Overnight getaway in France - know any nice country hotels?
Discussion
Evening chaps and chapess-es,
My partner two weeks ago today gave birth to our amazing little boy Joshua, and since the big day we've had two fantastic weeks learning the joys of dirty nappies and feeding times and having no sleep (her more so than me - she's still living with her mum, and there just isn't enough room for me there too, nor is there space for them both to be here, so I have to make do with going to bed at home on my own most nights
until we can find a place for the three of us).
He's a fantastic little chap (a proper blokey bloke too - lots of muscle stretching and showing off, big manly burps, loves off-roading and doesn't make a fuss about anything - until you REALLY ignore the hints and then you'd swear the world was ending) and though we both love him to bits, we're definitely in need of some alone time. With a new baby about there always seems to be someone who's come visiting or come to check the health of mum or baby or both or million and one other things - and when there isn't anybody round, there's more than enough odd jobs to do to keep him sorted himself! Anyway, we have managed to wrangle a night off where Josh's gran doesn't mind looking after him for the evening and night, and most of the next day.
As such, I think she is WELL deserving of a treat, so I want to whisk her away to the continent for a nice night in a country hotel somewhere, breakfast in bed and then a walk in the fields, or trip to the beach during the day, then a steady trundle back stopping off at anything interesting we see on our way back to catch the ferry/shuttle home in the afternoon or early evening.
Now, getting the Shuttle (that's the name of the drive-the-car-onto-the-train thing, right?) would probably be the best bet but I've had a look at the website trying to book a ticket and it says they're all sold out, all day. Then I looked at some other dates and they were all sold out too. Even dates 2 weeks in the future, and every day either side of all of those too. Surely there's some mistake here? I know they must be busy but they can't be THAT busy! Anybody have any idea?
Failing that I suppose we could get the ferry if necessary but from a bit of research it looks like it's more expensive (£70 ish as opposed to £40 ish for the train), takes longer, and is just generally more hassle.
The second issue is where to stay. I wonder if anybody has any recommendations? We'll likely be getting into France no earlier than 8 or 9pm at best, if not possibly even later, and so need somewhere that's not a million miles away from Calais so we can arrive relatively rapidly and then kick back on a nice big bed. I'd like somewhere a bit out in the country, some nice fields or woods or something nearby to look out on in the morning, and somewhere with a bit of character that's not just une Travelodgère
Anybody have any places they'd report favourably on? Or suggestions for the channel crossing, etc? Any help would be much appreciated!
Owen.
My partner two weeks ago today gave birth to our amazing little boy Joshua, and since the big day we've had two fantastic weeks learning the joys of dirty nappies and feeding times and having no sleep (her more so than me - she's still living with her mum, and there just isn't enough room for me there too, nor is there space for them both to be here, so I have to make do with going to bed at home on my own most nights
until we can find a place for the three of us). He's a fantastic little chap (a proper blokey bloke too - lots of muscle stretching and showing off, big manly burps, loves off-roading and doesn't make a fuss about anything - until you REALLY ignore the hints and then you'd swear the world was ending) and though we both love him to bits, we're definitely in need of some alone time. With a new baby about there always seems to be someone who's come visiting or come to check the health of mum or baby or both or million and one other things - and when there isn't anybody round, there's more than enough odd jobs to do to keep him sorted himself! Anyway, we have managed to wrangle a night off where Josh's gran doesn't mind looking after him for the evening and night, and most of the next day.
As such, I think she is WELL deserving of a treat, so I want to whisk her away to the continent for a nice night in a country hotel somewhere, breakfast in bed and then a walk in the fields, or trip to the beach during the day, then a steady trundle back stopping off at anything interesting we see on our way back to catch the ferry/shuttle home in the afternoon or early evening.
Now, getting the Shuttle (that's the name of the drive-the-car-onto-the-train thing, right?) would probably be the best bet but I've had a look at the website trying to book a ticket and it says they're all sold out, all day. Then I looked at some other dates and they were all sold out too. Even dates 2 weeks in the future, and every day either side of all of those too. Surely there's some mistake here? I know they must be busy but they can't be THAT busy! Anybody have any idea?
Failing that I suppose we could get the ferry if necessary but from a bit of research it looks like it's more expensive (£70 ish as opposed to £40 ish for the train), takes longer, and is just generally more hassle.
The second issue is where to stay. I wonder if anybody has any recommendations? We'll likely be getting into France no earlier than 8 or 9pm at best, if not possibly even later, and so need somewhere that's not a million miles away from Calais so we can arrive relatively rapidly and then kick back on a nice big bed. I'd like somewhere a bit out in the country, some nice fields or woods or something nearby to look out on in the morning, and somewhere with a bit of character that's not just une Travelodgère
Anybody have any places they'd report favourably on? Or suggestions for the channel crossing, etc? Any help would be much appreciated!
Owen.
Sorry, I can't really help with the France part, only know the South but is it all worth it for 1 night? I know it sounds romantic etc etc but for 24 hours, surely it's easier and just as nice to find somewhere in England an hour or two-ish from where you are, unless you live next door to the tunnel, so that you have more relaxation time and less time spent travelling?
I'm open to the idea of staying in England if anybody can recommend anywhere really rather nice - however the appeal of roaring off to the continent, red sports car (even if it is only an MR2 ), sun shining, roof off, and babe in passenger seat, is very hard to resist!
We're just next to Gatwick airport so it's an hour and change to get down to the tunnel on the motorway. Not too bad, and I think the fun aspect of trying to work together to navigate the French road network on the other side might outweigh the ultimate tedium of motorway driving. Going out to somewhere in England wouldn't quite be the same as I would find myself loathing the caravan driver I inevitably get stuck behind, rather than being amused!
), sun shining, roof off, and babe in passenger seat, is very hard to resist!We're just next to Gatwick airport so it's an hour and change to get down to the tunnel on the motorway. Not too bad, and I think the fun aspect of trying to work together to navigate the French road network on the other side might outweigh the ultimate tedium of motorway driving. Going out to somewhere in England wouldn't quite be the same as I would find myself loathing the caravan driver I inevitably get stuck behind, rather than being amused!
http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/
Have a look on here some decent places around reims and maybe a bit further north.
Tunnel will be a PITA until the fire aftermath is sorted.
Have a look on here some decent places around reims and maybe a bit further north.
Tunnel will be a PITA until the fire aftermath is sorted.
Tunnel is likely to be a waste of space for some time yet. When I take my Caterham over I always go on the Speedferries catamaran to Boulogne. Takes 50 mins whereas the big ferries take 90, and sails from its own ports both ends so theere's no HGVs on the dockside to avoid!
If you want a nice evening away Boulogne itself has some nice hotels, or head down the coast towards Le Touquet. Or for a really nice night away 4 hours from Boulogne, try L'Assiette Champenois (sp?) in Reims.
TC
If you want a nice evening away Boulogne itself has some nice hotels, or head down the coast towards Le Touquet. Or for a really nice night away 4 hours from Boulogne, try L'Assiette Champenois (sp?) in Reims.
TC
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