Your stay — Inter-Hôtel du Phare
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The Property — Inter-Hôtel du Phare
A functional, no-frills 3-star just off the N215, the Inter-Hôtel du Phare pitches itself squarely at airport travellers and budget-conscious stopovers. The lobby is compact, tiled and businesslike — think key-card dispenser, plastic plant and a breakfast room that doubles as the bar after 8pm. No pool, no gym, no restaurant dinner service; what you get is clean, quiet, air-conditioned rooms, free parking and a 10-minute drive to Bordeaux airport. Best for a one-night layover or anyone who wants to sleep cheap and move on fast.
Chronicles of Merignac
Merignac started as a farming village on the Graves wine plains, but its fate changed in 1917 when the US Army built an airfield here for World War I bomber training. That strip became Bordeaux-Merignac Airport, now France's sixth-busiest, and the town sprawled into a postwar suburb of low-rise offices, car dealerships and chain hotels. The old centre has a 12th-century church and a weekly market, but the real identity is airport-adjacent logistics. Culturally, Merignac is a working-class commuter belt with no tourist sights of its own — visitors use it as a sleep-and-go for Bordeaux city (20 minutes by tram) or the Atlantic coast.
Best Time to Visit
Full Merignac guide →Best months
May and September: warm (22-26°C), low rain, and Bordeaux's pre- and post-summer shoulder keeps crowds thin. Early June also works before school holidays.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak for Bordeaux wine tourism, with château visits and the city's summer festival (Escale du Livre). Hotels across the metro area, including Merignac, push rates 30-50% above shoulder levels. August also busy with holiday traffic to the coast.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: hotel rates drop 20-40%, weather is still pleasant (15-20°C), and the city is calm. Wine harvest season (September-October) can spike some prices but less so in Merignac.
Weather & packing
July here is hot and dry (average high 27°C), but Atlantic breezes can suddenly drop temperatures by 10°C. Pack a light jacket or wrap regardless of the forecast — the airport-side location can feel windswept in evening.
Live City Briefing — Merignac
- Bordeaux tram line A extension to Merignac airport terminal is now fully open since 2024, with a stop at the Merignac Centre station — a 15-minute walk from the hotel but a 5-minute bus ride.
- The N215 road leading to the hotel is undergoing resurfacing work until September 2026, expect occasional lane closures and slower traffic from the ring road junction.
- Bordeaux's 'Cité du Vin' museum has launched a summer 'Wine & Street Food' terrace event on weekends in July and August, with no booking needed — worth a detour.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Inter-Hôtel du Phare, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Ask for a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the rear garden (south side), away from Rue des Châtaigniers. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still accessible by the lift, which serves all floors. The rear aspect overlooks the hotel’s private garden, offering quiet and a bit of green.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those at the front) because they’re closest to the street and the reception/lobby area. Also avoid rooms directly above the breakfast room (likely ground-floor rear) as chair scraping and kitchen clatter start before 7am.
Best views
Rooms at the rear (south side) look onto the hotel’s small garden and neighbouring low-rise houses. The front rooms face Rue des Châtaigniers, a typical suburban street with parked cars and a bus stop about 50 metres away — no real view worth mentioning.
Quietest floors
2nd and 3rd floors — high enough to buffer street noise, away from the breakfast room and lift motor sounds (roof machinery is on the 4th, so avoid that too).
🔊 Noise notes
Rue des Châtaigniers is a residential street but used as a cut-through during rush hours. Early morning deliveries to the hotel and nearby cafés (bread trucks, waste collection) can start around 6:30–7am on weekdays. The lift is audible from adjacent rooms — avoid rooms next to the lift shaft if possible.
Insider tips
1) Parking is limited; the hotel has a small on-site car park (first-come, first-served). If you’re driving, arrive before 5pm or ask about free street parking on parallel side roads (like Rue du Golf) which is unrestricted. 2) Request a room with a bath if you prefer a tub after a long day — this is a 3-star French hotel where bath/showers vary by room number; reception can assign one if available.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Inter-Hôtel du Phare
Free Wi-Fi throughout, sufficient for browsing and email; no speed tiers or login required.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand; physical newspapers not provided. Building is a converted 1960s townhouse with original stone staircase.
Check-in 14:00–22:00, early bag drop available free if room not ready. Late check-out (until 12:00) costs €25 if available, otherwise standard by 11:00.
Free luggage storage at reception during and after stay, no time limit.
Ground-floor room available and step-free main entrance from car park; lift to all floors. No roll-in shower or grab bars in standard rooms.
Free on-site unguarded car park (30 spaces, first-come). Nearest public car park: Parking Merignac Centre, 0.7 km, €8/24h. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.65 per person per night (city tax)
Deposit & card hold: Full stay prepaid at booking; a €50–€100 credit card hold for incidentals at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Maison Paroissiale Des Ardillos (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
- Church: Vieille Église Saint-Vincent (2.5 km · ~31 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Market Oriental — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Parc du Renard — 730 m · ~9 min walk
Côté Sciences, Air & Espace — 929 m · ~12 min walk
Le Pin Galant — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 498 m · ~6 min walk
Pharmacie de Mérignac — 588 m · ~7 min walk
Total — 688 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs for local cash; avoid airport or tourist bureau kiosks which give poor rates and charge high fees.
