am
French Open first-round singles play, with outside-court matches beginning at 11:00 and Court Philippe-Chatrier from 12:00. We booked tickets with a hospitality package. My husband is an ex college tennis player and very into tennis, the whole trip was actually planned around going to the French open lol
Day 9
Getting around
JetBlue B6 1408 from CDG to NYC
12:25 pm
Flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York City.
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Les Sources de Caudalie
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