Overnight Stay

[Tripps]

Having realised this year that taking 24 cars (even split into four groups) takes much, much longer than a solo drive, we've decided to leave mid-morning Wednesday and stay overnight somewhere around the halfway mark (from Calais) and enjoy an evening of good food and a proper bed.

We've got 16 or so cars this year and would like to stop somewhere scenic, a chateau or something would be nice, as long as it has secure parking for us all.

Has anyone done anything similar or stopped anywhere that would fit the bill?

[ellroy]

Not sure about the accomodation bit in terms of numbers/parking, there are a number of good hotels, but we stayed in Rouen last year. Brilliant place and loads of places to eat and drink.

[//j17]

ellroy said:

Not sure about the accomodation bit in terms of numbers/parking, there are a number of good hotels, but we stayed in Rouen last year. Brilliant place and loads of places to eat and drink.

Don't go in to Rouen! Half the population of Rouen are actually people who got lost driving through to Le Mans over the years and still haven't managed to find their way out

[Tripps]

//j17 said:

ellroy said: Not sure about the accomodation bit in terms of numbers/parking, there are a number of good hotels, but we stayed in Rouen last year. Brilliant place and loads of places to eat and drink. Don't go in to Rouen! Half the population of Rouen are actually people who got lost driving through to Le Mans over the years and still haven't managed to find their way out

That's certainly my impression from the first and last visit in 2003!

Was thinking somewhere SE of Rouen and NE of Paris, as we usually take the scenic route through this sort of area anyway, staying at Gisors or towns along that river for lunch, so somewhere around there would be great.

[the fury]

We stayed in Rouen on the way back last time and thought it was alright! Got a very reasonable hotel with a view of the cathedral (2 mins walk away). Had a pleasant meal in the garden of a restaurant which was right in front of the cathedral, whilst very groovy arty projections were displayed onto the front of the building! Nice traffic-free exit the next morning too.

[up-the-dubs]

We stayed in a Holiday Inn near Calais (can't remember the town now) on the way home. Great just for a bed and proper shower. We weren't in the mood for much else after the weekend so it worked perfectly for us. 20mins to the tunnel in the morning, breaks the journey up nicely.

[Tripps]

up-the-dubs said:

We stayed in a Holiday Inn near Calais (can't remember the town now) on the way home. Great just for a bed and proper shower. We weren't in the mood for much else after the weekend so it worked perfectly for us. 20mins to the tunnel in the morning, breaks the journey up nicely.

We're only a short hop from Dover so tend to get straight back, although some of us took a detour via the Alps this year.

Besides, my Wife lives to see me unshaven and unwashed after my time away