My sister kindly bought me this book and while they obviously have the potential to be out of date before they're printed it might prove useful to some.
"Delicious alternatives to Motorway Services".
- Thread starter Ex-Call Centre Chimp
- Start date
I'm heading down the A11/M11 & M20 heading for Le Chunnel a time or two over the next few months, insha'Allah, so have photographed these as possible places to stop for something to eat on the way there/back.
I know others use this route on their way to France so thought I'd share them*.
*(Photos by Giles).
I know others use this route on their way to France so thought I'd share them*.
*(Photos by Giles).
NB The second to last photo should read 'Folies of Stansted'.
There's a website/app thingy I remember using which did something similar, this might have been it...
JustoffJunction.co.uk
Motorway Services and Alternatives to Motorway Services just off the Motorway. Great places to eat, cheaper petrol and much more near motorway junctions
www.justoffjunction.co.uk
Dunno about extra mile....you'd have to go an extra 200 miles off the nearest motorway to get to that bridge on the cover.....a good book though.....it'd pay for itself in one stop !
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2015
- Messages
- 12,990
- Reaction score
- 4,928
Carrying on with this idea
Once you’re across the ditch the French have a similar thing with villages just off motorways or main roads, I’ve used a few, makes a nice alternative to service areas and the food and petrol is cheaper
Village étape ……..
www.village-etape.fr
Once you’re across the ditch the French have a similar thing with villages just off motorways or main roads, I’ve used a few, makes a nice alternative to service areas and the food and petrol is cheaper
Village étape ……..
What is a Village Étape? – Les Villages Étapes
www.village-etape.fr
There is an Italian variant as well:
Android
play.google.com
iOS
apps.apple.com
I travel often by road between UK/France/Italy, I have to say I don't mind a Bufalino from the motorway autogrill at all
Android
Fuoricasello Guida Ristoranti – Apps on Google Play
The guide to the best restaurants and eateries near the motorway exits.
iOS
App Fuoricasello Guida Ristoranti - App Store
Scarica Fuoricasello Guida Ristoranti di Eni S.p.A. dall’App Store. Visualizza screenshot, valutazioni e recensioni, suggerimenti degli utenti e altre app come…
apps.apple.com
I travel often by road between UK/France/Italy, I have to say I don't mind a Bufalino from the motorway autogrill at all
Last edited:
This^^^^. French motorway services are particularly unpleasant,Carrying on with this idea
Once you’re across the ditch the French have a similar thing with villages just off motorways or main roads, I’ve used a few, makes a nice alternative to service areas and the food and petrol is cheaper
Village étape ……..
What is a Village Étape? – Les Villages Étapes
Village etape are very much more interesting, the food is better, and the fuel is cheaper.
Quite the opposite in my experience. Some , not all, of the autoroute services are fabulous . Puts the shite available in the uk to shame.
Anyway , surely most tossers stop at Greggs to stock up before hitting motorways /autoroutes .
Some on here even self cater on a 24/36 hour ferry to Spain rather than fork out £15 for a nice meal on the ferry , despite paying £500 for a cabin and no doubt having a £23k Wankpanzer asleep in the hold . Some weird logic in use ….
We must have visited different services! I did have a sit-down meal in one somewhere near Dijon that wasn’t awful, but the sandwiches etc are ghastly in my experience. I’d much rather go off route for a few k’s and get something worth eating - a decent quiche or a formule du jour.
At uk services. Eat something deep fried, it won’t give you food poisoning.
At uk services. Eat something deep fried, it won’t give you food poisoning.
I sit somewhere in the middle of this statement.
I've also always been very impressed with French Service stations but I am comparing them to those in the U.K..
But........whilst I don't use Greggs I do always bring a pack up and flask for my 1st day away and use the flask where possible on any trips. Not because I'm mean but money is tight for me so if I can save in the region of £100 - £200 by self catering while I'm away that will pay for a return ferry to Ireland on another occasion.
Fair play to those who can eat out every night though.
Carrying on with this idea
Once you’re across the ditch the French have a similar thing with villages just off motorways or main roads, I’ve used a few, makes a nice alternative to service areas and the food and petrol is cheaper
Village étape ……..
What is a Village Étape? – Les Villages Étapes
Excellent. Thank you.There is an Italian variant as well:
Android
Fuoricasello Guida Ristoranti – Apps on Google Play
The guide to the best restaurants and eateries near the motorway exits.
iOS
App Fuoricasello Guida Ristoranti - App Store
Scarica Fuoricasello Guida Ristoranti di Eni S.p.A. dall’App Store. Visualizza screenshot, valutazioni e recensioni, suggerimenti degli utenti e altre app come…
I travel often by road between UK/France/Italy, I have to say I don't mind a Bufalino from the motorway autogrill at all
Have to strongly disagree. Especially when compared to what’s available in UK
You’ve obviously never sailed from Ireland. It’s not a money saving thing cos I often spend more than the cost of the meal. But I can have fresh food instead of the stuff they keep warm for the entire journey. And there’s no ‘nice’ restaurant, just the works canteen type of buffet.
