Geneva road trip & tour of JLC Manufacture

[CraigV12V]

Can you add me plus Mrs as provisional? Will let you know if missus is interested in tour and firm up commitment asap.

[marceltay]

I'd like to join in for the drive and the tour if spaces become available. The Mrs is a maybe for now. No JLC watch yet, but can probably arrange to bring one along if required :-)

[v8woollie]

CraigV12V said:

Can you add me plus Mrs as provisional? Will let you know if missus is interested in tour and firm up commitment asap.

v8woollie +1
yeti
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1 (tour x 2)
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R +1 (tour x 2)
Threesixty + 1
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL +1 (tour x 2)
Robgt +1 (tour x 2)
Mac355 + 1 (tour x 2)
B4rnst4ble + 1 (tour x 2)

Manufacture tour reserve list (you can still come on the trip):

Dougie81 +1
CraigV12V + 1

Only one place left on the tour but moved up b4rnst4ble +1 even though two for the tour. Still plenty of time left for changes to the list.

[v8woollie]

marceltay said:

I'd like to join in for the drive and the tour if spaces become available. The Mrs is a maybe for now. No JLC watch yet, but can probably arrange to bring one along if required :-)

No watch required

v8woollie +1
yeti
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1 (tour x 2)
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R +1 (tour x 2)
Threesixty + 1
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL +1 (tour x 2)
Robgt +1 (tour x 2)
Mac355 + 1 (tour x 2)
B4rnst4ble + 1 (tour x 2)

Manufacture tour reserve list (you can still come on the trip):

Dougie81 +1
CraigV12V + 1
marceltay + 1

Only one place left on the tour but moved up b4rnst4ble +1 even though two for the tour. Still plenty of time left for changes to the list.

[Tony V12V]

Could you add me to the list (trip plus tour) please.

Just got to get 'permission' to go on another EPIC trip - Will remove myself from list if pass is revoked

Edited by Tony V12V on Thursday 27th September 09:33

[jonby]

yeti said:

George, think it's confirmed as the 8-9-10-11th. 2 days to Geneva (from Calais, overnight in Beaune), one day at the manufacture and the environs, one day back, or two if you fancy a leisurely trundle through perhaps the Black Forest. And by leisurely trundle, I mean fast drive on empty winding roads

I'm double checked and am definitely OK on those dates but a bit confused Yeti - surely it's leaving Calais on the 9th to Beaune, then going from Beaune to Geneva on the 10th for a tour on the 11th and a drive back on the 12th/crossing into the 13th ?

Or are you building in a day of leisure in Geneva on the 10th ?

[v8woollie]

jonby said:

I'm double checked and am definitely OK on those dates but a bit confused Yeti - surely it's leaving Calais on the 9th to Beaune, then going from Beaune to Geneva on the 10th for a tour on the 11th and a drive back on the 12th/crossing into the 13th ?

Or are you building in a day of leisure in Geneva on the 10th ?

Aim is to leave the UK on the 9th, overnight stay on the way, arrive in Geneva mid-afternoon on the 10th and have the factory tour on the 11th. We can then either leave Geneva on the 11th after the tour or stay another night and leave on the 12th. If the factory tour is in the morning then leaving on the 11th PM may be OK.

[v8woollie]

Tony V12V said:

Could you add me to the list (trip plus tour) please.

Just got to get 'permission' to go on another EPIC trip - Will remove myself from list if pass is revoked

v8woollie +1
yeti
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1 (tour x 2)
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R +1 (tour x 2)
Threesixty + 1
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL +1 (tour x 2)
Robgt +1 (tour x 2)
Mac355 + 1 (tour x 2)
B4rnst4ble + 1 (tour x 2)

Manufacture tour reserve list (you can still come on the trip):

Dougie81 +1
CraigV12V + 1
marceltay + 1
Tony V12V

Just to clarify, if you are going alone then I am assuming you want to do the tour of the Manufacture. If you have a +1 then you need to state if the +1 will also want to do the tour, hence the tour x 2 indication.

[robgt]

Molly and I are really excited about this trip. V8 Woolie, thank you very much for organising it. My daughter is getting married a few weeks before we go so the trip will cheer me up. I suppose I will be gaining a son though!!

[Tony V12V]

Ok understood. Will update my status by the end of the day.

[Molly GT]

robgt said:

Molly and I are really excited about this trip. V8 Woolie, thank you very much for organising it. My daughter is getting married a few weeks before we go so the trip will cheer me up. I suppose I will be gaining a son though!!

You wont need cheering up - 2013 is going to be one long party

+1 on the thanks for setting this up tho' - it sounds better and better as the plan comes together. I am wondering how to break it to my boss that after the wedding trip to Jamaica in March I am going to need time off to pop over to Geneva less than 2 weeks later

[jonby]

v8woollie said:

jonby said:

I'm double checked and am definitely OK on those dates but a bit confused Yeti - surely it's leaving Calais on the 9th to Beaune, then going from Beaune to Geneva on the 10th for a tour on the 11th and a drive back on the 12th/crossing into the 13th ?

Or are you building in a day of leisure in Geneva on the 10th ?

