Ideas for 5 hour drive from Calais?
Discussion
Firstly - if the Mrs is reading this thread - stop reading it now!
I am taking the Mrs away for her birthday next week. I have crossing booked, and arrive in Calais on Friday 28th approx 09:00. We leave around 18:00 on Monday 31st.
My original plan was to head to Annecy, as it is somewhere I spent a lot of time as a child, and I have always wanted to go back as an adult. Unfortunately I did not appreciate when booking the crossing how long a drive it was. When looking into booking accomodation today, I checked and it is approx 15 hours drive. I think this is too much for such a short weekend, even stopping on the way down, and the way back, will not give us enough time there.
So I am after some more options. We did the War graves a couple of years ago from Calais up to Caen - and although it was fantastic, I would prefer to do something else this tome around.
I suppose the criteria is approx 5 hours drive from Calais, and am looking for somewhere picturesque, and dare I say romantic, where we have things to see and do during the day, and good food and wine in the evenings. It does not need to be in France. I was even looking at Luxembourg as have never been there before - but if I am honest it looks a bit naff!
So PH where should I be looking?
I am taking the Mrs away for her birthday next week. I have crossing booked, and arrive in Calais on Friday 28th approx 09:00. We leave around 18:00 on Monday 31st.
My original plan was to head to Annecy, as it is somewhere I spent a lot of time as a child, and I have always wanted to go back as an adult. Unfortunately I did not appreciate when booking the crossing how long a drive it was. When looking into booking accomodation today, I checked and it is approx 15 hours drive. I think this is too much for such a short weekend, even stopping on the way down, and the way back, will not give us enough time there.
So I am after some more options. We did the War graves a couple of years ago from Calais up to Caen - and although it was fantastic, I would prefer to do something else this tome around.
I suppose the criteria is approx 5 hours drive from Calais, and am looking for somewhere picturesque, and dare I say romantic, where we have things to see and do during the day, and good food and wine in the evenings. It does not need to be in France. I was even looking at Luxembourg as have never been there before - but if I am honest it looks a bit naff!
So PH where should I be looking?
illmonkey said:
Humm, what romantic city if only a few hours away from Calais?
You're going to be stuck on this one.
I should have mentioned - if you mean Paris - not an option! I used to work there, and is bottom of my list of cities of the world. I would certainly not go there as a pleasure visit.You're going to be stuck on this one.
Also - it does not have to be a city. Can be a small village/town in an area of interest.
Original Poster said:
illmonkey said:
Humm, what romantic city if only a few hours away from Calais?
You're going to be stuck on this one.
Rennes?You're going to be stuck on this one.
But seriously though, if he doesn't want to drive into Paris, and tbh I wouldn't having done it and needed new undercrackers, how about a weekend....
In Bruges?
You can strike a balace between culture and fun.
:waits for usual:
Annecy is not a 15 hour drive - I would say more like 7 (unless of course you are talking round trip). www.viamichelin.co.uk should give you a better idea and let you know how much the tolls are.
Some good ideas there.....
But....
I think I have said this before on here somewhere, but my first pet was a cat called sparky, and whenever I see you post - I always think of my cat and it makes me smile, it could be an omen for a good idea!
But....
Amateurish said:
Annecy is not a 15 hour drive - I would say more like 7 (unless of course you are talking round trip). www.viamichelin.co.uk should give you a better idea and let you know how much the tolls are.
I think I am the amateurish one here at reading maps. It is not as far as I thought with the tolls! Will be a bit of a boring drive though. I picked no tolls previously which was 13 hours. Could still be an option.sparkythecat said:
You could go to the Champagne area. There would be plenty to keep you occupied for a weekend in and around Reims and Epernay.
Alternatively, you could head down to the Loire Valley. Beautiful countryside and wonderful fairytale chateaux to visit.
However I always like Sparky's ideas! Alternatively, you could head down to the Loire Valley. Beautiful countryside and wonderful fairytale chateaux to visit.
I think I have said this before on here somewhere, but my first pet was a cat called sparky, and whenever I see you post - I always think of my cat and it makes me smile, it could be an omen for a good idea!
