Discover France - October 2025
Join us for a curated experience in France with the Meritage team,
we know just what you should do & this is the perfect time to do it!
Meet us in France - then, let us guide the way…
Acclimate in Paris (October 22, mercredi)
You will arrive this morning in Paris! With flight schedule from MSP, you will leave the evening before and sleep on the plane. Then, by about 8:00h you will be departing your plane and queueing at customs. Once you have cleared your entrance to France you will follow the next steps pre-planned for you and acclimate to Europe in the City of Lights.
After you arrival - we know just what you should do. It will include a fantastic day spent in Paris with an itinerary created for you and a walking path and orientation to the city for you to follow. Pro Tip: you must “walk-off” the flight to get the most out of the rest of your travels - trust us. You are now in good hands. All of the transportation - including your train from Paris to Bordeaux is handled for you. And, if there are any issues - from strikes to cancellations - we have got you. There is a team in US and in France to assist as necessary. This is part of what we do… we guide you into France. Paris is but a gateway.
Travel to Bordeaux (Oct 23 - Thursday)
By 9:00h you will be en route to Bordeaux via train. Your seats will be assigned and you can have your coffee on the train, we will meet you at Gare Saint-Jean. From there, we take your luggage and ease into Bordeaux. We’ll have a quick lunch at a Bouillon where you will get to know your hosts a bit before we dive in and take the tram to Le Cité du Vin to explore this adventureland for adults and get a primer on wine and Bordeaux’s history with it. We’ll enjoy a glass of wine mid-day with a view over the crescent harbor - bienvenue à Bordeaux!
From there, we’ll take an extended walk, to leave the fatigue of travel behind us, enjoy dinner together in the heart of Bordeaux with great wine and revelry to match.
Immerse in Bordeaux (Oct 24 - Friday)
We wake for further exploration of the city of Bordeaux: Meet up with Nadia, our French guide at 10:00h and take the tram to the Marché, were folks can buy some small food goods or even some fresh flowers for their rooms. We’ll have lunch at a local’s favorite next to the Marché, and folks can decide how they would like to spend thier afternoon.
After lunch, we will take a walk through this historic city and see a few things along the way;
We will hit up a wine bar or two,
Possibly a carousel, and a shop or two,
If weather isn’t cooperating or the desire is there, musée and history are all around us.
After your taste of the city of Bordeaux, by early evening it is time to head out to your chateau in the countryside. Just a few kilometers from Saint-Émilion, and nestled up next to the Dordogne River, surrounded by vineyards, this “little castle” offers modernized suites, all with their own bathrooms, with common areas and a garden for all to share. Exclusive to Maison Meritage guests, all persons on premise will be amongst us.
This evening of transition for our guests is also an evening of cultural immersion for our team. This experience can be a supplement for your trip (it requires an additional night in Bordeaux Centre Ville) as this is an evening of Bordeaux night life and when the Meritage Team is Pas Perdu. Part of our staff education and immersion program.
Immerse in the Countryside (Oct 25 - Saturday)
Wake to a fresh French breakfast, available to you daily to begin your day right, as most days we will begin at 11:00h, so your mornings are yours for reading, walking, cycling, sleeping, gardening or learning from Natalie & Olivier, our hosts at our “petit château” - this little gem is exclusive for our stay to Maison Meritage guests and is tucked into the countryside, is a mere 10 minutes from Saint-Émilion.
This day is one of rest & relaxation allows you to settle into your sanctuary for the trip, and enjoy your surroundings. Late lazy morning, or a walk or bike through the countryside.
We have lunch at a hidden gem of a restaurants, nestled on a hillside overlooking the vineyards. This is sure to be one of your favorite meals of the trip, trust us. It’s the cuisine and wine list that make it one of the most remarkable places in all of France, not just its setting. After lunch we will walk to our very first winery visit and tasting.
That evening, we have dinner with our hosts & play with wine. We will engage in blending, exploring our own sensory perceptions of wine, and even play a game or two.
Marché Day (Oct 26 - Sunday)
We travel to Libourne for the Marché! We will shop and nosh and generally enjoy a true marché experience.
That evening, we will prepare a meal together and our Meritage team will be highlighting some of the ingredients, inspirations and skills that have acquired so far - these trips are educational and interactive.
