One stop France?

[blowpipe]

The benefit of the collective experience of members is kindly requested.
In September we're off on our annual blat to France, only this year we've decided that packing up and trying to find accommodation every night has ceased to be fun. So the decision is to find a base in a cracking region and ride out to come back to the same hotel every night. We've got six days, including travel there and back.
Which bit of France is best, and better still, does anyone have any hotel recommendations?

[ruk]

We're going to France in September too and using Colmar, in North East, as a base. It's a full days ride from Calais but when you are there there are some great roads and also you can do day trips to either the Black Forest or Switzerland, or both:D

The town itself is very attractive also good food and plenty of wine, mainly white from the local area.

You could also do the Champagne area and Normandy. If you don't mind a longer hack on autoroute on first and last day you can get into the Alps or Dordogne

Whatever you choose, enjoy:cool:

[Alan Sh]

Chamonix has some cracking roads and good hotels. We stayed in one (Le Oustalet) which had an underground locked car park for the bikes.

[Red Mick]

Originally posted by ruk
Colmar, in North West, as a base. It's a full days ride from Calais ..........

Isn't Colmar in the North East? or is that a different one? :)

[Dickylaa]

Jura and the Haut Vosges are good (NE France), and you get a nice run down through the Ardennes to get there. :D :D

[Muppet]

Paul,
Annecy is fantastic, within a couple of hours of the Alps (Mont Blanc) and is situated on a beautiful lake with rivers running through the town. Couldn't ask for more than that mate:D

[red rocket]

If you arent bothered about a hotels why not hire a mobile home as we have done in many parts of France & once in Spain.
You also have the Gite option (cottage).
There are many mobile home sites we have used Keycamp
another reasonably priced one is Vacansoliel (www.vacansoleil.com)they also sort out your ferry or what ever.
We actually hired a mobile home on the Med a place called Agay while there we met an english couple who have rented us there mobile home for the last two years .At least on a holiday park if its wet there is always shops etc & probably fast food.
Unfortunately July & August as you probably know the price is very expensive 1st week in september it drops dramatically & if you are far enough south the weather is still good.
:beer: :beer: :beer: Ian

[ruk]

Originally posted by Red Mick
Isn't Colmar in the North East? or is that a different one? :)

It is now:blush: sorry I was having a bad day:goofy:

[blowpipe]

Many thanks for all advice and tips. I notice there's a similar thread lurking elsewhere, so a trawl of the site will be my next stop.
Given the time of year, we want to get as far south in a day as we can, so the south eastern bit may be an option.
Not too long now......

[nealeb]

For those of you setting out for France in the sure and certain knowledge of fast roads and no speed cameras - watch out!

I have just been looking at a French web site, and there was an article talking about the introduction of 100 cameras this year (30 mobile, in police or unmarked cars). The idea is to have automatic number plate recognition, and tickets sent directly to registered owners. Not sure how that would work for UK registrations, but I am sure that European harmonisation will be on its way soon after:) Over 2004/5, there will be about 1000 more added. Some of the cameras are specifically forward-facing to catch bikes...

The initial batch are supposed to be in black spots like tunnels, and there will also be a few at traffic lights.

The registered owner will be assumed to be driving, unless they give the name of the person to whom they lent the car.

The system will be "self-financing" - that sound familiar?

[whipitup]

We are seriously considering selling up and looking into buying a b and b / appartment type place in France.
Now France is a big contry andwe havent got a clue where to start looking, now I recon (prolly wrongly) that a fair few of you guys on here tour in France, so.......where do you stay, what are you loooking for in terms of accomadation and food. Wuld you want .........say a pool, or just clean accomadation and good food:h :h :h :h :h

[Jason O Brown]

Whipitup,

secure, out of sight parking is good
single rooms
proper showers that are no hassle to keep the floors dry


As for where, the Alps and Pyrenees will always get repeat visits.

Good luck.

[xcaliba]

What is the situation if you are caught on a French speed camera? Does EU law mean we get nicked or do we just ignore them as usual?

