2 Nights in France - October 2020 Suggestions

[Atanasoff]

We're nipping to France for 2 nights, 3 days as we want some cheap wine before Brexit. On an early Eurotunnel crossing so will be in Calais from 9.

I have very little knowledge of France apart from Paris and Le Mans so could do with your expertise. Walks along beaches, driving through nice countryside and discovering nice quant towns or visiting historical places of interest (not world war or bayeaux as we have done all that in the past) would be great.

Ideally we would like to avoid Covid hotspot. I didn't know if to go to the Loire valley but have zero clue.

Could do with some help ! Many thanks in advance.

[Ussrcossack]

Why not Belgium, spa or Germany nurburg

[DoubleD]

I don't think he's after a race track

[Atanasoff]

DoubleD said:

I don't think he's after a race track

Correct. I am going to Germany in late November / December and as much as I like flemish towns I have been to Bruge, Brussels, Ghent, Spa area etc many many times. Just wanted to give France a go I guess.

[paulwirral]

Honfleur is a great little place
Hotel L'Ecrin is where we stay , it's a little wacky if you like something different but it's central and has a safe car park .

Edited by paulwirral on Saturday 10th October 18:03

[abzmike]

Is 2 days in France worth 14 days quarantine on return?

[Cocknose]

Epernay is nice for a walk about, beautiful countryside too.

[DoubleD]

abzmike said:

Is 2 days in France worth 14 days quarantine on return?

I guess 3 days could be worth the quarantine, I guess it depends what the OP does for a living and how often he likes to get out and about locally.

[Simpo Two]

I'd just go to the supermarket and buy wine from one of the many places outside the EU that make excellent wine. Saves a trip to France.

I fear I may be missing the point though

[rdjohn]

Do 27,000+ cases of Covid today not put the OP off?

[DoubleD]

Wouldn't put me off

[Simpo Two]

It should do. No point being a hero, you just risk continuing the pandemic.

[DoubleD]

No hero here, it just wouldnt put me off going.

[Atanasoff]

Thanks for the updates - just to clarify:

1) I work from home and have no problem quarantining even though it is almost pointless.
2) I like travelling despite what the government and some random gammons think I should do
3) I could buy some Wolfbass or some dreadful wine from outside of the EU but I prefer buying from our largest trading partner / producer of better wines.

Thanks for the suggestions for the few that actually seem to want to answer my query.

[ClaphamGT3]

Epernay is a good call, especially if you want to stock up with champagnes. The Loire would feel like quite quite a treck in the time you've got.

As another poster has said, Honfleur would be a good call. Le Touquet is also nice and has a certain stark and deserted charm out of season.

[greygoose]

Epernay is nice and close to Reims if you want to visit somewhere a bit bigger. The tour of the cellars at Mercier champagne is good.

[omniflow]

If cheap wine is your primary goal, then you really need to go to where it is produced.

In my opinion, this boils down to 3 places:

The Bordeaux area for red wine. St Emilion is a really lovely place for a visit - a very old town on a steep hill with lots to see and do. Go and visit the co-operative to buy really decent red wine in bulk - 5 or 10 litre wine boxes are great value
The Macon area for white wine. Lots of nice small villages and Wine producers (Caves). My personal favourite is Cave de Lugny, but that is just one of many. Again, buy the wine in bulk for best value
The Epernay area for Champagne. Visit Reims if you want the "glamour", otherwise Epernay itself. I think the Hotel Aux Armes de Champagne is still going in Epernay.

I know there are other places, such as Alsace and the Loire Valley - but I don't know anything about them, so can't recommend them.

Of the 3 places above, Epernay is the only one that's really practical for a 2 night visit, but is probably not going to yield any bargains. St Emilion wins hands down as somewhere to actually visit that you will remember for a long time, but the Macon area is the place I would go to actually buy wine.

[rdjohn]

Wine fairs are currently running at both LeClerc and Carrefour, though the latter is running down.

The juicy pickings have largely gone, but the cheap bulk stuff still exists.

[paulwirral]

I'm guessing the op is going more for the adventure than cheap plonk .
Bordeaux for wine is 8 hours on toll roads just to get there ,, you'll be out of pocket by the time you take the cost of getting there and back , I used to live in the Dordogne by the way so I know what it costs and it's a very boring trip , Reims is great but the French equivalent of Blackpool, main difference is the stag goes round the crowds giving out sweets rather than puking on them then starting a fight , it's all quite civilised in france .
Champagne is cheaper in England than France , especially in the champagne region , unless you really know what your looking for and are prepared to put the time in visiting the smaller producers . If this is your reason then you'll have a great trip .
Personally I'd get into Calais and set a 3ish hour travel limit and enjoy your few days away eating and drinking the local produce then stock your boot up out of a supermarket on the way back . In fact , in all honesty , I'd go for the trip and adventure then just buy some Spanish wines to be delivered to your door from the English merchants .
Enjoy your trip .

[Puggit]

Loire is best for bone dry white, the reds are drinkable but light. It's 5.5 hours from Calais to Tours via Rouen. Quite the schlep.

I'd head to Champagne, stock up on fizz and get some random pick and mix from the supermarket.