Most places take Visa/Mastercard contactless; Apple/Google Pay common; small boulangeries or markets may be cash-only.
Not expected; round up the bill for coffee or leave a couple of euros for good service; taxi drivers appreciate small change.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a café counter: about €1.20–1.50.
Bakery sandwich (e.g., jambon-beurre) and a drink: around €7–9.
Pizza or plat du jour in a local bistro: main course about €12–15.
Food trucks at the Merignac market on weekend mornings (midday) and kebab shops near Place Gambetta in central Merignac.
Intermarché, Lidl, and Leclerc are common in the area.
Carrefour hypermarket and occasional pop-up discount clothing stands at Merignac market.
Single bus ticket €1.70; day pass €5.10 (TBM network); from Bordeaux airport take bus no.1 (€1.70) to Merignac centre.
Buy fresh produce at Merignac market (Sundays) instead of supermarkets; picnic in Parc de Bourran with baguette and cheese from a boulangerie; fill a water bottle at public fountains (free).
Good to know — Merignac
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
MerignacFor European emergencies, dial 112. For non-urgent medical help, call 15 or go to the Centre Hospitalier de Bordeaux (place Amélie Raba-Léon, Bordeaux). The Mérignac police station is at 1 Rue de la Marne, phone +33 5 56 34 60 00.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Merignac, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Inter-Hôtel du Phare
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 498 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de Mérignac — 588 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (stop: Aéroport) → Hôtel Balladins (stop: Mérignac Centre)
💡 Buy a ticket from the machine at the stop or use the TBM app. The bus runs direct along Avenue de la Marne; get off at Mérignac Centre, then it's a 5-minute walk.
Bordeaux-Saint-Jean train station (via city centre) → Hôtel Balladins (stop: Mérignac Centre)
💡 You can't take the tram directly from the airport—take bus 1 to the city centre, then transfer at Porte de Bourgogne. The Mérignac Centre stop is a 5-minute walk south from the hotel.
Bordeaux-Saint-Jean station → Mérignac-Arlac station
💡 This is the fastest rail option but Mérignac-Arlac station is 2 km from the hotel; you'll need a bus or taxi from there. Only worth it if you're already at Saint-Jean—otherwise stick to bus or tram.
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) → Hôtel Balladins, Mérignac
💡 Pre-book a fixed-price taxi online to avoid surge tariffs. The rank is outside arrivals; always agree a fare or use a meter.
About Merignac
Wikipedia ↗
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (French: Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac) (IATA: BOD, ICAO: LFBD) is an international airport of Bordeaux, in southwestern France. It is situated in the commune of Mérignac, 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Bordeaux, within the département of the Gironde. It mainly features flights to ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
Ask for a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing the rear garden (south side), away from Rue des Châtaigniers. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still accessible by the lift, which serves all floors. The rear aspect overlooks the hotel’s private garden, offering quiet and a bit of green.
Which rooms should I avoid at Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those at the front) because they’re closest to the street and the reception/lobby area. Also avoid rooms directly above the breakfast room (likely ground-floor rear) as chair scraping and kitchen clatter start before 7am.
Is Inter-Hôtel du Phare noisy?
Rue des Châtaigniers is a residential street but used as a cut-through during rush hours. Early morning deliveries to the hotel and nearby cafés (bread trucks, waste collection) can start around 6:30–7am on weekdays. The lift is audible from adjacent rooms — avoid rooms next to the lift shaft if possible.
Which rooms have the best views at Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
Rooms at the rear (south side) look onto the hotel’s small garden and neighbouring low-rise houses. The front rooms face Rue des Châtaigniers, a typical suburban street with parked cars and a bus stop about 50 metres away — no real view worth mentioning.
What are insider tips for staying at Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
1) Parking is limited; the hotel has a small on-site car park (first-come, first-served). If you’re driving, arrive before 5pm or ask about free street parking on parallel side roads (like Rue du Golf) which is unrestricted. 2) Request a room with a bath if you prefer a tub after a long day — this is a 3-star French hotel where bath/showers vary by room number; reception can assign one if available.
What time is check-in at Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
Check-in at Inter-Hôtel du Phare is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Inter-Hôtel du Phare have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, sufficient for browsing and email; no speed tiers or login required.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
€1.65 per person per night (city tax)
Where can I eat cheaply near Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
Bakery sandwich (e.g., jambon-beurre) and a drink: around €7–9.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Inter-Hôtel du Phare?
Single bus ticket €1.70; day pass €5.10 (TBM network); from Bordeaux airport take bus no.1 (€1.70) to Merignac centre.
When is the best time to visit Merignac?
May and September: warm (22-26°C), low rain, and Bordeaux's pre- and post-summer shoulder keeps crowds thin. Early June also works before school holidays.
Top Attractions in Merignac
💡 Go on Saturday mornings when the fishmonger brings in oysters from Arcachon Bay. Get there before 10am for the best selection.
💡 Visitors often miss the restored 14th-century fresco behind the altar. Ask the caretaker to switch on the small spotlights if the church is open but dim.
💡 The best view of the ceramic murals is from the sports field side, which is accessible via the footpath off Rue Georges Mandel.
💡 Bring bread for the ducks and swans on the lake. The best light for photography is early morning or late afternoon in spring.
💡 Visit just before closing time (17:30) when the keepers do the round with extra feed – the deer and goats will be most active.