Edited by Fats25 on Wednesday 19th May 10:23
F i F said:
Original Poster said:
illmonkey said:
Humm, what romantic city if only a few hours away from Calais?
You're going to be stuck on this one.
Rennes?You're going to be stuck on this one.
But seriously though, if he doesn't want to drive into Paris, and tbh I wouldn't having done it and needed new undercrackers, how about a weekend....
In Bruges?
You can strike a balace between culture and fun.
:waits for usual:
Luxembourg's not naff ... I live there (here?) for a start - as do some other PHers! 
Another vote for Bruges here.
If you want medieval, romantic and with plenty of nice food and drink then I'd say that it top trumps Rheims any day. Unless you're really into champagne... And the Loire is a good bit further to drive.
eta
Leftfield option:
Cologne - plenty to see and do, all the romance of the Rhine with its castles and stuff and loads of decent restaurants / beer halls. Thoroughly recommended!
If you want medieval, romantic and with plenty of nice food and drink then I'd say that it top trumps Rheims any day. Unless you're really into champagne... And the Loire is a good bit further to drive.
eta
Leftfield option:
Cologne - plenty to see and do, all the romance of the Rhine with its castles and stuff and loads of decent restaurants / beer halls. Thoroughly recommended!
Edited by N Dentressangle on Wednesday 19th May 10:59
Sorry to the Luxemburgers on here that I may have offended! When I read the Wiki on Luxembourg it was talking about the mass immigration recently, and I pictured an Oliver Twist Victorian London scene. This was not what i was looking for! Obviously if it is different to that - then I have been told. So what is there to do in Luxembourg?
I like the idea of Bruges - but I am sure the Mrs has been there for a weekend before. I have not. I think I will save that one for a 2 day trip. It is so easy to get to on the train now - that I could head down there on a Friday night and be back Sunday night.
I am thinking about a drive to Dijon on the Friday, and stay over there, and eat some mustard. Then head on down to Annecy on the Saturday morning. Then drive back in one hit on the Monday.
From the michelin route planner, it looks like I will either go through, or just skirt around Switzerland. Do I need a carnet for this piece of driving?
I like the idea of Bruges - but I am sure the Mrs has been there for a weekend before. I have not. I think I will save that one for a 2 day trip. It is so easy to get to on the train now - that I could head down there on a Friday night and be back Sunday night.
I am thinking about a drive to Dijon on the Friday, and stay over there, and eat some mustard. Then head on down to Annecy on the Saturday morning. Then drive back in one hit on the Monday.
From the michelin route planner, it looks like I will either go through, or just skirt around Switzerland. Do I need a carnet for this piece of driving?
Fontainebleau, just south of Paris?
http://www.uk.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/pays-font...
It's about 4 hours from Calais. The town itself has plenty in the way of history and a fine chateau, while surrounding the town is 'la foret au Fontainebleau', a picturesque forest dotted with pretty villages and offering plenty of opportunities for walking/cycling/horseriding, etc.
http://www.uk.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/pays-font...
It's about 4 hours from Calais. The town itself has plenty in the way of history and a fine chateau, while surrounding the town is 'la foret au Fontainebleau', a picturesque forest dotted with pretty villages and offering plenty of opportunities for walking/cycling/horseriding, etc.
N Dentressangle said:
Cologne - plenty to see and do, all the romance of the Rhine with its castles and stuff and loads of decent restaurants / beer halls. Thoroughly recommended!
I have worked in Cologne and it is a cracking place to visit. Could be another option. However 7 hours to Annecy I think is winning at the moment! Approx £100 in tolls there and back - but I have wanted to go back for years. I just hope it is how I remember it.
OK if Bruges is not suitable, then Fontainebleu is a good call as mentioned above.
Have just put Annecy into viamichelin,
That's some drive for a weekend there chap!
If I did that for a weekend it would be bread and water and none of the other for me! Two out of four days ie 50% of the time, blatting on boring motorways keeping to a schedule.
Less is more, but your call obviously.
Have just put Annecy into viamichelin,
That's some drive for a weekend there chap!
If I did that for a weekend it would be bread and water and none of the other for me! Two out of four days ie 50% of the time, blatting on boring motorways keeping to a schedule.
Less is more, but your call obviously.
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