Aim is to leave the UK on the 9th, overnight stay on the way, arrive in Geneva mid-afternoon on the 10th and have the factory tour on the 11th. We can then either leave Geneva on the 11th after the tour or stay another night and leave on the 12th. If the factory tour is in the morning then leaving on the 11th PM may be OK.

that's what I thought, just checking

I'll probably go down to FOlkstone (from South Manchester) the night before - I normally either stay at the Ashford International or Elvey Farm when I'm doing that

[Molly GT]

jonby said:

that's what I thought, just checking

I'll probably go down to FOlkstone (from South Manchester) the night before - I normally either stay at the Ashford International or Elvey Farm when I'm doing that

Its a long trip for us to Kent too so we will travel down the day/evening before. When we know how many of us are doing likewise, and the meet and departure plan for the whole group has been arranged, perhaps we (and others) can arrange to stay at the same place. We stayed at the Mercure, Hythe in June as the start point for our Petrolhead Nirvana Alpine tour. It was ok and had a decent car park but we will be pleased to take your recommendations (particularly as you sound like you're a regular on this route)

[jonby]

Molly GT said:

jonby said:

that's what I thought, just checking

I'll probably go down to FOlkstone (from South Manchester) the night before - I normally either stay at the Ashford International or Elvey Farm when I'm doing that

Its a long trip for us to Kent too so we will travel down the day/evening before. When we know how many of us are doing likewise, and the meet and departure plan for the whole group has been arranged, perhaps we (and others) can arrange to stay at the same place. We stayed at the Mercure, Hythe in June as the start point for our Petrolhead Nirvana Alpine tour. It was ok and had a decent car park but we will be pleased to take your recommendations (particularly as you sound like you're a regular on this route)

Done it quite a few times now for Le Mans and European tours - stayed 3 or 4 times in each hotel now.

Asford International (part of the Q hotel group) is 15-20 minutes away from the eurotunnel, big anonymous conference type hotel, big carpark, it's nothing more than OK but as a large hotel, it has a couple of restaurants, bar, etc - about £90 for a room or £130ish for 2 people D, B&B. It's where I'd go if I was travelling on my own

Elvey Farm is lovely, off the beaten track so very secure for the cars as it's up a 1/2 mile private lane. It's a boutiquey style converted farm with 10 or 12 rooms and a small restaurant and cozy bar. It's a 30-40 minute (max) drive including some country lanes to the eurotunnel. A touch more expensive - about 150-170 for 2, D, B& B. Definitely much nicer & individual, especially for a small group or a couple, but it is that touch more expensive and further out which people may not want to do for what is essentially a quick stopover

I'm not that bothered where we stay as we aren't there for very long so happy to go with the flow if others have ideas of their own

EDIT: Just double checked to refresh my memory- it's 14 miles of motorway from the Ashford International to the Eurotunnel, so that's no more than 20 minutes. It's another 7 miles of country lanes to Elvey Farm, so 35 minutesish in total. Not sure if people are planning Eurotunnel or Ferry of course.

Edited by jonby on Thursday 27th September 12:34

[yeti]

Tunnel would be better, not affected by weather.

I always stay at the local Premier Inn as I'm only looking for a bed and shower, it's more like £60. I then have a MASSIVE breakfast at the tunnel and take a big coffee on the train with me, starts the day rather well. However, if we're looking to make an evening of it, happy to go somewhere we can all eat together!

[jonby]

yeti said:

Tunnel would be better, not affected by weather.

I always stay at the local Premier Inn as I'm only looking for a bed and shower, it's more like £60. I then have a MASSIVE breakfast at the tunnel and take a big coffee on the train with me, starts the day rather well. However, if we're looking to make an evening of it, happy to go somewhere we can all eat together!

I agree on the tunnel but as I've only done the ferry once, one way, when eurotunnel had a long delay, don't mind doing it for a change

As I say, happy with a cheaper option for the night before so will go with the majority

[V8 PLL]

We have done this trip many times on route down to Italy. As we also have to travel some considerable
distance down to the Euro Tunnel (300 miles ) we have tried many permutations with regard to the stopovers.

The most convenient way we believe, is to get the shuttle mid to late afternoon and book a hotel within an hour's
drive the other side. This means you're not chasing the clock for the shuttle the following morning and you have
already adjusted to the 1 hour difference, which in theory you don't lose out of your day.

For those who might be up for it, I have just found and booked, secured with my credit card with free cancellation
until 5 April 2013 (pay on departure) a very interesting hotel 50 minutes from Calais Euro Tunnel Terminal
called "Chateau de Moulin le Comte" through Booking.com (approx £86.78 deluxe double room including
breakfast). Evening meal can be booked in advance, this being a set menu which is the same as the family will be
having that night ( they only have 5 rooms ). As you can gather there's now only 4 rooms left so it is limited,
nevertheless,,we do enjoy finding these different and quirky places to stay on our travels.

Finally, unfortunately I haven't been able to find a live link for the hotel for my post, but no doubt there will be
someone along very soon to put me right. However, in the meantime just Google the hotel and follow the link via
Booking.com and have a look and see what you think.

[yeti]

V8 PLL said:

a very interesting hotel 50 minutes from Calais Euro Tunnel Terminal

Extra night away from home will not go down well at home - and I doubt I'd ask for it TBH. I tend to get to Folkestone late and just sleep -> shower -> drive.

[v8woollie]

If we're getting a morning Eurostar or ferry I would leave home early that morning. I'm only 90 minutes max from either.

[DavidV12V]

I should be coming down from the NW as well, and figure on night stop-over in Kent area would suit, but happy to go with whatever anyone else is doing....probably wouldn't mind a meal and a couple of that night though after all those miles..;)

Really looking forward to this already (thanks Wollie for organising!!) as it'll be the spring wake-up for the car (like getting a new one every year ) and a nice long drive with something really great at the other end with good company...