To book or not to book? That is the question.

[Yogi-GB]

Ok so we are booking the ferry to Spain but do we really need to book B&B accommodation in England before we go or can we just roll up to a fantastic place with great views and awesome tapas?

My wife and I are going the first two weeks in July. It's our first european trip aaaaggghhhhh!!! Can't wait!

All tips from you travel experts gratefully received.

 

[luckylucian]

For your first trip, I would book ahead, and make sure you know where they are so you don't end up in a town with the same name 120 miles away (don't ask how I know this). And if you do find yourself on the wrong side of the road with on-coming cars, just indicate left and pull over to the kerb, its safer than panicing and swerving across the road. Relax and you'll have a great time

 

[Jon]

How confident/relaxed are you about not having any firm booking & finding places to stay on the hoof?

You could plan a firm destination each day with a hotel pre-booked

or

Plan a firm destination each day and then look for accommodation once you're there

or

Ride untli about 4pm, then decide to start looking for accommodation.

More importantly, how relaxed will the other half be if it's 8pm and you haven't found somewhere, or have found the only place in town and it's a shitehole

4 blokes on tour won't really care and will find the nearest bar. Your wife may be of the same vein, or she may decide she wants a bit of comfort, etc.

Maybe do a bit of internet research of the rough areas you intend to visit and see what accommodation is around (and if they have a natty website, general availablility of rooms)

Did a tour of the alpine passes in 2006 with a mate. We planned the next days ride over a beer and a map the night before and when it got to about 4pm, either found the local tourist office, rode round the town looking for anything that took our fancy & also hit "hotels" on the gps and checked them out.

How much do you want to spend on hotels/b&b is another factor? Coupla days we got it wrong and ended up in Ibis style ones - we'd tried to use French Youth Hostels, as the one in Arras is great. Sadly, a lot of the rest ain't - one wanted us out by 6am - that was an Ibis night

If there's a tourist info in any town you go to, they're always good for info on decent, reasonably priced places to stay - we even found a great B&B in Switzerland that put out bikes in their garage and had a view over Lake Neuchatel

Have you a rough route in mind? Put it up and ask peoples recommendations if they've stayed in that area. Then you can do your own thing and you've got possibles if it all goes a bit pear-shaped.



Jon

 

[Sharik]

Booking ahead makes for a rigid schedule and can be counter productive. You see somewhere that appeals to you both but have to leave due to the room you have booked is 50 miles further on; the weather takes a turn for the worse but once again the room you have booked is two hours riding away. I would hazard a guess in that you want your wife to enjoy the touring experience and do more trips in the future.

Unless you have an inflexible itinerary (if yes, why??) look for accommodation as and when you either have done enough travelling for the day, or like the look of a particular location. When deciding to stay in somewhere a method we employed was that I would remain with the machine whilst SWMBO visited the accommodation to ascertain if it was to her liking and to agree on the price. We have found that cost is no guarantee of quality. Some of the seediest looking bar/cafes in Spain have had excellent rooms and the owners have been most helpful in getting the 'bike parked up securely for the night.

 

[Steptoe]

No need whatsoever to book in advance.

It's europe, hotel/B&B/Parador on every corner in every town. Have a relaxed time stopping wherever you feel like, have an adventure not a tour.

 

[Yogi-GB]

Good advice everyone.
SWMBO is riding her f650gs and I am riding my r1200gs. Usually when we get wherever we are going to stay she tends to park her bike up and hop on the back of mine for the daily ride-outs. I think we are going to book the ferry and the first 3 nights through Brittany ferries because its cheaper than booking just the ferry alone (cant quite figure that out???????). Maybe we will also book the last night in Spain just to know that is sorted and the rest... Well life is one big adventure isn't it!!!
I will definetely follow the advice that SWMBO checks out the accommodation!!

As for the route?? Well we think we will split the journey from Warrington to Plymouth staying at a travelodge or something. Then after arriving at Santander head for the prebooked hotel in Ribadesella 3 nights. Thats the end of the planned bit! We then have 9 nights touring around Picos de Europa, Asturias, Galicia.. maybe even head south to see some cave houses in Andalucia.. who knows??

If anyone can knows of any festivals or must do roads or must see places between 7th - 17th July we are all ears!

 

[Steptoe]

If anyone can knows of any festivals or must do roads or must see places between 7th - 17th July we are all ears!

The coast road from Santander to Lisbon, stopping off at Santiago de Compostela

You may have to leave that for next time.