France on my own

[Tractor]

In September I plan to use the ferry to cross from Poole to Cherbourg and ride from there to Santander to meet up with my mates to 'do Spain and Portugal'. Yeah, I admit that I am a wimp and get 'orribly seasick on a duckpond so can not face the ferry to Santander !!! From Cherbourg to Santander is about 700 miles so I want to stop at Nantes one night and Bordeaux the second night on the way. Looking for bike - friendly, english speaking accomodation at (or near) both locations. Continuing the wimp theme, failed French spectacularly at school.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I'll be shouted down for this I'm sure, but you could do worse than Ibis.
They're about £60 a night in the week and £80 on Friday and Saturday, which is a little expensive.
There's plenty of them, usually close to Autoroutes, well sign posted, and you don't usually have to pre book which means you can ride as far as you fancy without having a present agenda.
They are usually clean, warm and tidy, if a little basic, but for overnighter they're fine.
The staff generally speak pretty good english and many have restaurants either attached or close by.
Whatever you decide have a great trip and be safe mon ami.

 

[wessie]

a friend of mine, Jen, runs this B&B near Rocamadour. Same latitude as Bordeaux and just an easy ride in a day to Santander.

The surrounding area is very scenic - it would be good to spend a few days there!

 

[llotse]

Take the ferry, drink orange juice, you will be fine......

 

[wessie]

a friend of mine, Jen, runs this B&B near Rocamadour. Same latitude as Bordeaux and just an easy ride in a day to Santander.

The surrounding area is very scenic - it would be good to spend a few days there!

and the URL http://www.lanoyeraierocamadour.com/

Avoid Bordeaux. Their claret induces oh look a butterfly. MATRON.

 

[franco]

.

I'm a tightwad Scot, so always use Etap hotels as stopping points on motorway trips. Used them on my own, and with the family, and they're basic but great value (40EUR a night for the one in Bourges next week) All I want is somewhere with a clean bed, shower and free wifi, so they tick all the boxes for me.

Linky here

Rob

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

The Cherbourg - Poole is a fast ferry and a great way to cross the channel.

It is prone to the weather and can get cancelled.

 

[Dave & Val]

Tractor - do you have a GPS?
The way I do it is about 1500 or 1600 each day is ask the GPS for accommodation it then lists them I then ride to them check them out and ask for a room the pluses are they are local to where you are (Don't need to try and plan to be somewhere because you maybe able to go further or indeed by knackered and need to stop - safety first) and normally much cheaper 12 -20Euros for B&B and in my opinion better than the more main stream hotels - you may be surprised I was first time I did it this way...Good luck with the trip.

 

[cookie]

i like ibis for general overnight stops.

the poole ferry was indeed cancelled one day (at least) last week.

 

[twizzle]

If you get seasick don't use the fast cat.... It's not called the vomit comet for no reason...get to Portsmouth and cross overnight to St Malo... You can hit the pyranees easily in a day...

 

[2 wheel humvee]

The Cherbourg - Poole is a fast ferry and a great way to cross the channel.

It is prone to the weather and can get cancelled.

Last time we used the vomit comet it really lived up to its name, wife and I managed to keep it in inspite of overwhelming smell of vomit and the awful sounds of passengers being I'll everywhere and anywhere
We found the loading and unloading procedure needlessly long which largely negated the reduced crossing time (hour plus to load and unload although we were in a car) we won't be taking this option again any time soon, I suggest to the OP (tractor) if you don't have good sea legs you take the conventional ferry.

 

[Daffy]

The fast ferry is ok, we use it regularly and it's true that it is rougher than the slow boat but it takes half the time and a rough crossing is a rough crossing.

They do very occasionally cancel it but when they do you wouldn't want to be on a slow boat either,

Most people tend to sit at the front, this is the worst place and the bit that they close if it's really rough to reduce the amount of cleaning required.

The secret of the fast boat is sit on a table in the middle of the boat between the shop and the cafe, I think the fact that you are sat more upright in a central point helps reduce the motion, we have a friend who is a really bad sailor and she comes with us no quibbles.

That being said when it's bad its bad but the slow boat isn't any fun.

Don't be a wimp, it's less than 3 hours, just book it and you'll be fine.

 

[cookie]

i've been on the cat a few times and it's been fine, but i've spoken to loads of people who haven't.

it seems you don't need a rough sea for the cat to become the vomit comet, just "the wrong type of sea".

 

[Steptoe]

Get the overnight ferry from St Naziare to Gijon. Far far cheaper than riding down and having two overnight stops.

 

[polecat]

Riders Rest

Try Tony (he is a member of this forum) at Riders Rest. On your way down and highly recommended

 

[Piaf]

Went to London last week on the Condor Fastcat. A young lad came to secure the bike and started placing the straps over the panniers as he thought it a 'good idea'. Stay with your bike until it is secured properly.

This is the first time I have encountered someone like this on these ferries. He seemed much happier later on selling raffle tickets to passengers.

Enjoy your ride.

 

[Stujw70]

One of my work colleagues has a B&B very near to Bordeaux.

http://www.latuilerie33.com/

He's a biker himself so very receptive to bikers

 

[ebbo]

One of my work colleagues has a B&B very near to Bordeaux.

http://www.latuilerie33.com/

He's a biker himself so very receptive to bikers

Now, that looks a nice place!

N44.50422 W0.02191 Google Map

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Now, that looks a nice place!

N44.50422 W0.02191 Google Map

It certainly does, should pop a link to it in the accomodation section so we can find it again when heading to france.

 

[Stujw70]

Think Johnny is finally going to sign up to the site properly after pestering me for years on GS info etc.
Has yet to bite the bullet and get himself a GS as is just to smitten with his XJR1300