Crossing over to Calais the day / afternoon / evening before…. And a bit about security

[Sly]

One possible tip for the future.

If time permits, I try to go over to France mid-afternoon and stay somewhere within half an hour of Calais. Similarly, for my return, I try to spend my last night within say thirty minutes of Calais, too.

Why?

A. Doing it for the outward journey, saves time. Not least, it saves an hour due to the time difference between the UK and France. I can then kick off the first day of my holiday proper in France, having saved the time I would otherwise have lost by crossing over that morning.

B. The crossings from the UK to France in the mid-afternoon and those from France to the UK in the morning are less busy.

Taking you up on that idea mate. Looking to book somewhere safe in France after arriving in Calais next Wednesday evening so I can start the trek South to Switzerland on Thursday and Friday.

=======

I have started you a fresh thread.

Richard

 

[Wapping]

Looking to book somewhere safe in France after arriving in Calais next Wednesday evening

The popular choice is to motorway down to St Omer (about 25 minutes) to stay in the Ibis Budget.

It has a good car park, two fuel stations close by, along with easy access to the motorway for arrival and departure. You don’t say when in the evening you arrive at Calais?

 

[Sly]

The popular choice is to motorway down to St Omer (about 25 minutes) to stay in the Ibis Budget.

It has a good car park, two fuel stations close by, along with easy access to the motorway for arrival and departure. You don’t say when in the evening you arrive at Calais?

To be honest, I'm looking to get into France on Wednesday evening. It's about 4 hours from my place to Dover, plus the 40 minute train across, plus plus plus. I just don't want to only arrive in France at the end of my "1st day" on Thursday.

So plan is Wednesday, leave mid day, get to Dover and cross into France, short trip to my first stay then Thursday, I'm in France and can take it a bit easy. I am not bothered by distance, used it from the driving I did all over South Africa. But my end goal is Furka/Grimsel in Switzerland so don't want to be "rushed". I have to be back by Sunday 9th Aug.

I'm finding, if I'm honest, my main worry is bike safety at the night stops at the hotel. So I'm just scouting for hotels that have underground/secured parking along my travels although, I don't think it's as bad on the main land in "quieter vilages" then it is here in the UK.

 

[wessie]

Taking you up on that idea mate. Looking to book somewhere safe in France after arriving in Calais next Wednesday evening so I can start the trek South to Switzerland on Thursday and Friday.

how late in the evening? if very late then maybe head for the Ibis Budget in St Omer, half an hour down the A26. Reception is 24 hour and has a gated car park.

If you are in France earlier than scoot down the A26 to St Quentin. Hotel Le Florence in the centre has safe parking, or there is the Ibis Budget over by the train station and big war memorial next to the River Somme.

If you are heading down D roads through the Ardennes, then there is the Hotel Pelican in Charleville Mezieres we used on a Wapping trip. Big indoor car park.

 

[Sly]

how late in the evening? if very late then maybe head for the Ibis Budget in St Omer, half an hour down the A26. Reception is 24 hour and has a gated car park.

If you are in France earlier than scoot down the A26 to St Quentin. Hotel Le Florence in the centre has safe parking, or there is the Ibis Budget over by the train station and big war memorial next to the River Somme.

If you are heading down D roads through the Ardennes, then there is the Hotel Pelican in Charleville Mezieres we used on a Wapping trip. Big indoor car park.

Yeah it will be very late on Wednesday, I actually like Wapping idea above. Seems to fit nicely with the distance I want to do on that Wednesday. Looking at the ibis budget Saint-Omer centre. Will place me quite nicely for the first day of riding on Thursday.

Just need to order myself that tag from Emovis.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I'm finding, if I'm honest, my main worry is bike safety at the night stops at the hotel. So I'm just scouting for hotels that have underground/secured parking along my travels although, I don't think it's as bad on the main land in "quieter vilages" then it is here in the UK.

Avoid cities (why would you want to ride the bike in a city anyway)

Most smaller towns and villages are fine - we did France and Germany a month ago and it all seemed fine and our bikes were parked on the street for 2-3 nights and on returning to UK, we stopped in a pub in a village near Newbury and the bikes were parked in the pub car park, all night

Just back from Moffat over last 2 days and on Sunday night there were bikes left overnight in the town's square and they were all still there on Monday morning

Our bikes were in a hotel's alley to the beer garden and on view from the square and were untouched overnight

If a garage is available, use it obviously...........but if there isn't just be sensible

Don't worry, be happy

 

[Sly]

Avoid cities (why would you want to ride the bike in a city anyway)

Most smaller towns and villages are fine - we did France and Germany a month ago and it all seemed fine and our bikes were parked on the street for 2-3 nights and on returning to UK, we stopped in a pub in a village near Newbury and the bikes were parked in the pub car park, all night

Just back from Moffat over last 2 days and on Sunday night there were bikes left overnight in the town's square and they were all still there on Monday morning

Our bikes were in a hotel's alley to the beer garden and on view from the square and were untouched overnight

If a garage is available, use it obviously...........but if there isn't just be sensible

Don't worry, be happy

Yeah I am looking for places to stay "off the beaten track"

End of the day, it's insured. Will ruin the trip but hey oh, nice to avoid the situation though..

 

[Wapping]

Whilst the risk of theft is real, it is certainly not 100%.

Just take sensible precautions (including the pound of butter in the fridge) and you’ll very probably be fine.

In short, leave it anywhere with zero security, simply because you’ve read that “It’s so quiet mate, nothing will happen” and the chance of loss increases. It really does not need to be more complicated than that.

Enjoy your holiday.

 

[Ectopic]

Last year we stayed in Chalons-en-Champagne, a fair size town, in a B&B Hotel on an edge of town commercial centre. The usual gated car park but (as with Reims nearby) a few bike thefts because the gates are either left open, or are opened as soon as anyone rings the buzzer. This year we stayed in a small village a few miles from Chalons (Matougues) and I'd have felt comfortable leaving the bike in the car park with no security. Ditto the five other hotels we used in France, all of which were in rural areas or small towns.

Earlier this year we stayed in an Ibis hotel in Pontarlier. Locked gates out the front, 24-hr reception, and a feeling that they would actually ask questions before opening the big metal gate. Unfortunately it shares a car park with the Ibis Budget and the gates at the back of the car park stayed open all night!

Various levels of security deployed by all the bikes in the car park. One had two big chains, a Litelok and disc lock and cover. I was mid-range (disc lock and a steel cable). A load of German bikers just left their bikes with no security at all. None got nicked, but who knows what might have happened on another day.

 

[Wapping]

As per our PM exchange, just be sure that the time estimates you have for your journey home to st Omer include:

A. The one hour time difference, as you’ll lose an hour just going over the Channel.

B. Checking in, the crossing time itself and disembarking.