France - young family stopover options
Discussion
We’re driving to a Eurocamp in Provence in August (Eurotunnel crossing). My wife is tiring of my “drive straight through the night” approach which we’ve used in the past so I’m looking at 1-night stop over options but have no past experience to draw on.
Eurocamp seem to have dropped the “book one night for this exact purpose” option which we have used in the past. A quick look at ‘Formula 1’ hotels suggest they are a bit grim?
Probably looking at stopping somewhere like Troyes given it looks roughly halfway.
Eurocamp seem to have dropped the “book one night for this exact purpose” option which we have used in the past. A quick look at ‘Formula 1’ hotels suggest they are a bit grim?
Probably looking at stopping somewhere like Troyes given it looks roughly halfway.
Following recommendations here we stayed at the Ibis Troyes Centre last year. Great hotel right in the centre with a secure underground car park, or if arriving late and leaving early you can park in the cinema car park opposite for free.
We had some expensive bikes on the car and they let us store them in one of the conference rooms.
We really liked Troyes and we did a walking tour of the town via a map my wife found online. We’d definitely return.
We had some expensive bikes on the car and they let us store them in one of the conference rooms.
We really liked Troyes and we did a walking tour of the town via a map my wife found online. We’d definitely return.
I've driven to near Nice a fair few times. In the past we've driven from the midlands to Dover to get the midnight ferry arriving in Calais around 2am or so. Then usually we stop in Lyon getting there around midday after a leisurely drive with a few stops at Aires along the way.
I can't help with suggestions on accommodation though. We always camp in the south in our own tent but can't be bothered with the hassle of putting it up on a overnight stop so take pop up tents with us.
I can't help with suggestions on accommodation though. We always camp in the south in our own tent but can't be bothered with the hassle of putting it up on a overnight stop so take pop up tents with us.
Edited by fiatpower on Thursday 29th February 07:53
Dijon, Troyes, Nuits St George (& Beune) all within your stop off with large chain hotels not far from the autoroute, we tend to use the Novotel family rooms (kids 9&5), large spacious 4x beds, although we have found decent independent hotels slightly of the beaten track on booking.com with large family rooms/apartment style rooms.
Nb if you're near the south east don't discount a Eurostar/TGV adventure with a change in Paris/Lille, EU rail pass do excellent family tickets from any point in the UK to any point in the EU.
We did the sleeper train 4 years back, made the connection in Paris at 6pm, arrived in Argeles at 7am. Kids loved it.
Nb if you're near the south east don't discount a Eurostar/TGV adventure with a change in Paris/Lille, EU rail pass do excellent family tickets from any point in the UK to any point in the EU.
We did the sleeper train 4 years back, made the connection in Paris at 6pm, arrived in Argeles at 7am. Kids loved it.
B&B hotels ( https://www.hotel-bb.com/en ) aren't bad for an overnight stopover and generaly pretty cheap. I've used the one in St. Malo a couple of times when we've had an early morning ferry. Nothing particularly fancy, but the one we've stayed in had two floors (handy with kids if they go to bed earlier), decent shower etc. You can get breakfast there as well. I've also used Kyriad direct, both chains, at least in the places I've stayed, you can turn up whenever, and use a code to get in if the reception is closed.
HotelF1, Premiere Classe etc. are a bit more budget, or they were, I've not looked for a few years, but I stayed in a Premiere Classe once for work, and it was like the cheapest, smallest cabin on an overnight ferry!
I'm driving down to Provence on Sunday, and booked a B&B hotel, albeit a lot further south than what you need.
Can't really help much with that particular area, but a little further south at Beaune this museum is well worth a visit, loads of cars and bikes, and fighter planes!
https://www.chateau-savigny.com/musees/
HotelF1, Premiere Classe etc. are a bit more budget, or they were, I've not looked for a few years, but I stayed in a Premiere Classe once for work, and it was like the cheapest, smallest cabin on an overnight ferry!
I'm driving down to Provence on Sunday, and booked a B&B hotel, albeit a lot further south than what you need.
Can't really help much with that particular area, but a little further south at Beaune this museum is well worth a visit, loads of cars and bikes, and fighter planes!
https://www.chateau-savigny.com/musees/
For something a bit left field, have a look here:
https://charmingsmallhotels.co.uk/
They have a book for France, and we've used it in the past a few times. The places in there are generally lovely and very "French".
It will definitely make a change from the F1 / IBIS type places.
https://charmingsmallhotels.co.uk/
They have a book for France, and we've used it in the past a few times. The places in there are generally lovely and very "French".
It will definitely make a change from the F1 / IBIS type places.
I always look to the Logis website first to see what they have in the area.they don’t always have anywhere in the area I need but if they do then the prices are usually reasonable and there’s often a good restaurant attached.
https://www.logishotels.com/en
https://www.logishotels.com/en
johnpsanderson said:
We’re driving to a Eurocamp in Provence in August (Eurotunnel crossing). My wife is tiring of my “drive straight through the night” approach which we’ve used in the past so I’m looking at 1-night stop over options but have no past experience to draw on.
Eurocamp seem to have dropped the “book one night for this exact purpose” option which we have used in the past. A quick look at ‘Formula 1’ hotels suggest they are a bit grim?
