5* Bordeaux Break just £499 per person

Day One

• Upon arrival in Bordeaux, check into the 5* Intercontinental Bordeaux; you will be automatically upgraded free of charge from a Superior Room to Deluxe grade or higher
• The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free for you to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Alternatively you may prefer to wander across Bordeaux, exploring the excellent range of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants which it has to offer!
• In your travel pack will be a comprehensive list of recommended restaurants, and we would be pleased to reserve a table at any of these for you if required. Alternatively, to start your trip off in style, we are happy to offer meal options for a supplement (see below).

Day Two

• In the morning, you will have tickets provided for entrance to La Cité du Vin: ‘the wine theme park’; the tour here includes 20 different themed areas to take you on a sensory journey to discover all about wine with an electronic guide and access to the ‘Belvedere’ with panoramic views of Bordeaux where you can taste Bordeaux wines if desired (payable locally).
• After some free time for lunch in the city centre, you will be met by an English speaking driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout an afternoon discovery of Saint-Emilion; your tour will be as part of a small group of up to eight people.
• Merlot is the predominant grape variety in Saint-Emilion and you will firstly enjoy a tour as at the guests of a family-run Château to gain an understanding of the work, chemistry and technical complexity involved in the wine-making process. At the end of the tour, you will learn the steps of a proper tasting and will educate your nose in order to identify the wines’ aromas – learning to taste like a pro! At the end of the visit, you will enjoy two tastings of the estate’s wines.
• You will then be taken to a Cru Classé Château, for a full tour of the estate and cellars, followed by an aperitif in a tasting room accompanied by local meats and cheeses.
• The day will conclude with a guided tour of the beautiful village of Saint-Emilion, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you will undoubtedly be charmed by the pretty cobbled streets and historical features.
• You will be dropped back in Bordeaux at the end of the day, in time to relax and enjoy the evening.

Day Three

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and, at your own pace, commence your return journey.

The total price of this special offer, based on 2 people sharing a double or twin room at 5* Intercontinental Bordeaux is £499 (GBP) per person and includes 2 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation in a Deluxe room or higher, entrance to the Cité du Vin, a half day guided and transported tour, tours and tastings at 2 Châteaux with a tasting class and aperitif, and a guided tour of Saint-Emilion.

We would like to offer the following optional meal upgrades for your first evening:

(a) Enjoy a four course dinner accompanied by a selection of fine wines, water and coffee at La Tupina, a very special authentic restaurant, which was rated the second best brasserie in the world by the New York Times. Chef Jean Pierre Xiradakis’ typical south western cuisine has been renowned for decades – £87 per person

(b) Newly opened and fronted by none other than world-famous celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay, enjoy a splendid six course dinner in the opulent dining room of the hotel’s double Michelin-starred restaurant in the evening. Drinks have not been included as part of the package and can be ordered directly with the sommelier. Please note that this restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and shall be substituted with a suitable alternative – £194 per person

Valid for travel mid-week and weekends throughout August 2017.