Immerse in History & Wine (Oct 27 - Monday)
We’ll venture early into Saint-Émilion to walk around this UNESCO Heritage Site; explore, shop, or simply sit and take it all in. Enjoy a fabulous lunch at an award winning and historic restaurant, then visit a wine shop for a tasting with some trusted educators on the area, and even *curate your own selections to ship home for your personal cellar, if you choose. That early evening dining with be in Saint-Émilion in on the agenda, with many options available, even an optional Michelin* starred restaurant addition.
Visit the Atlantic Coast (Oct 28 - Tuesday)
If weather is permitting, we may have the option to a trip the Arcachon & to eat oysters from the bay, hike the dune du pilat, ride electric bikes through a fantastic public park, visit the quaint village. If weather is broody, we’ll have more shopping and less hiking. Spa treatments, yoga, detox and work on art projects? We’ve got your rainy days covered too. No matter the outcome, we will eat and drink well, that you can be assured. We’ll enjoy a precise Michelin-level experience for lunch - the wisest time of day for this type of dining. Our boots on the ground in France are knowledgeable and connected and will set us up with just the right one..
Château Day (Oct 29 - Wednesday)
Nadia prepares a gourmet lunch for us to enjoy while we traipse through the grounds of a Chateau along the Dordogne River. Want to know a thing or two about French history? Interested in the gardens? The revolution? This is our days with history by our side.
This can also be a day of detox and reflection. Dependent upon the group dynamic established. We also have a health-focused day wherein we bring in private yoga instruction. Art workshops, journaling, hiking, biking, exploring. This day can also be what you would like us to personalize for you. A menu of options is presented at the time of booking.
Vineyard Visit & Formal Tasting (Oct 30 - Thursday)
We begin our day with a wine tasting at 10:30h, just like the professionals do. We will spend a day in the vineyard, learning, touring, tasting. These visits are days of legend, we just need to determine your vibe. This also being our final day of the trip, we complete your experience with a final Michelin-level dining experience. A bucket-list kind of day to be sure.
Return to Paris - for Halloween! (Oct 31 - Friday)
It’s back to Paris we go - departing at 10:00am for Bordeaux to take a train to the city of lights for the night of the dead. We’ll check into a smart hotel for this evening (and if you prefer to extend your time in Paris, we can arrange that in the same hotel or another from a selection of great options we know and love.*)
Paris celebrates Halloween with many creative costumes and we make the most of the revelry exploring the Latin Quarter & going to live jazz clubs.* Yes, you can celebrate Halloween in a jazz club in Paris. You can even dance or sing. Or, simply enjoy some of the best people-watching of your life. You just manifested that.
Any extended stay in Paris can be capped by a boat down the Seine to glide by the Tour de Eiffel, a late afternoon visit to the Louvre, a solid bistro close to your hotel, or your own adventure. We are happy to offer some advisement, just let us know.
Pro Tip: The non-stop planes back to USA from Delta depart at 10:10h, so you will need to spend at least one night in Paris… but, that’s not the last night for you necessarily.
*Any item with an asterisks is an optional item and is a supplement to your trip, or an expense you will pay independent of your booking with us.
Breakfast is included at your residence daily, as are base prix fixe prices of most meals.
Additional activity menu will be made available upon your confirmation.Actual schedules are subject to change, based upon confirmation process and individual guest itineraries.
Vineyard facing room: $5450 for Fall Trip 2025 per person, all inclusive (double occupancy), for solo travel $7250, all-inclusive.
River facing suite: $6250 for Spring Trip 2025, per person, all-inclusive (double occupancy), for solo travel $7750, all-inclusive.
Suggested flight options for the itinerary will be given as part of your confirmation process. *Airfare is not included with the package. Upon recent search this flight is generally about $1000-$1400, main cabin, roundtrip, non-stop, with Delta.
Do not book airfare until you have been confirmed.
Once you are confirmed, much greater detail will be sent to assist in arranging your travels to begin your journey with us.
For additonal information & payment process, please review our Frequently Asked Questions.
Pro Tip: Since direct flights from MSP arrive so early, we always plan for a day in Paris before you join us in Bordeaux. For this trip, that means departing for France on Monday, October 21, arriving in Paris on Tuesday, October 22 spending the day beating jet lag and enjoying Paris. We have the perfect itinerary and arrival plan.
We meet you at your train to Bordeaux at approximately 11:00h on Thursday, October 23 and whisk you away from there…