Wine & Gastronomy: France & Spain
- French capital Paris, with its bistros, brasseries and cafés
- Whizz across rural France at speeds of nearly 200mph on ultra-modern TGV trains
- Wine tour and the vineyards of Bordeaux
- San Sebastian – Europe’s gastronomical capital
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 8 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- City maps and comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
Suggested Itinerary
Depart London St Pancras on a Eurostar train bound for Paris. On arrival, check in at the Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
Since the 18th century, Paris has been famous for its restaurants and haute cuisine. Nowadays, there are over 9,000 dining options in the city, both French and international, catering to every taste and budget. Spend your free days here discovering the city’s many famous attractions, with time to sample some of the wine and delicious food on offer.
Leave Paris today and catch a high-speed TGV service from the Gare Montparnasse, heading for Bordeaux. Arrive at lunchtime and check in at the centrally-located BW Premier Hotel Bayonne Etcha-Ona (or similar) for your 2-night stay before heading out into the city to explore.
Bordeaux boasts a UNESCO World Heritage listed historic centre, one of Europe’s largest preserved 18th century urban areas.
Bordeaux is one of the world epicentres of wine production and if you would like, you can choose from a wide range of tours to local vineyards in such prestigious wine-growing regions as St Emilion and Medoc.
In the evening, visit the Miroir d’Eau, where you can see a spectacular reflection in water alongside the River Garonne, before heading to a traditional restaurant where you can sample some Aquitaine cuisine.
Travel across the Spanish border to the ultimate foodie town of San Sebastian. After an easy change of station within the border town of Hendaye, take a local Eusko Tren (payable locally) along the north coast of Spain into the bay of San Sebastian.
On arrival, check in at the Astoria 7 Hotel (or similar), where you will be staying for 3 nights. This evening, why not take your first foray into Spain’s culinary capital?
Enjoy two full days in the Spanish Basque seaside town of San Sebastian, which proudly boasts more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere else in the world. For more informal dining, try a traditional Pintxo Bar (Basque style tapas).
We highly recommend a cliff-top walk in the environs of the city, as well as some relaxation time on the plentiful city beaches, if the weather permits.
After breakfast, take the local Eusko Tren the short way into France and the border town of Hendaye, where you meet a TGV Atlantique train to take you back up to Paris. Connect through Paris onto your Eurostar for the 2¼-hour journey back through the Channel Tunnel to the UK.
TMR RECOMMENDS: For more culinary delights, why not continue south to Madrid? From here, you could catch a train home via Barcelona or fly directly back to the UK. Ask us for details and our choice of recommended hotels that we can book for you.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
ParisThe Saint Paul Rive Gauche is a family-run boutique hotel, located in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The building dates back to the 17th century and was once the home of Franciscan monks. The individually decorated bedrooms range from the traditional to the contemporary and there is also a cosy lounge area.
BordeauxThis boutique, contemporary style hotel is located in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Bordeaux. Each spacious bedroom has a private bathroom with bathrobes , as well as satellite TV, free Wi-Fi internet access and tea and coffee making facilities. Why not try some local Bordeaux wine in the hotel’s cosy bar?
San SebastianThe Astoria7 is themed around cinema and the San Sebastian Film Festival. Each room offers free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV’s and is dedicated to an actor or director who has visited the city. The stylish, sound-proofed rooms feature contemporary décor.
Upgrade your accommodation
ParisOccupying a central location just a short walk from the Place de la Corcorde and the Palais du Louvre, the Sofitel le Fabourg is a luxurious hotel with classically furnished guestrooms. The elegant bar with its pavement terrace is the perfect place to relax after a busy day of sightseeing.
San SebastianThis 5-star hotel is situated opposite the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, with views over the Bay of Biscay and Urumea River. Dating back to 1912, it is decorated in classic Belle Époque style with original columns, brocades and chandeliers. The elegant rooms have free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen satellite TV, dark wood furniture and air conditioning.
