Les Gets in August booked - will be driving down
Discussion
We have just booked our accommodation in Les Gets for our family summer holiday. We normally do 2 weeks All Inclusive so this will be a bit different. The plan is to do lots of mountain biking, golf and splashing about in the lakes over the week that we're there.
We've skied in Morzine every year for the last 8 years, but always flown, so this will definitely be a new experience.
We'll be driving down from Manchester via Eurotunnel. The plan is to stop en-route, but not yet decided where - Reims, Epernay, & Chalons-en-Champagne are currently being considered. Does anyone have any views as to which may be best or any alternative suggestions? Looking for somewhere to explore and enjoy a meal out, rather than just a Travelodge next to the motorway. My biggest issue is we'll have 3 expensive mountain bikes on the car so need to make sure we can safely store them somewhere.
Is there anything we should be doing in the area that we've perhaps not thought of? We're not planning to leave the Les Gets / Morzine area as there's plenty to do for a week, but it would be a shame to miss out on something amazing that's perhaps within a day's drive. My boys are 13 and 15 and are total thrill seekers, so the more dangerous the better.
We've skied in Morzine every year for the last 8 years, but always flown, so this will definitely be a new experience.
We'll be driving down from Manchester via Eurotunnel. The plan is to stop en-route, but not yet decided where - Reims, Epernay, & Chalons-en-Champagne are currently being considered. Does anyone have any views as to which may be best or any alternative suggestions? Looking for somewhere to explore and enjoy a meal out, rather than just a Travelodge next to the motorway. My biggest issue is we'll have 3 expensive mountain bikes on the car so need to make sure we can safely store them somewhere.
Is there anything we should be doing in the area that we've perhaps not thought of? We're not planning to leave the Les Gets / Morzine area as there's plenty to do for a week, but it would be a shame to miss out on something amazing that's perhaps within a day's drive. My boys are 13 and 15 and are total thrill seekers, so the more dangerous the better.
For an overnight stop take a look at Saint-Quentin. Nice little town/city about 90min south from Calais.
If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
If you haven't booked the tunnel yet then consider Hull Rotterdam ferry. The UK roads are by far the most unpleasant part of the journey.
It's a pretty pleasant and relaxing start to the journey and Les Gets is easily doable in a oner from Rotterdam
Coming back - the ferry time being fixed is a pain but one way on ferry and one way on tunnel return isn't signficantly more expensive.
It's a pretty pleasant and relaxing start to the journey and Les Gets is easily doable in a oner from Rotterdam
Coming back - the ferry time being fixed is a pain but one way on ferry and one way on tunnel return isn't signficantly more expensive.
//j17 said:
For an overnight stop take a look at Saint-Quentin. Nice little town/city about 90min south from Calais.
If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
We've used this Hotel a few times, great location and secure!If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
There will be more to see in Reims than Chalons. I did an overnight in Chalons a couple of months ago and, while it was very nice, the place is pretty quiet.
There's more than enough to keep you busy for 2 weeks.
Other ideas:
Wibit at the Lac des Ecoles
Cascades Aventures Morzine
Rafting on the Dranse
Via Ferrata SJD
Lac de Montriond
There's more than enough to keep you busy for 2 weeks.
Other ideas:
Wibit at the Lac des Ecoles
Cascades Aventures Morzine
Rafting on the Dranse
Via Ferrata SJD
Lac de Montriond
OscarIndia said:
//j17 said:
For an overnight stop take a look at Saint-Quentin. Nice little town/city about 90min south from Calais.
If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
We've used this Hotel a few times, great location and secure!If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
Bill said:
The via ferrata in Samoens is pretty good, had both my wife and daughter in tears! 
I expect someone like ZigZag in Samoens will do guiding.
I was bloody petrified doing that, scariest thing I'd done in a long time. Friends I was with (One who lives out there) treated it almost like walking to get a coffee. The exposure you get is mind blowing as you balance on a piece of iron stuck into the rock! I expect someone like ZigZag in Samoens will do guiding.JQ said:
Cheers, that does look very tempting, however we'd hoped to get a bit further south for the stopover. Whilst we are traveling from Manchester, we'll stop over the first night at my sister's house around 2hrs from Folkestone and had planned to get up early doors to miss the traffic on the M25 and hopefully getting to Calais before 10am.
Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
Personally, if you are spending the night near Folkestone, I would just do it all in one hit. French autoroutes are so much better than UK motorways. It is easy just to sit at 130 km/h for hours and enjoy the scenery. I've done the journey countless times and the French bit is easy.Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
Amateurish said:
JQ said:
Cheers, that does look very tempting, however we'd hoped to get a bit further south for the stopover. Whilst we are traveling from Manchester, we'll stop over the first night at my sister's house around 2hrs from Folkestone and had planned to get up early doors to miss the traffic on the M25 and hopefully getting to Calais before 10am.
Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
Personally, if you are spending the night near Folkestone, I would just do it all in one hit. French autoroutes are so much better than UK motorways. It is easy just to sit at 130 km/h for hours and enjoy the scenery. I've done the journey countless times and the French bit is easy.Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
JQ said:
... My biggest issue is we'll have 3 expensive mountain bikes on the car so need to make sure we can safely store them somewhere.
Even if you find a place with an underground car park would you feel confident leaving the 3 bikes locked up down there?Maybe consider a nice place out of town where there will be privacy and space, and where you might be able to prearrange a secure place to keep the bikes while you head into town.
As Troyes was mentioned, it's a very nice town and this is 6 miles away as an example.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/chateau-de-montab...
1
For something mainstream but slightly different on the outskirts of St Quentin, there are the usual motels but try eating at the small-chain Crocodile restaurant - look out for the old train carriage (Crocodile was the nickname for a train). Menu is a french take on Harvester (boo!) but if you choose an all-inclusive deal (2 or 3 courses) you also get help yourself beer or wine (as much as you like!) Yeah! You can even eat in the carriage. Have moved on now & prefer to stay in the Florence & eat in the traffic-free square (even if you are disturbed by the bells on the town clock!)
Rejoin the motorway if you need to make progress. I stay close to the Swiss border in Malbuisson, but many Brits now go to the french Alps through the backdoor - you can take the autoroute to Poligny then cross the border at Vallorbe (great drive from Poligny, particularly the last 30 miles). There are many other variations - I prefer to take the scenic route, but occasionally leave the autoroute south of Langres & head to Besancon then Pontarlier think on 2.5 hours to Vallorbe from Langres if you are pressing on.
//j17 said:
For an overnight stop take a look at Saint-Quentin. Nice little town/city about 90min south from Calais.
If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
Beat me to it! A big fan of Le Florence here! Have stayed there many times.Town centre is a couple of hundred metres away, with a variety of bars & restaurants. There's a bar in the hotel for a cheeky sundowner. Let's not shout about it though. If you like independent hotels then check out Hôtel Le Florence. In the middle of town with it's own car park and I've always had one of the 'courtyard' rooms that would be easy/have plenty of space to take the bikes inside over night.
Alternatively I've used the ibis Budget 'Centre Gare' a couple of times. Again middle of town/own car park/should be room to bring the bikes in overnight.
Both of these are a pleasent stroll up to the main hotel de ville square that's surrounded by restaurants.
For something mainstream but slightly different on the outskirts of St Quentin, there are the usual motels but try eating at the small-chain Crocodile restaurant - look out for the old train carriage (Crocodile was the nickname for a train). Menu is a french take on Harvester (boo!) but if you choose an all-inclusive deal (2 or 3 courses) you also get help yourself beer or wine (as much as you like!) Yeah! You can even eat in the carriage. Have moved on now & prefer to stay in the Florence & eat in the traffic-free square (even if you are disturbed by the bells on the town clock!)
Rejoin the motorway if you need to make progress. I stay close to the Swiss border in Malbuisson, but many Brits now go to the french Alps through the backdoor - you can take the autoroute to Poligny then cross the border at Vallorbe (great drive from Poligny, particularly the last 30 miles). There are many other variations - I prefer to take the scenic route, but occasionally leave the autoroute south of Langres & head to Besancon then Pontarlier think on 2.5 hours to Vallorbe from Langres if you are pressing on.
JQ said:
Cheers, (Saint-Quentin) does look very tempting, however we'd hoped to get a bit further south for the stopover. Whilst we are traveling from Manchester, we'll stop over the first night at my sister's house around 2hrs from Folkestone and had planned to get up early doors to miss the traffic on the M25 and hopefully getting to Calais before 10am.
Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
Ah, I'd assumed you'd be starting from Manchester Or would be better just going to Saint Quentin and enjoying the day there?
Saint-Quentin is nice...but I'd head south if it was me.If you're hitting Calais at 10AM French time that would put you around Reims for lunch so maybe stop somewhere like Dijon?
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