Afternoon all,
We’re looking at driving from Calais to La Rochelle, staying in LR for a week in August. We’re want to stay in the Loire Valley overnight on the way there to break the journey, does anyone have any recommendations for a nice, cheap-ish place to stay for us and 2 children.
We’re also thinking of staying on the outskirts of Paris on the way back (maybe two nights) and get a train in and out. Can anyone recommend a nice place to start with easy access to a station.
Finally, we’ve also thought of seeing some of the war memorials (so only one night near Paris), so any ideas there would be equally welcome.
Any other ideas would be great!
Thanks in advnace
Pete
Campanile is our go to place as it’s everywhere, easily accessible from a motorway and clean. May not work with 2 children (we only have one, and it’s fine but they may have larger rooms for larger families.
War memorials near Paris? You may want to visit the Mont Valérien (French resistance and WW1 American cemetery) in Suresnes, just West of Paris.
Ibis hotels are usually good value too near large cities (but not only).
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
You are in Bristol why not go Portsmouth Le Havre?
Good question! We’re going with friends who live near Brighton, and we’re also meeting up with some friends who happen to be over from the US (staying in Kent) before we go to France!!
Another vote for Campanile, we used them several times when driving around France.
F.T.F.A.
Which would make Newhaven/Dieppe a good call!Originally Posted by badger1
The ferry to new haven is a good crossing, nice quiet little port and obviously you arrive a little further south. We tend to stop off at Parc de Fierbois just south of Tours. Nice family orientated site, big enough to have a great swimming pool, slide area as well as a lake and another covered pool. It can get busy but in high season but there's plenty to do.
If you just want a couple of nights then consider staying in the tree houses, kids love it. Breakfast comes via a basket you pull up in the morning, hot chocolate, croissants and orange juice enjoyed on the balcony overlooking the lake and woods
Roughly a 4 hour drive from Dieppe (from memory)
I quite like Chinon on the way to La Rochelle, it's actually on the Vienne, just east of where the Loire and Vienne meet. The town runs along the river, deep in the valley. It has a good castle/citadel with lots of English history. Driving just north, there is a nuclear power plant which seems to put off some visitors. Probably a good place for a plant, between the Loire and Vienne, lots of cooling water.
La Rochelle - I like that area. Just to the east, the Marais Poitevin around Arcais. To the south, the oyster shacks at Marennes and beaches in the Foret de la Coubre. The Charente river to the south-east at Bourg-Charente or Jarnac. Always had a nice time in the area and peaceful as soon as you get way from the coast.
The Saint Nicholas in La Rochelle is nice, stayed there in August.
Ramboulet outside of Paris isn't bad and an easy commute in.
if you are in La Rochelle, go inland to orador-sur-glane, left since ww2 as a memorial due to a massacre in the town, if you are further north near st Omer there is the v2 bomb site at eperleque, and la coupole just down the road, been to both ,well worth a visit.
mike
The best kept secret of France is the following park:
https://www.puydufou.com/en/spectacles
It is in the Loire area.
Truly magical!
Its not in the Loire area,it's in the Vendee just north of La Rochelle. However,it is impressive and we are staying there a few days this year. The kids are really looking forward to it!
^ a secret that attracted almost 2.3 millions visitors in 2017
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
It's certainly attracting me.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
It is indeed quite spectacular.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Tours is my favourite,former capital of France with a lovely vibe and right on the river.
Near Paris try Saint Germain en Laye. We lived nearby in Le Vesinet for a few years and love the area. It is easy to drive to without having to go into central Paris. The views across Paris from the castle walls in St Germain are amazing and there are lovely forest walks. The town itself is a good size and very wealthy with decent shops, cafes and restaurants and you can hop onto the very regular RER A service and get straight into central Paris in around 45 minutes.
Mostly French though - in my understanding it is not widely known outside of France.^ a secret that attracted almost 2.3 millions visitors in 2017
Quite possibly. Although created and promoted by a right wing royalist, it is very unFrench in as much we do not have a tradition of this type of shows, that mixes re-enactment and Disney-like crowd pleasers. Yet it’s an absolute success and the standards set are extremely high.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Loches and as mentioned above Chinon are both very nice. Amboise and chenonceaux also good. My parents live in the Loire valley and I’m very fond of the area.
Saumur...beautiful!
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