This was a great holiday, excellently led by Anne-Marie. She gave information on the tour in a meeting room before dinners and at the end of the holiday invited comments on the hotel and tour. We were 23 of which 9 guys and we all got on very well.
The Domaine de Fompeyre hotel is modern in beautiful gardens with a view of the Cathedral spire about 10 minutes from the small town of Bazas: turn left and keep walking straight ahead ignoring the first turn to the right; the road curves round at the bottom of the valley reaching crossroads: go straight ahead climbing Rue St Martin leading to the town centre with the tourist office on the right. The cafe St Jean on the left is great for coffee/tea and cake and also does meals. The cafe is on the corner of Rue Fondespan: at the end is the restaurant Indigo which was very good but I got medium-rare steak instead of medium. The Post Office is the other side of the main road, the Bar Bazas (popular with young people) is down the road on the right and the Bar Sport is up the road on the left opposite the Carrefour mini market.
The hotel staff were friendly and efficient speaking very good English. The food was good though not always "gourmet". Cooked eggs are available on demand at breakfast, you make your own toast. My room was comfortable and kept very clean. I had a small balcony overlooking the entrance. French TV and free WiFi. I checked my bar bill on the first night and it was spot on so I did not check again until the final bill. It included someone else's €5 water which they deleted without question. They do not get signatures on orders.
Mark's tour of Bazas was very interesting (but do not believe his comments on the bars!), his wife Veronica did the hotel night shift. The hotel's Day 1 (€15) and Day 4 (€25) lunches were very good. The waiters worked very hard but the restaurant was sometimes understaffed.
The local guide in Bordeaux (also for St Emilion) was very good. An early coffee (no comment on canneles!) and later oysters and white wine and chocs and red wine went down very well.
The optional Sauternes wine tasting at Chateaux de Gravas was great and the carafe/bottle in the shape of Chanel perfume is striking. The Cazeneuve (Newcastle) tour was very interesting especially if you like history.
The St Emilion Chateau Ferrand tour was good although since they did not bother to open the bottles to breathe, you had to be a fan of tannin and like dry, rough red wine! Some had a gourmet lunch at the Hostellerie de Pleasance with views of the town. We chose Les Giron'dines with a gorgeous terrace overlooking the town.
I was told the hotel charged €2 to stamp and post cards. You can usually get the €1 Europe stamp where you buy cards. The coaches had seat belts and enough window seats for all. The guide's VOX intercom system for walking tours was very good. A great trip.
**WARNING** the bar closes at midnight
Paul
PS I was in bed by 10 every night