I wasn’t comparing them to the UK, I was comparing them to a French village cafe/restau.Have to strongly disagree. Especially when compared to what’s available in UK
But I do agree that the Irish boats do not seem to offer haute cuisine
Apologies, I took you up wrong. And now find I agree with you
That said I was disappointed to see that since Covid there seem to be more pizza and/or kebab shops than traditional eateries
They certainly don’tBut I do agree that the Irish boats do not seem to offer haute cuisine
Hence I have to look after myself…
Ooooh, please tell me Abrakebabra are expanding and opening up on mainland Europe. Bloody yum!
I think it depends (strongly) on the route.
I do regularly the A26 towards Dijon and then towards Chambery and Mont Blanc.
I pretty much stop 2 to 4 times along the way, depending on vehicle, roughly similar areas and services.
Unless you get the bigger ones with the attached Pain Quotidien/etc. what they sell to eat in the medium/small one is the same shite you get in the UK --> sandwiches and rolls in plastic packaging.
They used to sell local typical products but haven't seen those in a while.
I'm, talking strictly about what you can buy in the shop without sitting down, never tried that, so no idea.
Now, I'm not a particularly healthy person (read: I am a fat fuck) and I'm happy to indulge in shit/chemical food from time to time, but I gave up on those sandwiches in the last few years, at least
Always surprises me a place like France doesn't provide nicer stuff in their services.
I mean... I'll survive it, I don't care that much, but have to admit I'd get an overpriced piadina from any fuel stop in Italy over anything sold north of Digne
I do not eat that much while traveling though, so this is almost a non issue to be fair.
I guess the upside of getting out of the motorway for food (I've done it a few times, especially if not traveling alone) is a change of scenery and/or finding some very nice "corners" of France here or there.
I do agree completely with Arsey about the ferry though.
When I crossed in May I considered packing some food, then couldn't be arsed as it is also 2 days. I was doing so because I wanted to avoid spending 150 quid to have one or two meals on the boat, but I was pleasantly surprised instead.
Have to say I was dreading those two days sailing to Spain and it ended up being super relaxing instead.
Last edited:
I try to stay off the autoroutes whenever possible as there are some stunning back roads in France . For example, I used to head from most St Malo down to the Route Napoleon most years and wouldn’t touch an autoroute. Much nicer riding the N or D roads and pulling into a town for a coffee and/or food.
But on occasion I use the autoroutes as time is of the essence, like returning on a number of times from the annual Asturias jaunt.
I’ve occasionally pulled off the autoroute into a village to find lunch, ridden around for 20 minutes and found everything shut then gone back on to the autoroute again .
If there is something like a Paul at the services then you are guaranteed a nice grande crème and baguette Américaine or similar .
We found a great bakery for breakfast last year just over the border when we rode from San Sebastián to Rochefort.
But then we rode through endless villages for ages with 50/30km limits . Doing the same journey next month so will pull off autoroute for breakfast then rejoin for another 50 miles or so before heading up through the Parc Regional du Médoc to catch the Royan ferry etc.
But on occasion I use the autoroutes as time is of the essence, like returning on a number of times from the annual Asturias jaunt.
I’ve occasionally pulled off the autoroute into a village to find lunch, ridden around for 20 minutes and found everything shut then gone back on to the autoroute again .
If there is something like a Paul at the services then you are guaranteed a nice grande crème and baguette Américaine or similar .
We found a great bakery for breakfast last year just over the border when we rode from San Sebastián to Rochefort.
But then we rode through endless villages for ages with 50/30km limits . Doing the same journey next month so will pull off autoroute for breakfast then rejoin for another 50 miles or so before heading up through the Parc Regional du Médoc to catch the Royan ferry etc.
TY again. Armed with this knowledge I stopped yesterday and Monday on my way back north from Sid's and rather than the obligatory McDonalds I had this one day, ham, egg, chips and saladCarrying on with this idea
Once you’re across the ditch the French have a similar thing with villages just off motorways or main roads, I’ve used a few, makes a nice alternative to service areas and the food and petrol is cheaper
Village étape ……..
What is a Village Étape? – Les Villages Étapes
And this the following day, ermmm, ham , chips and salad* which isn't what I was expecting but was nevertheless delicious.
* No egg on this one which is fair enough as when on this type of trip I generally think one egg is an oeuf.
I also ate here on my way back from the Chunnel.
Folies of Stansted.
It's a tiny place about 10 minutes from the M11 that serves just paninis, a choice of 5, and home made cakes. There's limited seating much of it outside and it's all a bit quirky. But it was very nice.
Folies of Stansted.
It's a tiny place about 10 minutes from the M11 that serves just paninis, a choice of 5, and home made cakes. There's limited seating much of it outside and it's all a bit quirky. But it was very nice.
Similar threads
