Last Updated on 25/05/2020 by secretmoona

There is no doubt that the wine capital of France is a beautiful city. With so many historical sites, good food, world famous wine and some of the best beaches in Europe, a trip in Bordeaux is perfect for all types of travellers. To make the most of the wine region, the best way is to make Bordeaux your base. Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre is the perfect hotel for that purpose. 

First impressions

My cousin and I decided to spend a long girly weekend in Bordeaux at the beginning of the year. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre. The choice we made was purely based on the location, as it was close to the train station. We wanted a location that was both handy for myself and my cousin, as I flew to Bordeaux from London whereas she took the TGV from Paris. 

I arrived first so I went straight to the hotel. The lobby was nice, well decorated and spacious. There was a lot of seating for guests. Since I was early, I decided to drop off my bag and went to explore the surroundings. 

The room at Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre

I loved how well our deluxe twin room was furnished in a clean and modern style. It was big enough for the two of us and had extra space for sitting and relaxing. Opposite the beds was a spacious desk with an ergonomic chair as well as a chair with a footstool. On the desk was a variety of hot drink options. 

The beds were very comfortable which helped us have a good night’s sleep. We needed that after long days of sightseeing. 

The bathroom was also nice, big and had a rainfall shower head. The usual toiletries were available i.e. soap, body wash, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner etc. On top of that there was a list of items you could request from the reception in case you had forgotten to bring in your own for example toothbrush or disposable razor!

The facilities

The hotel has an on-site restaurant and a fitness centre which was relatively good size. We had not ventured in the gym as our daily sightseeing was enough to level up our daily steps. 

Breakfast and Dining 

The restaurant’s decor was beautiful with lots of hanging lamps. At the back of the decorated wall, there was a large collection of wine bottles  (as you would expect from a wine region). The bar looked cozy too. 

Breakfast is served in the restaurant (if you had that included in your stay). There was a nice selection with a choice of a hot or cold buffet.  

On our second night, we had dinner at Babette. We had initially planned to eat at La Boca Food Court, which is next door to the hotel, but couldn’t find a place to sit. Babette proved to be a pleasant surprise. We had L’Ossau Iraty (cheese soufflé) and Joue de Boeuf (braised beef cheeks). Both were delicious and well presented. The service was quick and attentive. 

Staff and service

We met with very nice, professional and friendly stuff during our stay. From the reception to the breakfast and dining staff, everyone was friendly and made us feel welcome. 

I had lost a precious ring and the staff helped me find it, which I really appreciated. 

Hotel details

The 166 rooms Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre which opened in 2018 was the first Garden Inn in France. 

The check-in time is from 15:00 and the check-out time is before 12:00.

The price per night varies depending on the time of year, season and events happening in and around Bordeaux. That being said, if you regularly check Booking.com, you can grab yourself a pretty decent price here (we paid around £80 per night) 

Address: 17 allée de Rio, Bordeaux, 33800, FR

Location

Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre is located on the east side of Bordeaux near Saint Jean station. Perfect if you are coming from Paris or any other cities by train.

The closest airport to the hotel is Mérignac Airport. You can reach the hotel in less than 25 minutes by taxi or 45 minutes with the airport shuttle.  

The area around the hotel is under development therefore most of the buildings are new and modern. The area appealed to us thanks to the river banks.  

Final thoughts

Our stay at Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre was excellent. Although the hotel is not located in the old district close to the main attractions, it was perfect for us and we liked it. It’s a quick walk to the main attractions and perfect if you would like to stay near the station. 

Overall, I appreciated everything about the hotel from the decoration and the friendly staff to the location, with stunning riverside views. I would highly recommend it.

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