City Apartments and Aparthotels in Central Bordeaux

Yndo Hôtel occupies a 19th-century private mansion in the historic heart of Bordeaux, which makes the old town easy to explore on foot. Its fragrant garden and shaded terrace offer a calm place to sit in summer. Rooms are individually decorated with designer furniture, air-conditioned, and come with a balcony and a seating area, useful extra space for a family. It is an intimate five-star rather than a large resort, and more than 500 reviews give it an outstanding 9.3.

Villa Erizio Aparthotel combines the space of an apartment with hotel services, and I would point families planning a longer stay in Bordeaux towards it. Every air-conditioned unit has a kitchenette, a washing machine and a private bathroom, which makes travelling with children much easier. Many have a terrace overlooking the garden or the city. Housekeeping is daily, WiFi is free, and the Musée d'Aquitaine and the cathedral are within walking distance.

The apartments at the Hôtel Majestic are the reason families should look at it: more space than a standard room, in the historic district of Bordeaux, steps from the Grand Théâtre and the Esplanade des Quinconces. Rooms and apartments are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, and breakfast can be served in the room, easy with young children. The front desk is staffed 24 hours and pets are accepted. There is no restaurant, but nearby dining options are plentiful.

Babysitting on request is the detail that makes the InterContinental Bordeaux work for parents: it frees an evening for one of the hotel's gourmet restaurants or a drink on the rooftop, with its views over the city. The 1,000 m² spa is a draw in its own right, and breakfast can be a buffet or served in the room. The location, opposite the Grand Théâtre, puts the historic centre on the doorstep. Pets are welcome too.

An apartment layout gives families room to spread out in central Bordeaux, and Adagio Centre Gambetta pairs it with a fitness centre and a spa area with a sauna for the adults. The Gambetta tram stop is close by, which makes getting around with children simple without a car. Pets are welcome too, so the family dog can come along on a city break, and free Wi-Fi covers the whole stay.

Hôtel de Tourny is a boutique hotel in an 18th-century mansion in Bordeaux's historic district, and I would book it for families with older children who enjoy a stylish city break on foot. Rooms are air-conditioned, with a design decor, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. The patio gives everyone a calm spot after sightseeing, and the concierge service can help plan days out. Families needing a pool or play area should look elsewhere.

Chez Camille works well for families because each unit has a fully equipped kitchen with a washing machine and a dishwasher, which takes the pressure off a longer stay in Bordeaux. Rooms are air-conditioned, a real help on hot summer nights with children. The Great Bell is less than 1 km away, so the old town is easy to reach on foot. There is no pool or restaurant, but the terrace with city views gives everyone a place to sit at the end of the day.

Marty Hotel Bordeaux sits between the business district and the historic centre, with a tram stop two minutes away. Families can reach the main pedestrian shopping street, restaurants and theatres within about five minutes on foot, which makes short walks with children easy. Rooms are fully equipped with private bathrooms and free WiFi, and a buffet breakfast is served each morning in a dedicated room. Parking is available and pets are accepted. More than 1,800 reviews give it 8.6.

Montempô Appart'Hôtel Bordeaux Centre - Bassins à flot offers soundproofed apartments with free WiFi and modern amenities, and I find the format practical for families. Each unit has a fully equipped kitchenette, a private bathroom and a TV. A continental buffet breakfast is served, the front desk is open 24 hours, and luggage storage and bicycle parking are provided. It is a simple, functional base rather than a full-service hotel.