Alan

[Iain]

You shud be ok, did the same thing a few years ago in a hire car over there, they got a nice pic, but the car hire companies are not obliged to pass on the info, so they don't!

That said, now doubt if they thought it was worth their while I am sure they could have, and would do.

Where was it you got caught. Off to France this week, so would hate to get caught, its one of the reasons we go there, to get away from the nonsence that is going on over here.

[blowpipe]

All three of us last year did horrible speeds past an unattended camera car on an autoroute(I think). A flurry of flashes ensued.
I still await the crunch of a gendarme's boots towards the front door...:f

[blowpipe]

Does anyone have any hotel recommendations in the good bits, any of the good bits? We'll have to book soon.
Thanks.

[Bucks02]

Originally posted by blowpipe
Does anyone have any hotel recommendations in the good bits, any of the good bits? We'll have to book soon.
Thanks.

I got some good recommendations from this site which appears to be biker specific:

Biking in Europe (http://www.touringeurope.org)

Pre booking the hotel or table d'hote makes the trip much more enjoyable. Packing up early looking for somewhere is a real pain. Its easy to do providing you have some good maps and a measuring stick so as to pinpoint your destinations each night.

To make good progress on the run down I recommend the "B&B" chain. Then try a couple of separate three-nighters so as to unpack, unwind, and wash your socks. Then you get to tour two specific regions.

Barry

[blowpipe]

Barry, thanks for that link, looks very useful. The last two trips have been of the 'ride until 5ish and find somewhere to stay' variety. This time we'll try staying on in one area after a blat down south/south west France, don't know which yet.

[Grahamb]

Recently returned (last month) from a very enjoyable tour around Brittany. Confess we had pre-booked accommodation, so were packing up and travelling around each day. Must admit, next time we will stay at least 2-3 nights at each stop so we can use as a base to explore, and enjoy a 'luggage free' ride-out of area before moving on.

Anyway, the route was basically St. Malo to Tregastel - follow the north coast. Very impressive coastline - known as the Pink Granite Coast.

Then on to Morgat - just south of Crozon.

Then followed the coast road - with superb empty beaches and stunning views - and then headed via Pont l'Abbe to a place called Bannelec, where we stayed at a 15th century Manor House run by English proprietors.

Then on to Rochefort-en-Terre where we stayed at a lovely Chateau...so peaceful and relaxing.

Next stop..Chateauborg..(I think that's how it's spelt..too lazy to check) where we stayed at a hotel which had been converted from an old watermill.

Then finally back to St. Malo, and took a trip along to Mont St. Michel and back, then home the following day.

It was a great 8 days..with traffic-free roads and weather that was..dare I say..a bit too hot at times, especially with all the leathers on!!

Can thoroughly recommend this part of France.

Also did similar thing last year touring Normandy. Again, fully recommended.

Scenery in Brittany is more impressive in Brittany..IMHO.

Cheers

[Bucks02]

Originally posted by Grahamb
Scenery in Brittany is more impressive in Brittany..IMHO.

Cheers

How's this for impressive scenery in France (http://www.touringeurope.org/photo/canyonverdon.jpg)

This is the second largest canyon on planet earth !

[dr dave]

Alps are definitely worth a run - superb roads, magnificent scenery and very friendly. Used Chamonix as a base for a few days last summer and can recommend the same hotel as Alan Sh (Le Oustalet). Could get there in a day from Calais though it is a long run.
Tip: don't let the scenery distract you on some of the high passes - the (unprotected) drops go a long way down!!
Enjoy.:beer:

[blowpipe]

Originally posted by dr dave
Tip: don't let the scenery distract you on some of the high passes - the (unprotected) drops go a long way down!!
Enjoy.:beer:

Ah, yes, those moments where you rediscover a fear of hights. A combination of these, and those nice, progressive sweepy bends would be nice. With more emphasis on the sweepy ones!
Is there a region of France that caters for this?