Anyone been to Ile de Re? Is it worth the drive?

Anyone been to Ile de Re? Is it worth the drive?

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johnfm

Original Poster:

13,668 posts

251 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
Thinking of driving to Ile de Re over easter.

Anyone else been?

Any tips?

Cheers

mechsympathy

53,006 posts

256 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
yesIt's lovely, and very quiet out of season (ie August).

johnfm

Original Poster:

13,668 posts

251 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
I'm thinking 12th April - 18th

mechsympathy

53,006 posts

256 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
We went in June a couple of years ago and it was quiet then, the danger in April is that everything might be shutbiggrin

Puggit

48,530 posts

249 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
Fantastic spot - but think of it as Paris-on-sea (in terms of prices and attitude).

Not that long a drive from Caen/Le Havre, and almost entirely good autoroute.

Noger

7,117 posts

250 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
I was sick on the La Rochelle to Ile de Re ferry in 1979, if that helps.

johnfm

Original Poster:

13,668 posts

251 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
THe plan is to get chunnel and meander down there stopping at anything interesting as we go. Just get away for a few days, get some sun (if any) eat good food and drink some wine.

Is it ridiculously priced?

mechsympathy

53,006 posts

256 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
johnfm said:
THe plan is to get chunnel and meander down there stopping at anything interesting as we go. Just get away for a few days, get some sun (if any) eat good food and drink some wine.

Is it ridiculously priced?
Sounds great. We didn't think it was that pricey, but the mark up for August was eye-watering.

JB Rugby

4,200 posts

216 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
Noger said:
I was sick on the La Rochelle to Ile de Re ferry in 1979, if that helps.
there's a bridge now... thumbup

Puggit

48,530 posts

249 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
Mrs Puggit and I got food poisoning from the shellfish hurl

We were camper-vanning and wild camping, so needed to visit a campsite to use proper facilities.

johnfm

Original Poster:

13,668 posts

251 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
Puggit said:
Mrs Puggit and I got food poisoning from the shellfish hurl

We were camper-vanning and wild camping, so needed to visit a campsite to use proper facilities.
HMmm nice.

We usually book somewhere but I fancy an 'adventure' with no set plan. Book chunnel and follow the sun/wine/cheese

nigelfr

1,658 posts

192 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
There's a toll bridge instead of a ferry nowadays.

The island itself is pretty enough but probably quite quiet even over the Easter hols. It does have tourist prices.

IMO staying in La Rochelle and going to IdR for a day is a better idea.

Depends really on what you're looking for.

Driving down is a doddle from the Channel ports. In case you (or your Sat Nav) are not aware, a couple of yeras ago the A28 (IIRC) was completed just to the East of Rouen. It takes you almost due South to Le Mans where you pick up the A11 (?) to Angers for the A87(or is it A83)? ViaMichelin is your friend for driving directions, but make sure it doesn't send you via Paris.

I can do Boulogne-La Rochelle in +/- 6 hours driving (excluding stops) (boringly) at legal speeds on a normal day.

BTW supermarket petrol is about £1.05 in France at the moment, diesel is about 82pence. Cité Eurpore is near the exit of the Chunnel if you want to fill up there, but avoid the Total(?) station just after you leave the train because that's about 15% more expensive.

Weather forecast over the next few days is here:
http://www.charente-maritime.org/ see meteo à 3 jours

johnfm

Original Poster:

13,668 posts

251 months

Friday 3rd April 2009
quotequote all
bonjour nigel

thanks for that. I'll be in a diesel.

I was planning to see Caen and Bayeux on the way, stay somewhere CHEAP if I can find it in La Rochelle, then explore from there.