Experience Joie de Vivre

Join us for a curated experience like no other. Shorten your Winter and return in time for Easter & Spring!

Meet us in France - then, let us guide the way.

Acclimate in Paris (Avril 2, 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 (Avril 3, jeudi)
We will meet your train at Gare Saint-Jean, take your luggage for further handling and transport, so you ease into Bordeaux. We’ll enjoy a welcome lunch & then visit Le Cité du Vin for a tour and educational primeur on wine and explore this adventure-land for adults. Enjoy a glass of wine mid-day with a view over the crescent harbor - bienvenue à Bordeaux!

After your taste of the city of Bordeaux, it is time to refresh at your residence in Bordeaux, then join us for sunset at the Place de la Bourse and experience Le Miroir.

Dinner will be incredible, at a gem you would have never found on your own, trust us - this is the point behind this type of travel.

Immerse in Bordeaux (Avril 4, vendredi)
We wake for breakfast then take the tram to the Place des Quinconces and the center of old Bordeaux. From there we laugh, learn & fall in love with the city of Bordeaux. We will lunch all over the place, together or as couples or small groups. Whomever is on the tour dictates the arrangements as we progress, as each tour is developed for each chambre.

By 15:00h we will be on our way back to Place des Quinconces:

  1. We can set you up with walking tour instructions and/or a podcast for you to adventure into Bordeaux on your own. Some folks prefer it.

  2. Adventure through the city together with the Meritage Team; we will hit up a wine bar or two, a carousel, a shop or two, and absorb the history and uniqueness of this very special place.

We will meet up again at Desta’s apartment at 18:30h for an aperitif with a view to die for and gather ourselves for our departure to the chateau in the countryside for a quiet night for your first evening on premise - with dinner by our hosts: Natalie & Olivier.

Building Memories in Bordeaux (Avril 5, samedi)
Just a few kilometers from Saint-Émilion, and nestled up next to the Dordogne River and surrounded by vineyards (of course), we will have nestled into our “little castle” for our stay, exclusive to Maison Meritage, all persons on premise will be amongst us. The place offers modernized suites, all with their own bathrooms, with common areas and a garden for all to share. Our residence for the remainder of the trip, we will settle in and relax.

Your first morning at the chateau will be a late, restful morning, surrounded by the beauty of the Dordogne River Valley. Go for a morning walk, sleep in, or enjoy a supplement of yoga or water color painting or guided writing with a view of the gardens. All are available.

That afternoon, we have a proper extended 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.

From lunch, we will walk a historic Roman wall to a family-owned winery for a private tasting & tour. We will make our way back to our chateau, likely in need of a nap.

That evening, we will then gather in our residence, so we can settle in and enjoy each other’s company, have some light nosh and relax. Desta will offer a seminar about the wine from the day, paired with Nadia and a cheese tasting. Cards, anyone? If you are looking for nightlife, we can arrange that too - this is the perfect night for it.*

Marché Day (Avril 6, dimache)
We travel to Libourne for the Marché! We will shop and nosh and generally enjoy a true marché experience. 10:00h-13:00h+

When we return, we will take our oysters from lunch and create a souvenir, lounge in our chateau and relax.

At 17:00h, JR, the Spirit Director of Meritage, will be offering a cocktail demonstration from his finds at the marché to commence the evening gathering.

That evening, we prepare a meal together from the Marché with the company of Desta and the visiting Meritage team - Nadia & Lee will lead a family-style dinner for a memorable evening when some local friends are likely to join us, for a truly French experience; the 4+ hour meal.

Saint-Émilion (Avril 7, lundi)
We’ll venture to 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 evening the dining options are many, and we have a curated list of selections that will take your breath away. Choose to dine separately, or as a group. *All levels of cuisine are possible. Choose to dine at the chateau, choose to have a Michelin-level experience, or a casual nosh. This is part of the personalization of the experience.

