French Hotels

[billynomates]

Were going down to Italy can anyone recommend Hotels around Troyes and then Annecy as these seem good breaks mileage wise.
Also as this is my first trip solo abroad which Alps pass into Italy would anyone recommend,i'll be 2up with 2 weeks of luggage (GS1200 ADV) or should I use the tunnel?
Cheers ian

 

[ricardo]

Not cheap, but if I was taking her indoors I'd go for the Auberge Du Lac at Veyrier Du Lac, south of Annecy on the lake.

 

[wessie]

If you are staying in Annecy then it makes sense to use the Petit St Bernard from Bourg St Maurice to Aosta. I used this pass when returning from Italy a few years ago. Just check www.alpinroads.com to see when it is open - can be any time from around now to late June.

The road from Albertville to Bourg StM via Beafort is superb. It goes over the Cormet de Roseland http://www.alpineroads.com/images/photos/savoie/roseland/roseland.htm

I have not stopped over in Annecy but I'm considering it later this year. The Kyriad has been recommended as it has a central location and is reasonable price.
http://www.kyriad-annecy-centre.fr/en/index.aspx - about 80 Euros a night.

If you want a cheaper hotel then there is another Kyriad about 3km south of Annecy for around 50 Euro a night. Best to be in the centre though so you can stroll along the lake.

 

[zzrman]

Which pass depends where in Italy you are heading for and how fast you want to get there. Quickest way from Annecy would be to run down to Albertville and get on the Autoroute A43 E70 which takes you to the Frejus Tunnel. Far more fun would be to take the route to Bourg St Maurice as suggested by wessie but rather than going from Bourg St Maurice to Aosta via the Col du Petit St Bernard, take the D902 through Val D'Isere and over the Col De L'Iseran to Lanslebourg and then on the D1006 over the Col du Mont-Cenis to Susa. You will find John Hermann's book "Motorcycle Journeys through the Alps and Corsica" a big help in planning your route.

As for hotels in France I find the Logis de France website helpful. Here's the link:

http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/

 

[billynomates]

Thanks for that will be mooching around lake como etc for a couple of days then on to the Cortina area and the Dolomites.
will bring back some photos and a numpty report
ian

 

[billynomates]

If you are staying in Annecy then it makes sense to use the Petit St Bernard from Bourg St Maurice to Aosta. I used this pass when returning from Italy a few years ago. Just check www.alpinroads.com to see when it is open - can be any time from around now to late June.

The road from Albertville to Bourg StM via Beafort is superb. It goes over the Cormet de Roseland http://www.alpineroads.com/images/photos/savoie/roseland/roseland.htm

I have not stopped over in Annecy but I'm considering it later this year. The Kyriad has been recommended as it has a central location and is reasonable price.
http://www.kyriad-annecy-centre.fr/en/index.aspx - about 80 Euros a night.

If you want a cheaper hotel then there is another Kyriad about 3km south of Annecy for around 50 Euro a night. Best to be in the centre though so you can stroll along the lake.

Cheers
The hotel Kyriad in the centre has no secure parking,does anyone think this will be a problem or is leaving a bike in a public car park a no no
ian

 

[Wapping]

Cheers
The hotel Kyriad in the centre has no secure parking,does anyone think this will be a problem or is leaving a bike in a public car park a no no
ian

It will be fine.

Just lock / chain it up etc.

The hotel Golden Pheasant (something like that) in Annecy has garages if you are really worried.

 

[wessie]

Cheers
The hotel Kyriad in the centre has no secure parking,does anyone think this will be a problem or is leaving a bike in a public car park a no no
ian

It will be fine.

I've parked my bike in the street & unfenced car parks all over Europe from Scotland to Croatia.

I use a chain, as Bill suggests, as a deterrent. It's worked so far.

If you get too precious about bike security then you will significantly reduce your accommodation options. This is likely to increase your costs dramatically and mean you might miss out on accommodation in some fantastic locations.

Part of the fun of riding a bike is the risk element. It's odd that bikers will ride their bikes in some bonkers locations where near death experiences happen every km. I'm thinking of the Amalfi Coast during the peak holiday season for example.

Yet, when it comes to parking the bike a significant proportion of bikers turn into underwriters and get paranoid about something that has an extremely low probability i.e. having your bike nicked. Just like crossing a road, there is a risk. It's minimal. In fact, in all the years I've travelled abroad on the bike, I actually know more people who have been run over by a Fiat Panda than have had a bike stolen. Well, it is a person. Stupid idiot looked right before walking into a French street...

 

[Wapping]

It will be fine.

......when it comes to parking the bike a significant proportion of bikers turn into underwriters and get paranoid about something that has an extremely low probability...

 

[billynomates]

Thanks all
Off on the chunnel 7.00 tom looks like the weather will hold for the ride through France.
Ian

 

[Annette]

If you're going over the passes, do check they are open. 2 weeks ago the Col D'Iseran was still closed. They have had a lot of snow this year and many passes are still closed.

http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

 

[wessie]

If you're going over the passes, do check they are open. 2 weeks ago the Col D'Iseran was still closed. They have had a lot of snow this year and many passes are still closed.

http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

Indeed. A friend of mine lives in Engelberg in Switzerland. He's going skiing this weekend. Apparently there is still plenty of snow as low as 1400m above sea level.

Many of the French passes are over 2000m so you may find many still closed.