Travel & Hotels

Flight

Option 1: Arrive at Paris-Charles de Gaulle

If you choose to fly into Paris, we recommend flying Air France as they are the only airline that offers a direct flight from Phoenix. Don't forget, you'll arrive the next day in the morning, and you will still need to get to Bordeaux (a 2-3 hour train ride), so we recommend arriving the 4th or the 5th (at the latest) of September to have time to acclimate to the time change and travel by train to Bordeaux. Please note: you must have arrived by train to Bordeaux no later than 10 am the morning of September 6th to meet the Trip Leaders and start our adventure!

Train

Paris to Bordeaux

While you can purchase tickets at the station, we highly recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time. We recommend leaving from Gare de Massy - Palaiseau in Paris. Take the TGV (high speed train) to Bordeaux Saint-Jean, where we will meet at our trip departing point. To travel from Paris to Bordeaux by train, you can expect a journey time of approximately 2 to 3 hours, with the fastest trains reaching Bordeaux in about 2 hours and 10 minutes. High-speed TGV trains are available on this route, offering a direct and comfortable journey. The train journey from Massy Palaiseau to Bordeaux Saint-Jean primarily passes through the French countryside. While the initial part of the journey may offer glimpses of the Parisian suburbs, the majority of the trip traverses agricultural landscapes, vineyards, and small towns characteristic of the French countryside. More Information about the Train TGV INOUI trains, which operate on the route from Massy Palaiseau to Bordeaux St Jean, have a bar car. This is commonly referred to as the Bistro TGV INOUI. Here's what you can expect regarding the drink car: Location: The Bistro TGV INOUI is usually located in car 4 or 14. Offerings: You can purchase a variety of hot and cold drinks, as well as snacks, sandwiches, and hot dishes. These items can be consumed in the bar car or taken back to your seat. New Features: Future TGV INOUI trains are set to have a revamped Bistro, including a two-floor design with a lower level for ordering and an upper level as a seating area. Ordering: You can order your food and drinks online via the onboard Wi-Fi portal and pick them up at the bar counter, potentially skipping the queue. Important Note: The low-cost OUIGO trains, also operated by SNCF, do not have a bar car.

Flight

Option 2: Arrive at London Heathrow

If you choose to fly into London, we recommend British Airways. They have two direct flights from Phoenix (departing at 6:40 pm and 8:40 pm). Don't forget, you'll arrive the next day in the early afternoon. You will still need to get to Bordeaux, so we recommend arriving the 4th or the 5th (at the latest) of September to have time to acclimate to the time change and travel to Bordeaux. Please note: you must have arrived by train to Bordeaux no later than 10 am the morning of September 6th to meet the Trip Leaders and start our adventure!

Hotel

Les Sources de Caudalie

This is the first hotel we will be staying at during our Backroads trip! We are here for two nights before the Backroads team will transport our luggage to our next spot. Your luggage will be in your new room at the next hotel when you arrive!

Hotel

Les Hortensias du Lac

We'll experience this magical spot on our third night before heading to our last hotel.

Hotel

Brindos, Lac & Château

We will close out our trip by spending our final two nights here!