>> Now, in true student fashion, >> shiney new E39 5 Series Am I missing something here...what the hell??
Of course, they went out of production 3 years ago so it's only new to me, I could never afford a brand new one! It'll be about 5-6 years old.
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Heh heh. Nice cars...even a 5-6 year old one is hardly Student tho...have fun 'poking' around Switzerland and France;-)
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But don't forget the national speed limit in Switzerland is 80kph (50mph) and they don't like lawbreakers! You'll need a temporary permit if you use the motorways, too.
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From what I remember the showers are great (just get in early if it's busy).
Unlimited coffee and bread in the morning (four years ago anyway).
Good, economic, no-frills overnight accommodation; wouldn't fancy a fortnight in one however. Mind you, personally I wouldn't fancy a fortnight in any hotel.
I remember one I stayed in north of Paris, even had a big, old friendly motel dog (that isn't a pseudonym for some sort of dodgy room service either).
They do what they say on the tin.
Oh, don't forget to lock your car and take the laptop out of the boot.
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roy38
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Formula 1 are cheap but very basic - especially the shared loo and showers, also v. small rooms
A few euros more will get you ensuite - Campanile and Etap as mentioned above and also B&B, Kyriad etc. Ibis are a bit more expensive (50 euros), and often cheaper at weekends near cities when businessmen not using them, but do have a bar and restaurant. Also well worth a look are the Logis de France - small family owned hotels at a variety of prices - some very cheap - often with superb food at reasonable prices. Wherever you stay it will be better value than in UK!
Here are a few websites to browse - enjoy your trip!
www.hotel-bb.com/index.phtml?NumLangue=2
www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/index.html
www.ibishotel.com/ibis/index.html
www.envergure.fr/kyriadfr.html
www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/recherch/index-ca.htm
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Phil
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Absolutely brilliant Phil, thanks for that. Very useful.
Not much more in terms of cost seems to get a lot more in terms of facilities etc!
I think what I'll do is try and plot as many of the different places on the map as I possibly can - I will be taking GPS and also a Laptop. Then its just a case of finding the nearest one every night, im guessing it isnt like the UK in that its half the price sometimes if you book in advance?
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"its half the price sometimes if you book in advance?"
not in my experience - but wel worth looking at different prices for weekdays and weekends. for example - industrial city like Lille, Ibis hotel 10 euros ish cheaper at weekends, near coast opposite might apply. Also good idea to either get there early (5 or 6 pm ?) or book ahead, either on web if you know your route, or via your previous night hotel as mentioned above.
One other recommendation - for good feed up and lovely hotel on last night before crossing channel, try this place.
Double rooms from 59 euros, menus from 23 euros (with cheese made on premises), breakfast with home made breads and jam etc, nice little bar with local beers
www.fermeduvert.com/decouvrir.php
(I have no connection with the place except as a customer last spring - but I'm definitely going back!)
have fun
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Phil
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Don't bother with them, find a decent B&B in a village somewhere, decent home cooking a genuine welcome and an atmoshpere you'll remember for the rest of your life.
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It's worth bearing in mind that Ibis hotels invariably (in my experience!) have someone on reception who speaks English, so there's no need to be afraid to ring them to book in advance.
Often Etap do as well (same group).
The Accor Hotels website will send lists, as well as a loyalty card, etc.
Logis de France seems to have shot up in price over the last couple of years and the quality is VERY variable. Some are excellent, some rather lacking. But, it has to be said, the food is likely to be very good and not expensive.
We've clocked up more than 150 hotel stops in different French areas now, so if anyone has a particular location in mind, we may have been there first and can help! Maybe I should write a book...
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Is the whole 'Just see where we end up' thing feasible without booking in advance? I guess if we've got the positions of loads of recommended places on the map...
Hope to get down to Monaco and then back up again..
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"Is the whole 'Just see where we end up' thing feasible without booking in advance? I guess if we've got the positions of loads of recommended places on the map.."
Yes. we've done it many times
BUT - don't try it at school holiday time near the coast! We had to spend a night in the car at Calais of all places because we couldn't find a room in any hotel from one to 5 stars from Boulogne to Calais to St Omer. At 3 am in St Omer we gave up and drove back to the docks, parked and waited for the next ferry about 4 hours later. On the other hand we have also found accommodation easily at height of summer (not so sure about Monaco though!!)
Order the Logis book on line, pick up all other hotel chain books when you stop (There are Ibis hotels in UK - go pick up a book of all Accor group hotels). In rural areas you should have no problem especially if you stop at hotels before about 7 pm, and I'm pretty sure that in 90% of towns and villages you will find a room easily at logis, local hotel or bed and breakfast place ("chambres d'hotes" in France. you will see little circular green signs pointing to farmhouses etc)
Hey, half the fun will be trying it - and when you succeed, toasting your success with a bottle of wine, a good meal or a beer or two in the local bar - go for it!!
HTH
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Phil
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Formula One are ok - good value I'd say and if you can't get a room at a particular location there is usually one within 10, 15, 20 miles or so.
I would also recommend B&B hotels though. Similar deal but I find better rooms and more of them. If you turn up and there is no room you can search for the nearest available one at the consul.
I have travelled through France many times in all directions and I don't think I've ever had a situation when I couldn't find a B&B Hotel - and that's with 2 adults and 2 kids. And they are also always located next to a Buffalo Grill or something similar that also serves booze. Which is handy.
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oh dear whatever happened to the little French B&B and a glass of wine with the locals in the village bar....
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And they are also always located next to a Buffalo Grill or something similar that also serves booze. Which is handy.
I've always found the Buffalo Grill to be pretty awful, the last one we used in Beaune we were served stone cold chips. Much better to find a local restaurant, usually with a 3 course menu for 15 euros or so.
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Here are a few websites to browse - enjoy your trip! www.hotel-bb.com/index.phtml?NumLangue=2 www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/index.html www.ibishotel.com/ibis/index.html www.envergure.fr/kyriadfr.html www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/recherch/index-ca.htm
On a recent trip to france I stayed at most of these. I avoided formule 1 because of the shared facilities.
Stayed in Etap in Dijon, on a nice quiet road, clean room with nice modern shower room, bread and jam for breakfast.
Stayed in a Logis de France guest house in the south near Le Lavandou. Bit more expensive, but typically french and nice breakfast with croisants, bread and jam. Also had swimming pool.
Hotel-bb in Beaune. Nice new hotel, clean room with great bathroom with bath and shower. Very good price, Bread, jam, croissants, didgy scrambled egg and bacon for breakfast. Free Wifi internet access was a bonus.
Hotel-bb in Calais area was not so good. Walls in room were dirty and bathroom was old, breakfast same as above. Seems that he quality of hotel-bb is variable.
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Mike, you´ve got Hotmail.
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Me? See profile for my email.
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I think he means Mike as in Michael R. And your email address isn't in your profile anyway!
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Spot on Adam. Sorry for the confusion - meant MichaelR.
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It is now. Never noticed before.
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