Driving back from Algarve - Hotel Recommendations?
Discussion
Bringing a car back from the Algarve at the end of the month - didn't fancy the ferry through the Bay of Biscay, so booked onto the Channel Tunnel Shuttle.
Does anyone have any recommendations for convenient hotels that are not far off route and Travelodge/Premier Inn equivalent in Spain and France?
Route is going to be;
Portugal A22
Spain A49>E803>E80>AP-1/8
France A63>A10>A28>A16
Hoping to do 7-8 hours each day, which would put me in the vicinity of Burgos in Spain on the first night, and Tours/Le Mans on the second. Really just wanting a beer, a pizza/burger and a comfy bed at both stops. Car is nothing special, 335D Touring.
Does anyone have any recommendations for convenient hotels that are not far off route and Travelodge/Premier Inn equivalent in Spain and France?
Route is going to be;
Portugal A22
Spain A49>E803>E80>AP-1/8
France A63>A10>A28>A16
Hoping to do 7-8 hours each day, which would put me in the vicinity of Burgos in Spain on the first night, and Tours/Le Mans on the second. Really just wanting a beer, a pizza/burger and a comfy bed at both stops. Car is nothing special, 335D Touring.
Done this journey multiple times though I do prefer taking the Bay of Biscay Ferry these days, expensive as it is. There are a lot of horror stories but I have never had an issue travelling both summer and winter, always been a lot of fun (possibly just sealegs).
As per the drive through Spain/France there are two ways really. Make a holiday of it, or see the journey as it is and save the money with travel hotels as you suggest.
For some cheaper options than I would suggest stopping at Valladolid and Poitiers.
Valladolid - Pretty industrial but its a good stopping point just off the motorway. The ibis Valladolid has good parking and very easy access, and great views of the Michelin tyre factory. But it is cheap, clean and usefully is pet friendly if you need that.There is a Mcdonalds in walking distance that usefully serves cold beer.
Poitiers - University town which is very pretty in areas. Loads of dinner options in town and some nice bars (just avoid establishments surrounding the City Hall square). Again here I have stayed in the Ibis Poitiers Centre. Pre-booking parking is essential. As per the name its very central, friendly staff, clean but a little tired. As a place to crash it works well and being central allows a walk around the city which is nice.
Never managed to persuade myself to stay in nicer places through France as trying to beat the Ferry costs, hence I am not so clued up on any good places around Tours / Poutiers area. But If you're wanting making a trip of it than a good place to stop in Spain is Salamanca (we often stop around here on the way to/from the ferry). I have stayed at Hacienda Zorita before, good restaurant, out of town with plenty of parking, deals on 'secret escapes'. Or in town lots of options, but I believe it was Palacio de San Esteban, very nice bit of a pain driving in the one way systems of Salamanca though.
Enjoy the trip - always been quite good fun and the 335D will eat up the miles no issue. Spanish motorways the cameras are well signposted and once on the Iberian Plateau area they are fast roads, just watch out for poor maintenance in areas. French Gendarmerie are less inviting for getting a move on in my experience.
As per the drive through Spain/France there are two ways really. Make a holiday of it, or see the journey as it is and save the money with travel hotels as you suggest.
For some cheaper options than I would suggest stopping at Valladolid and Poitiers.
Valladolid - Pretty industrial but its a good stopping point just off the motorway. The ibis Valladolid has good parking and very easy access, and great views of the Michelin tyre factory. But it is cheap, clean and usefully is pet friendly if you need that.There is a Mcdonalds in walking distance that usefully serves cold beer.
Poitiers - University town which is very pretty in areas. Loads of dinner options in town and some nice bars (just avoid establishments surrounding the City Hall square). Again here I have stayed in the Ibis Poitiers Centre. Pre-booking parking is essential. As per the name its very central, friendly staff, clean but a little tired. As a place to crash it works well and being central allows a walk around the city which is nice.
Never managed to persuade myself to stay in nicer places through France as trying to beat the Ferry costs, hence I am not so clued up on any good places around Tours / Poutiers area. But If you're wanting making a trip of it than a good place to stop in Spain is Salamanca (we often stop around here on the way to/from the ferry). I have stayed at Hacienda Zorita before, good restaurant, out of town with plenty of parking, deals on 'secret escapes'. Or in town lots of options, but I believe it was Palacio de San Esteban, very nice bit of a pain driving in the one way systems of Salamanca though.
Enjoy the trip - always been quite good fun and the 335D will eat up the miles no issue. Spanish motorways the cameras are well signposted and once on the Iberian Plateau area they are fast roads, just watch out for poor maintenance in areas. French Gendarmerie are less inviting for getting a move on in my experience.
Thank you - I'll look at the Ibis, and also Hotels.com
I used to have sea legs - not so much now...
I'd love to have had the time to meander and visit some sights, but needs must and although I might have done it in with one stop when I was younger, I think daylight driving and a comfy bed makes much more sense.
Still have to drive up to Scotland when I get across the channel too....
I used to have sea legs - not so much now...
I'd love to have had the time to meander and visit some sights, but needs must and although I might have done it in with one stop when I was younger, I think daylight driving and a comfy bed makes much more sense.
Still have to drive up to Scotland when I get across the channel too....
Ussrcossack said:
Avoid Formule 1
They really have gone down hill, I've not stayed in one for over 20 years and I'm not at all fussy
I have more recently used them quite frequently. They are generally ok. Often have a resteraunt attached. Often quite fair. I however don't know what they were like 20 years ago, albeit that may not be relevant to end of this month trip. They really have gone down hill, I've not stayed in one for over 20 years and I'm not at all fussy
If it’s le Man then you could stay at the Brit hotel. Used it for track days etc. Reasonable places.
https://www.brithotel.fr/pays-de-la-loire/sarthe/l...
https://www.brithotel.fr/pays-de-la-loire/sarthe/l...
