Road trip down to La Rochelle
Discussion
Depending on your timings (and assuming you are planning to travel via Calais) it might be worth stopping in Rouen which is just over 2hrs into France, you can either go right into the old town or just stay in a generic chain hotel in the suburbs.
Then still have a fairly easy second day on the Autoroutes down to La Rochelle.
(Versus staying in Le Mans giving you a longer first day and shorter second day).
Then still have a fairly easy second day on the Autoroutes down to La Rochelle.
(Versus staying in Le Mans giving you a longer first day and shorter second day).
From London, La Rochelle is do-able in a day's drive if you can manage 130 km/h on the autoroute (and don't need to stop to recharge) - via the tunnel then A28/A11/A87. There are lots of places you could stop over along the Loire, we often stay in Blois on the return journey from the South-West
littleredrooster said:
Bugger! All of my suggestions have already been made!
Only to add that if I was going to La Rochelle, I wouldn't want to start from Calais.North-East France has very few redeeming features and road tolls will cost a lot to get where you're going - there are no toll roads in Brittany.
But the ferry into brittany is a huge increase compared to dover-calais and as we split the journey over a couple of days we usually do the non tolls as we like to stop in little villages on the way.Only to add that if I was going to La Rochelle, I wouldn't want to start from Calais.North-East France has very few redeeming features and road tolls will cost a lot to get where you're going - there are no toll roads in Brittany.
blue_haddock said:
littleredrooster said:
Bugger! All of my suggestions have already been made!
Only to add that if I was going to La Rochelle, I wouldn't want to start from Calais.North-East France has very few redeeming features and road tolls will cost a lot to get where you're going - there are no toll roads in Brittany.
But the ferry into brittany is a huge increase compared to dover-calais and as we split the journey over a couple of days we usually do the non tolls as we like to stop in little villages on the way.Only to add that if I was going to La Rochelle, I wouldn't want to start from Calais.North-East France has very few redeeming features and road tolls will cost a lot to get where you're going - there are no toll roads in Brittany.
There are many ways to holiday / travel, and different things please different people. Some people are focused on cost, some on time, some on convenience and some on nostalgia / re-living the past.
For me, I've been alive long enough to work out what I like and what winds me up. I much prefer the overnight ferry to any other method of getting to the continent. There's only the one boat, so, (as long as you get to the check-in kiosk at the right time) you're getting on that boat. A nice dinner on the boat is really where the holiday starts, and being out on deck at 11pm is one of my favourite parts of the trip. I know that there are cheaper ways to get to the same destination - hell, I could almost certainly fly and hire a car for less than driving my own car - even if I took the Eurotunnel or a Dover -> Calais ferry.
The other thing I've worked out about my own preferences is that I'm not very good at "stopping on the way". I want to get where I'm going. The way I get round this is to make the stops part of the holiday and that normally means a 2 night stay
I'd propose Normandy.
Poole Cherbourg (in sept) was the best ferry experience we've had from check in to dis-embarkment. And was 4 hours that took next to no time with what was on board. You do only have one crossing a day though.
Around Mont St Micheal was a nice area if driving from Calais.
Goto Rouen bear in mind you need Crit Air.
Poole Cherbourg (in sept) was the best ferry experience we've had from check in to dis-embarkment. And was 4 hours that took next to no time with what was on board. You do only have one crossing a day though.
Around Mont St Micheal was a nice area if driving from Calais.
Goto Rouen bear in mind you need Crit Air.
ferret50 said:
Bear in mind that the French farmers are currently revolting, we traveled south to the Algarve last weekend and found several RN/motorway junctions blocked, some took some time to circumnavigate!
The only upside is that they have vadalised a lot of camera's!
The only upside is that they have vadalised a lot of camera's!
South Poitiers Saturday 26 Jan. N10 outside the Auchen hypermarket.
I have a French nieghbour in my condo here on the Algarve, tells me that these protests are nationwide.
I would suggest that those travelling in France allow extra time to allow for this kind of disruption.
blue_haddock said:
We're heading to Royan in May and will be stopping in Le Mans overnight
I ttok the dogs there on Saturday for the day. Quite nice! I have never been before and thought it was great.Enjoyed seeing the French farmers blocking the motorway-they even had a marquee up on the actual carriageway for lunch/drinks!
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