Arcachon or Chateau Day (Avril 8, mardi)
We will depart immediately after petit-déjeuner for the Atlantic Coast, to take in the waters and the Dune du Pilat. Take a dip in the Atlantic, bike through the Sea Pines or challenge yourself with a hike up the Dune - enjoy the town with a whole selection of activities and a free day to explore. We will enjoy goûté together (or separately, if you prefer) at a restaurant sure to impress, as is one of the most stunning places in France. The cuisine is superb, and this jewel is celebrated by locals and the international jet-set alike. We will head back to the chateau for a leisurely evening after an active day at the beach. *An overnight supplement is possible, to be determined at booking.

In the case of inclement weather, we will shift to Chateau Day

The Dordodgne Valley is famous for its chateaux - we will spend an afternoon at a well curated piece of history with gardens to match. Nadia will prepare a gourmet lunch that we will enjoy on premise, surrounded by the beauty and history - there will be stories to tell. That evening, you can have a chocolate class with Natalie, read a book and catch a breath, and begin to think about and prepare for your travels the following day.

Le Pièce de Résistance (Avril 9, mercredi)
This is a big day of the trip, and we want to be sure you leave with a memorable experience. Why not a Wednesday?
You choose which suits you:

  • Mystical winery visit with a gourmet lunch, and an evening of R&R at your petit chateau with a group dinner

  • Formal Tasting at a Grand Cru estate with a trip out to the vineyard & Michelin-starred restaurant experience

  • Be driven out to the Médoc and visit a premier chateau in Margaux, Saint-Julien or Paulliac

    • Prix Fixe Lunch in a quaint village restaurant, with some serious by the glass options

    • *Sidecar ride of motorcycle option available. (supplement)

Return to Paris (Avril 10, jeudi)
Travel day back to Paris - we will depart at 10:00am for Bordeaux, enjoy a quick lunch before we take the train back to Paris. That night, explore Mont Martre with us as we guide you through one of the most historic neighborhoods of Paris for dinner. We’ll conclude the trip together with a cocktail and enjoy the Latin Quarter for some jazz. We will bid you adieu and bonne nuit !

Return home or journey on from here… (Avril 11, vendredi)
The trip with us is over and you are waking in a hotel with a plan (this is part of your trip and determined at booking). The non-stop flight schedule back to MSP departs about 15:30h, so if this is the end of this trip to Europe for you, you will have time for a quick petit déjuener before you make your way to CDG. We can help guide folks with suggestions for more time in Paris, or where you are headed next. From there, it’s up to you.

Vineyard facing room: $4950 for Spring Trip 2025, per person, all-inclusive (double occupancy), for solo travel $6950, all-inclusive.

River facing suite: $5950 for Spring Trip 2025, per person, all-inclusive (double occupancy), for solo travel $7950, all-inclusive.

What is included:

  • Overnight accommodations, daily

  • Breakfast, daily

  • Dinner with your hosts, daily (unless a supplement or independent accommodations have been requested)

  • Designated activities & gatherings (unless a supplement has been requested)

  • Transportation, daily

What is not included:

  • Gratuities - each staff member will have a “virtual tip jar”

  • Money Exchange - we can help you find a solid Bureau de Change for personal purchases. Though we recommend simple use of ATM’s. And, you can elect to just have us handle and record your “miscellaneous” and add it to the final invoice at the end of the trip.

  • Miscellaneous stops chosen along the way. The 5 cafes stops you may want to make while we stroll through the streets of France. Though, as mentioned, you can choose to have us just “keep the tab open” for you so you don’t have a worry about it at all.

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 currently about $1000-$1400, main cabin, roundtrip, non-stop, with Delta.

  • Once you are confirmed, much greater detail will be collected and sent to begin your journey with us.

  • Additional activity menu will be made available upon your confirmation.

  • Pro Tip Arrival: Since direct flights from MSP arrive so early (DL 152), we arrange for you to spend a day in Paris before you join us in Bordeaux. You can always add more time in Paris at the conclusion of the trip, or use your return to Paris as your jumping off point for further travels. These details are determined at the time of booking.

  • Schedules are subject to change, based upon conditions. Many options have been vetted, so any changes are augmentations or necessary responses.

  • Pro Tip Departure: The non-stop planes back to USA from Delta depart about 10:30h (DL 153), so you will need to spend at least one night in Paris… but, that’s not the last night for you necessarily. We encourage folks to extend their travels if they are able. We are happy to offer some help. Ask us.

  • 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.