So… gscinparis is back! I am headed to France this summer. This year, I will be concentrating on the Bordeaux region, which offers Architectural beauty in the city of Bordeaux itself, beach vibes along the Atlantic Coast and of course, the delightful, historic wineries. I hope you will come along with me as I prepare for overseas travel after several years!

Why Bordeaux?

Over the past few years (before the pandemic), I have re-explored Normandy, Brittany, the Loire Valley and Provence. And of course, every trip starts and ends with time in Paris. This year, as I searched for the perfect place to explore, I loved the idea of having both the sea and the beautiful vineyards to visit. Plus, Bordeaux itself is a wonderfully lovely city with great food and architecture. A win-win!

But First, My Passport!

Before you start looking for flights or researching covid restrictions, check your passport! Is it up to date or did it expire during these past few years? I had to renew mine. I decided to go expedited, just for peace of mind. There are several options on the State Department website for expedited processing and I chose to mail it in. I sent it in early April and received it back in early May. It did cost about $200 but for me, I didn’t want to take the risk of not getting on that plane headed for CDG!

Next… Flights!

Sadly, our beloved Norwegian Airlines stopped offering long haul flights from North America to Europe early on in the pandemic. We were heartbroken as we loved flying with them and their prices were unbelievably low. This year we purchased with Delta (gulp) which, at the time of purchase offered the best price for a non-stop from LA to Paris. The beauty of this is that Delta partners with Air France, so the service on board will be top notch. However, just recently, a new, low cost, long distance carrier called “The French Bee” launched! I looked at their prices and they were incredible! I am excited to try them out in the future.

How to get there?

We are taking the train from Paris to Bordeaux and we will rent a car in Bordeaux. Tickets can be purchased through SNCF’s website, the national train operator in France. We thought about driving from Paris to Bordeaux but it is a 5 hour drive. The trains in France are very relaxing and we can get some reading, writing or work done while we travel. Once we arrive in Bordeaux, we will rent a car so we will be able to easily visit all the fantastic sites that the region has to offer.

Where to Stay?

We rented an adorable VRBO in the coastal town of Lège-Cap-Ferret, closer to the Atlantic coast because prices for a rental in the wine region were quite pricey. As you can see from the map above, we are just outside of Bordeaux to the West, very close to the coast. We will be able to visit Bordeaux and the wineries by car.

What to Do?

Obviously, we will tour the wineries and right now I am researching which ones are the best to see. One of my favorite wines to drink is St. Emillion. I am also excited to explore the coast a bit. This area is known for it’s impressive sand dunes, as pictured above. I was recommended to visit La Teste-de-Buche. I know we will be eating some amazing, fresh seafood along the coast, with traditional French fare more inland.

What to Wear?

I have been working on updating my wardrobe for a few weeks now. I need to update all of my French essentials.

Of course, great shoes for walking are a must, so I found these cute Madewell sneakers which will be great for all the steps we will walk. We will be there in the summer, so I will be packing several easy-going, summery dresses for our different day trips. I like carrying a small-as-possible purse, usually a cross-body style for safety and comfort. For colder evenings, a good striped long sleeve shirt will do the trick. Finally, while you are in France, you must (must!) pick up a “Pliage” bag from Longchamp. A travel essential, it folds up neatly, so you can take it with you and then fill it with souvenirs and carry it stylishly home. I love mine!

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