France or Spain?

[r1_jon]

Hi All,

A couple of mates and I are planning a little jaunt over to France or Spain for a long weekend this summer. None of us have done this before so I'm after a few pointers from those in the know:

1: France or Spain? Where to go in each? Any other recommendations?
2: Best way to get there. Which ferry port takes you directly to some nice roads? Or Eurostar maybe?
3: Book accomodatioin in advance or just find Hotels when there?
4: Do most hotels have somewhere secure(ish) to lock the bikes up?
5: Any other pointers appreciated.

Cheers

Jon

[itchy]

Haven't been to Spain on a bike but can heartily recommend the French Alps. Easy miles from Calais (cross in half an hour via Le Shuttle – don’t waste time on ferries if you’ve only got a long weekend – in fact, I try to avoid ferries anyway). A comfortable day’s riding will get you there. I forget the number of the toll road heading south from Calais but basically it’s quiet and fast and gets you most of the way there.

A reliable source informs me that the roads in the French Alps are very satisfying and well-surfaced. I spent a lot of time in the Swiss Alps and while there are some to-die-for mountain roads on that side of the border, the surfaces are variable and some are downright poor. So stick to France, especially given your time constraints. Chamonix, for example, has a fine approach from the East but I'm told Bourg-St-Maurice is a good place to be based for roads. Look at a map and do some surfing in an attempt to endorse your thoughts on roads that look good on paper.

It goes without saying that the summer months represent the ideal time for a trip to this region!

I wouldn’t recommend just pitching up at some hotel in the hope of finding a room. It’s so easy on the internet to source and book hotels. Besides, why worry about where you’re going to stay when you should be worrying about the yeti standing in the road around the next corner? When I planned a two-week trip a couple of summers ago, I was able to sort out the whole itinerary on-line, including checking parking facilities at each site (either by information on web sites or by e-mailing the hotels). Everything went like clockwork.

Hope that helps.

[fergus]

Jon

If you give me your details via a PM, I'll post you some roadbooks used by a certain company for their runs down to the french tracks. The roads are stunning as they're well researched.

ta

[rsvmilly]

Jon

A long weekend isn't a long time. I ended up going to Brittany for a few days last year. Reasonably cheap ferries via Cherbourg or you can go to St Malo.

For cheap and cheerful hotels;

www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/index.html

For more choice;

www.france.hotels-france.com/us/index.php

BTW How are the wheelies coming along?

[s2rr Kitty]

France - Massif Central - reachable in under a day from Calais.

Spain - Pyrenees & Picos de Europa - best reached from Santander.

Thanks Ferg I've only got dog eared printed ones left!

[stooz]

Im off to the pyrannees in a week or two. heres my plan. the cross over into spain taskes in some good roads in east france, and andorra.
top it all off with a long ferry and a few beers to rest my weary legs.

11th May
Calais - Nevers, 330 miles
landing in Calais at 12:15, a quick motorway blat to cover some distance, and maybe some more interesting roads depending how we get on

19:00 arrive in Nevers.

12th May
Nevers - Narbonne, 330 miles
leave at 8am, but enjoy the countryside, and struggle to cover good mileage, hence planned 18:00 arrival at hotel

13th May
Narbonne - La Seu D'Urgell, 130 miles
across Andorra, and drop into the southern spanish pyranees. Again, lots of mountain passes, but with an early finish; 15:00, hotel with pool and sauna!

14th May
out for a day with a nice lunch with the spanish RAT group around the pyranees, no luggage (hoorah!), back for a nice meal and natter.

15th May
La Seu D'Urgell - Logrono, 300 miles
More group riding, a long day in the saddle, seeing more of the Pyranees. A late night joining a wine tasting party in the town.

Monday 16th May Logrono - Bilbau, 80 miles
Is it over already? room for a lie in, or get up early and hit some loops around logrono I know about that have been freshly tarmaced? decisions..
Get some cheap wine into the panniers, and head for a 12:00 arrival at the port.

Monday night, party with the "Boys", hit the on board casino and blow any remainding euros, drink a little too much, because we don't dock until 17:15pm tuesday, so I can afford a lie in to sober up.

Tuesday 15:00 start to get really bored of being on the boat, pack my bags, show off the photos or video on blagged TV in the staff room, and drag back on the leathers..


hotels can be on every corner - sometimes its easier to book. Personally, some of my greatest memories of the wonderful places we found by accident. So, book the odd hotel, but experiment the rest. It can hamper your mileage looking for places to stay.

[r1_jon]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies, some very useful info there...

Fergus - will drop you a mail... thanks

RSVMILLY - the wheelies are getting there !! A lot harder to get it up and keep it up on the gixer than on those bandits though. The trouble is now I'm getting the hang of it, I can't stop pulling them wherever I can !! It's sure to end in tears.... How are you getting on? BTW - Booked Ron Haslam scool for June 15th if you fancy it?

Just had another thought, maybe go over to the IOM and play on the TT course for a weekend. Anyone done that???

Cheers

Jon

[Fats25]

Has anyone booked travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao?

If so can you recommend somewhere that the prices are not as extortionate as they are on the official P&O site?

Thanks

[stooz]

Fats25 said:

Has anyone booked travel from Portsmouth to Bilbao? If so can you recommend somewhere that the prices are not as extortionate as they are on the official P&O site? Thanks

P&O will be the cheapest!! it works out better if you
A) book a return with P&O
b) quote a bike mag for a discount (30-40%)
c) book 6 months in advance.

have a look in a magazine rack, and flick down the back of the mags, RiDE should have a P&O ad.

alternate option is www.brittanyferries.co.uk which does plymouth/santander.
Its FAR quicker crossing giving you more biking time. The ferry is pretty dull though, so take some mags to read.

[Fats25]

Thanks for that - I never knew about the other Santander option!

P&O would be quite reasonable, but they insist that you book accomodation.

When I would be quite happy to drink til I drop - and then no need for a bed - looks like they do this on brittany!

>> Edited by Fats25 on Tuesday 26th April 12:31

[mrmaggit]

We're going over for a long weekend this weekend. Southern Belgium and Luxembourg. There's a place 2 miles from the French border in Belgium that could be Matlock Bath, but without the police presence. The beers better too.

Place called Bouillon, but don't tell anybody else, OK? If you want a bit more high-life, Dinant is 15 miles north, and a bit more cosmopolitan.

[neilsie]

We did the Santander option a few years ago, and the road up thru the middle of France to Calais after visiting the Pyreenees. The Massif Central is well worth the visit!

We did get caught for speeding in spain mind - so have plenty of cash avaiable to ye!

>> Edited by neilsie on Tuesday 26th April 15:15

[rsvmilly]

r1_jon said:

RSVMILLY - the wheelies are getting there !! A lot harder to get it up and keep it up on the gixer than on those bandits though. The trouble is now I'm getting the hang of it, I can't stop pulling them wherever I can !! It's sure to end in tears.... How are you getting on? BTW - Booked Ron Haslam scool for June 15th if you fancy it?

I haven't been out on the bike for ages so I haven't practiced.

Can't do June 15 as I go to Le Mans the next day and I need to get organised. Have fun!