Probably looking at stopping somewhere like Troyes given it looks roughly halfway.
Try booking.comEurocamp seem to have dropped the “book one night for this exact purpose” option which we have used in the past. A quick look at ‘Formula 1’ hotels suggest they are a bit grim?
Probably looking at stopping somewhere like Troyes given it looks roughly halfway.
We regularly stop over on our way down france so have tried most of the obvious options.
Formule 1 are an absolute no no.
Premiere Class and Fasthotels are ok for an overnight but are pretty basic. Ibis budget, Kyriad, and B&B hotels are more than adequate for an overnight.
We often plan the route and then check booking.com for alternatives which often throws up quirky independant options.
Formule 1 are an absolute no no.
Premiere Class and Fasthotels are ok for an overnight but are pretty basic. Ibis budget, Kyriad, and B&B hotels are more than adequate for an overnight.
We often plan the route and then check booking.com for alternatives which often throws up quirky independant options.
A lot depends when/where you're starting from and if you're looking for somewhere to spend the evening or just the night. The further you have to travel to the Tunnel/the later you leave the further north you'll want to stop in France, while "just the night" (you're just going to arrive and sleep) will let you go further south than "the evening" (you want to grab some dinner before bed).
From SE England and leaving straight after work on a Friday I'd look at Saint-Quentin (1.5hr from Calais) "for the evening" but push on to Riems (2.5hr), Troyes (4hrs), or maybe Dijon (5hrs) "just for the night" and depending how short a Saturday drive you want. If you're further from the Tunnel in the UK even Saint-Quentin is likely to become "just the night" - but take a half/whole day and you counter that/can go further and still stop "for the evening".
As for which hotels there's really nothing wrong with Formula 1 hotels, especially if it's "just the night". You'll get a clean, basic room for next to nothing. Personally I prefer to "push the boat out" and go for an ibis Budget, just because they tend to have slightly better locations. Both are part of the same Accor Hotels group though.
From SE England and leaving straight after work on a Friday I'd look at Saint-Quentin (1.5hr from Calais) "for the evening" but push on to Riems (2.5hr), Troyes (4hrs), or maybe Dijon (5hrs) "just for the night" and depending how short a Saturday drive you want. If you're further from the Tunnel in the UK even Saint-Quentin is likely to become "just the night" - but take a half/whole day and you counter that/can go further and still stop "for the evening".
As for which hotels there's really nothing wrong with Formula 1 hotels, especially if it's "just the night". You'll get a clean, basic room for next to nothing. Personally I prefer to "push the boat out" and go for an ibis Budget, just because they tend to have slightly better locations. Both are part of the same Accor Hotels group though.
Time4another said:
Done a lot of work in France over the years. Give Campanile hotels a miss too, most of them are a dump. Stopped using them as soon as we got to book our own travel.
Ah Campanile, I think the most budget of the budget French hotel chains. Stayed in one where the partition between the bedroom and toilet was so thing it...left little to the imagination 
Still clean and does what it says on the tin for very little money and if you're just arriving at midnight/going stright to bed/getting up at 7/getting straight back on the road...
Either super budget (which we found hard with the kids) or something a little unique! We wanted a family room and some good food...
We had a very very successful stop in-between le mans and tours here https://grand-hotel-chateau-du-loir.com/
It's very french but had the most fabulous food, both for dinner and breakfast, was very safe and had family rooms with separate beds and air conditioning. The staff were also lovely. Fresh Madeline's (frankly the most amazing Madeline's we've ever had) and proper croissant for breakfast and food that would be Michelin star in the UK. Scrupulously clean but very simple and french (having said that, the beds were comfy...)
We had the bikes on the back and I'd taken the wheels.off and put them in the car. Overnight the local bobby had been to the hotel to report the wheels had been stolen and how embarrassed they were!
We had a very very successful stop in-between le mans and tours here https://grand-hotel-chateau-du-loir.com/
It's very french but had the most fabulous food, both for dinner and breakfast, was very safe and had family rooms with separate beds and air conditioning. The staff were also lovely. Fresh Madeline's (frankly the most amazing Madeline's we've ever had) and proper croissant for breakfast and food that would be Michelin star in the UK. Scrupulously clean but very simple and french (having said that, the beds were comfy...)
We had the bikes on the back and I'd taken the wheels.off and put them in the car. Overnight the local bobby had been to the hotel to report the wheels had been stolen and how embarrassed they were!
Edited by PugwasHDJ80 on Thursday 29th February 22:27
We did the overnight (Keycamp now merged with Eurocamp) thing (once) back in the day and found it a real faff for just 1 night.
We have stayed numerous times in Novotel’s or Ibis Styles and really can’t fault them for a decent overnight stay. For all those that drive for ridiculous hours on the continent, have you ever thought about the safety of your family and others because of your actions. Anymore than 11 hours per day behind the wheel and not having decent quality accommodation and sleep is just ludicrous (and unsafe).
We have stayed numerous times in Novotel’s or Ibis Styles and really can’t fault them for a decent overnight stay. For all those that drive for ridiculous hours on the continent, have you ever thought about the safety of your family and others because of your actions. Anymore than 11 hours per day behind the wheel and not having decent quality accommodation and sleep is just ludicrous (and unsafe).
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