^ What I would say with regard to any Campanile or Premier Classe is do a street view or trip advisor review
I've stayed in some decent, at this price ones.
The one I stayed at Petit Forest Valenciennes was dodgy to say the least. They had long term tenants
I stayed in 2023 going out ward. I cancelled the return booking
I've stayed in some decent, at this price ones.
The one I stayed at Petit Forest Valenciennes was dodgy to say the least. They had long term tenants
I stayed in 2023 going out ward. I cancelled the return booking
I do Algarve to UK regularly but I cross the border further north at Vilar Formoso plus we’re dog-friendly hotels only so I wouldn’t be much use. We’d usually aim to stop around Irun - I’m more 10-12 hours a day than 7-8 so my stops aren’t aligned with yours. I am thinking next time we should take it a bit easier - 8 hours drive and then enough time to wander about does appeal.
I’ve stayed at a pretty basic Hotel Europa in Magaz, Palencia - just me and the dog - other than great room service and an underground deserted carpark there’s not much going for it.
Hotel Arbor on the Mulsanne straight was quite cool, think that was 2019.
Keep em coming
I’ve stayed at a pretty basic Hotel Europa in Magaz, Palencia - just me and the dog - other than great room service and an underground deserted carpark there’s not much going for it.
Hotel Arbor on the Mulsanne straight was quite cool, think that was 2019.
Keep em coming
For France A10 within driving distance of the tunnel, I usually stay at one of the hotels around Futuroscope, on the motorway junction just north of Poitiers. There’s a choice of modern hotels, decent rooms and restaurants either in the hotel or around the park, decent prices now we’re out of season
hellorent said:
Bit above F1: https://www.premiereclasse.com/en-us/
Ah, that’s the brand I couldn’t recall earlier - yes, we have used them more recently, pretty decent.Well, made it in four days. Very lucky to have been travelling up the west of Spain, only saw clouds and some light rain.
You really can cover ground easily on the continent, although some of the Spanish road surfaces were slightly dodgy. 536 and 552 miles on the first two days, then 418 and 409 on the final two. The M25 was an unhappy shock yesterday afternoon and the trip north today not very relaxing. But 7-8 hrs each day, which on my own was as much as I wanted to do.
Only real hold up before the UK was passing Bordeaux, but it was only a few miles of crawling.
First stop was Hotel Ciudad de Burgos - can't get closer to the A-1 Autopista, it's between the two carriageways with a junction serving it directly. Cheap but clean and good food.
Then Ibis Styles Mulsanne in Le Mans - thanks for the recommendation. Good fun, perhaps bit worn, but very convenient and staff lovely.
Finally stayed at The Woburn in Woburn. Ideal - with the bonus of an excellent burger and pint - just what was needed.
Car was ideal too, although at 130kph, it appeared to have a wheel vibration that came and went on different surfaces - it wasn't terrible and strangely almost disappeared in the UK.... Off to get the wheels balanced as a start and maybe a wheel alignment.
You really can cover ground easily on the continent, although some of the Spanish road surfaces were slightly dodgy. 536 and 552 miles on the first two days, then 418 and 409 on the final two. The M25 was an unhappy shock yesterday afternoon and the trip north today not very relaxing. But 7-8 hrs each day, which on my own was as much as I wanted to do.
Only real hold up before the UK was passing Bordeaux, but it was only a few miles of crawling.
First stop was Hotel Ciudad de Burgos - can't get closer to the A-1 Autopista, it's between the two carriageways with a junction serving it directly. Cheap but clean and good food.
Then Ibis Styles Mulsanne in Le Mans - thanks for the recommendation. Good fun, perhaps bit worn, but very convenient and staff lovely.
Finally stayed at The Woburn in Woburn. Ideal - with the bonus of an excellent burger and pint - just what was needed.
Car was ideal too, although at 130kph, it appeared to have a wheel vibration that came and went on different surfaces - it wasn't terrible and strangely almost disappeared in the UK.... Off to get the wheels balanced as a start and maybe a wheel alignment.
It's a bit late now, but crossing the channel from St. Malo might make sense for this route.
On a Tuesday it runs overnight from St. Malo -> Portsmouth (other days it's overnight in the other direction) and it's a very easy drive to St. Malo from Northern Spain. That then puts you in Portsmouth at 8am from where you should be able to make it home in one go.
It will be even better from Spring next year when there will be a brand new boat on that route.
On a Tuesday it runs overnight from St. Malo -> Portsmouth (other days it's overnight in the other direction) and it's a very easy drive to St. Malo from Northern Spain. That then puts you in Portsmouth at 8am from where you should be able to make it home in one go.
It will be even better from Spring next year when there will be a brand new boat on that route.
omniflow said:
It's a bit late now, but crossing the channel from St. Malo might make sense for this route.
On a Tuesday it runs overnight from St. Malo -> Portsmouth (other days it's overnight in the other direction) and it's a very easy drive to St. Malo from Northern Spain. That then puts you in Portsmouth at 8am from where you should be able to make it home in one go.
It will be even better from Spring next year when there will be a brand new boat on that route.
On a Tuesday it runs overnight from St. Malo -> Portsmouth (other days it's overnight in the other direction) and it's a very easy drive to St. Malo from Northern Spain. That then puts you in Portsmouth at 8am from where you should be able to make it home in one go.
It will be even better from Spring next year when there will be a brand new boat on that route.
That's a good idea - avoiding the M25 might be a cure for sea sickness!
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