The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Bordeaux

For a weekend away with vintage pedigree, you couldn’t do better than to sample Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, home to some of the finest wineries in the world. If it sounds expensive, it needn’t be – in fact, some of the most attractive places to stay are among the city’s most affordable. And if you quiz the sommeliers you’re sure to get a glass of class at a nice price.

Opened ahead of peak wine picking season in the region and boasting a unique industrial style, the hotel – part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton – features a large bar topped with an avalanche of chandeliers and is decorated in a blend of classical wood, steel and concrete features interspersed with bright colours and multi-textured fabrics. With sixty-one stripped-back guest rooms, many with terraces and balconies, the Marty Hotel Bordeaux provides the perfect cosy atmosphere for guests to relax and unwind amongst the stocked bookcases and vintage furniture.

Mama knows best. Here you’ll be perfectly positioned for shopping, exploring the medieval districts of Saint-Paul and Saint-Pierre and getting all misted up at the city’s famous reflecting pool – a tram stop is a few steps away. Rooms at this funky, playful, Philippe Starck-designed hotel, set in a former industrial complex, are available in five sizes, from a small double to a two-bedroom family suite with beds as comfortable as clouds. Expect excellent-quality linen, free wifi, a TV with free movies and a workspace. Completing the scene: a buzzy rooftop bar and upbeat restaurant, giving you little reason to head out.

Take an old stone townhouse in the heart of Bordeaux with wooden floors and large windows, add some elegant furnishings with a modern twist, and you have the intimate three-bedroomed L’Escapade Bordelaise. Doors and stairs have been salvaged from derelict barns, and objets from Africa and India are real head-turners. All this, plus it’s a superb location for visiting museums, ancient churches and the old city along the river, as well as excellent shops and restaurants. You get free wifi and continental breakfast, and you can even bring your (small) dog. There’s paid parking nearby, too.

Here to explore the wines of the Bordeaux region? This ultra-modern hotel is perfectly placed for the fantastical Cité du Vin wine centre. The hotel is quite a conversation piece, dramatically clad in pale Corian, its facade angled like a giant hacked chunk of ice, with views over the river Garonne. Next to the tram line, the hotel is convenient for the mainline station and transport to the airport. Spacious rooms have groovy midcentury furnishings, and those on the top floor have superb views. There’s free wifi, and parking on site. Check what’s happening at the nearby World War II submarine base, now a fascinating cultural centre.

The four-star Le Burdigala – the ancient name for Bordeaux – is a boutique hotel that emanates urban-chic style, just a two-minute walk from the tram stop at Mériadeck shopping centre in the heart of things. Bedrooms are generously curtained, in warm champagne tones, with plush, boxy sofas. In addition to the 68 rooms and suites, seven duplex suites are perfect for families, while providing every comfort and convenience a business traveller might need. Sample local wines in the Bacchus Bar before dinner at La Table de Burdigala, where the Bordeaux-centric cuisine is both faultless and delicious.

The apartments in this venerable stone residence represent excellent value, with their marshmallow-soft beds and luxurious bathrooms, fully equipped kitchenettes and seating areas, including a desk. Richly patterned wallpaper lends an antique feel. A couple of them come with a patio or balcony, and breakfast is available. The location is perfect whether you’re passing through – it’s within easy walking distance of the mainline station, Gare Saint-Jean – or spending a few days in Bordeaux. It’s close to the tramline, and underground parking is available, too.

You’re right in the midst of exciting places to visit when you stay here, a hop and a skip from the Bordeaux Tourist Office and the Wine School, on the grand Esplanade des Quinconces. What was formerly a coaching inn has been revamped in contemporary style – the hotel is a peaceful retreat of comfortable, no-frills urban decor, all the way from cosy classic doubles up to spacious suites, overlooking the city rooftops. Breakfast and tea can be taken on the patio. In the bar, your glass of wine comes with an iPad telling you all about the vintage – settle in, read and digest.

Step back in time in these elegant rooms, occupying a former 18th-century private residence in the historic Saint-Seurin district. King-size beds, luxurious marble bathrooms and organic breakfasts in the conservatory overlooking the garden all come together to create a unique and luxurious experience. Staying here places you close to the lively Golden Triangle area, as well as the vast sheet of the Miroir d’Eau – the world’s largest reflecting pool, well known from travel programmes on TV. To get around, hop on a handy tram or take advantage of Bordeaux’s bike-sharing scheme to explore markets, grand squares and churches. Whatever you do, don’t miss the crypt at the Basilica of Saint-Seurin.

Looking for a unique stay in Bordeaux? Check out our pick of the best boutique hotels in Bordeaux, bookable on Culture Trip.