Going to France

[woodsie]

Help please.

Some weeks ago I followed a thread to a great "where to stay" site. A travel guide with details of all facilities, details of owners and how the places are managed and guests are treated etc. Very interesting and useful.

Lists of places in France were great and I was planning a holiday.

Then the PC crashed and I'm starting from scratch.

Any idea what the thread was? I can't find it now.

Any other ideas/experiences from holidays in Brittany?

Thanks in advance for any help here.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Woodsie-think it was on one of my posts-search my posts and you'll find it.Try European Adventures Part 1.

 

[Dutchman]

www.bikersbeds.com

 

[Dave Hall]

http://www.donnington.info
Iain & lynne Hall
Donnington
Les Bruges
Ste Anne-St priest
87120 FRANCE
Tel/Fax (0033) 555 692807

Are a couple who ran a biker friendly set up in the Lakes. Never used them but I am informed they are good. They`ve relocated to La belle france as above.

 

[Howard Millichap]

Hi Stu,
I tend to use the Camponile chain. They all have a restaurant, so it doesn't matter what time you turn up.
There are lots of other cheap-ish chains such as :- F1, Mr Bed, Premier Class, etc......OR
Just turn up in the town centre and look for a bar/hotel sign. They tend to be quite reasonable.

 

[Spanish Bob]

Hi Stu,
I tend to use the Camponile chain. They all have a restaurant, so it doesn't matter what time you turn up.
There are lots of other cheap-ish chains such as :- F1, Mr Bed, Premier Class, etc......OR
Just turn up in the town centre and look for a bar/hotel sign. They tend to be quite reasonable.

Woodsie,

If you arrive late and you want cheap, try he Accor Hotels, include 6 chains of hotels, the most famous is Ibis. You can pick up a brochure from any Ibis hotel in the UK. Premier are also very cheap, stayed in one in Orange this year - cost me 25€. Cracking. Failing that plan ahead, if you go rural there won´t be any Ibis, F1 etc. Try the Logis, check out the French Tourist board in the UK, all the brochures you need are free - alternatively what I do is arrive not too late (ie not much after 6pm - as life stops early in rural France) and ride around looking for places, you can find Chateaux for 30-40 gbp a night with great food.

I strongly recommend that later, there are lots of places to stay in France and there isn´t much problem usually. Also don´t over plan - you´ll find days when to get to where you "should be" you have to ride another two or three hours and you just don´t want to.

The web page you are looking for by the way is www.specialplacestostay.com, I would also recomend a book called Fodors´ "hotels & Relais of charm in France (also have italy, portugal - but both are crap).

Have spent a lot of time in BRittany - If you like mail me and I can send you a lits of must see places and the details of a great farm in the middel of the Park Armorique where I have stayed and is good and costs 25gbp/night/double room.

Happy hols.

 

[wessie]

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

I like the Logis chain.

2 that I have used in the last year are:

Normatel la Marine in Caudebec en Caux, Normandie
about an hours ride from Dieppe, less to Le Havre. Ideal if you have an early morning ferry home. Secure parking. Nice location overlooking the Seine. Very good food.

Aberge Champenoise, Moussy, nr Epernay, Champagne
The decor is a little tired which is more than compensated for by the superb restaurant.
Beautiful area. Chateau Pierry is within walking distance, about 1km. The tour followed by champagne tasting is recommended - very generous helping of Champagne (unlike the tightwads at Mumm in Riems)