 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, this year we are thinking of breaking the drive South and doing some on Friday night and some on Sat morning. We'll be heading Calais - L2A, does anyone have recommendations on good value/cheap places to spend the night?
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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when will you be travelling, @cdavies92, and where from? Makes a big difference to the answer.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I can recommend a place about an hour the otherside of Calais. Very quiet and good value.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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It will be early Jan (I think the 2nd/3rd), and from Bedford. Which I guess means looking for something a couple of hours from the channel?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@cdavies92, I'm from Bedford. Granted not a winter trip but we've driven down many times to the Alps for summer trips.
This summer we set off on a Friday with a crossing at 9pm-ish (leaving Bedford at about 4pm - and sat on the M25 for a long time). We stayed in a small town called Arques at a "Good Night Hotel" which was about 30-45 mins from Calais. It was your standard £30 a night for a 4 bed family room cheapo hotel, but did the job. There should be lots around closer to the motorway than we stayed in. Have a look for Etap, Campanile, Premiere Classe hotels and you won't go far wrong.
If you have an earlier crossing than we had then obviously aim to get a bit further south before stopping for the night.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Agreed, I'd even expect the M25 to be relatively quiet for a Friday that week as lots will take the opportunity to have a longer Christmas/New Year break from work. We booked as we were travelling on one of the peak travel weeks.
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Cheers guys! Will have a browse through that thread.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Any of the chain hotels on the motorways will be fine and comfortable for a bed for the night. We very rarely pay much more than £30 but we never want bells and whistles.
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Just find an F1, you'll pay around €30 for a decent nights sleep.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I got cheap deal in a Campanile for 2nd but I'm further north at Laon as not crossing until 4 pm.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Again, horses for courses etc, but I just couldn't do that, I need to know I have a room, especially with kids in tow.
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Its normally cheaper if you prebook and/or prepay. 
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You know it makes sense.
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| cdavies92 wrote: |
Hi, this year we are thinking of breaking the drive South and doing some on Friday night and some on Sat morning. We'll be heading Calais - L2A, does anyone have recommendations on good value/cheap places to spend the night?
Cheers |
On the drive out to the Alps in the Summer from the coast we stop at Chaumont, not far from Troyes - but smaller and more quaint. Have used the central best western hotel, they were doing some work on it in the summer, but should be finished by now.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
I just couldn't do that, I need to know I have a room, especially with kids in tow.
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indeed, I can see that having the kids makes a difference - I just like to be able to keep on driving if I'm feeling alert (even at midnight) and stop if I'm feeling sleepy and the fog is closing in (even if it's 6 pm). If I'm hungry I'll eat, if not I'll just have a coffee. There are advantages to not having to consider anybody else!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi - we're in Huntingdon so similar times and distances to Bedford. We stopped here last year - http://www.blue-hotel-reims.fr/ . We booked in advance - they have an auto check-in so you can arrive late and leave early - room was warm and clean which was all we wanted, we didn't eat so don't know about that. Its on the edge of a big retail park with I think a big Intermarche hyper, so if you weren't arriving too late there's likely an ok café in there. We travel usually Fridays straight from school so 18.00 or 19.00 tunnel then 2.5 hours empty roads down to Reims. Do make sure you get away in good time in the morning though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@pam w, to be honest after a few hours in the car with the kids I just need to know I've got a large gin to look forward to 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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We have stayed on the outskirts or Reims (Tinquex) and there are about 3-4 hotels just off the junction of the autoroute. It's about 2.5 hours from Calais. We stayed in the Novotel and it was very nice and not too badly priced, around £70 for a room with double bed and double sofa bed.
It's handy as there is a Carrefour just opposite so you can fill up on cheap petrol there as well as grab a McDonalds (if that's your thing).
Since it's on the junction you can be right on your way sharpish in the morning without too much faff.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Heading south, if it's a busy time, I'd prefer to be south of the Reims péage gates before stopping for the night.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We usually stay in a chain of hotels called B&B. Located next to motorways and retails parks they are cheap, cheerful and comfortable. Also include Wi-Fi and breakfast which was surprisingly good. We normally stay at the one in St Quentain. Easy to find and great value. Decent website as well...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We stay at Le Val Moret, a 3-Star Logis de France five minutes off Jct.22 of the A5 just south of Troyes. This is about 4 hours driving from Calais. It's a motel with parking outside the rooms and has a very good but unpretentious restaurant. They also have a nice swimming pool and sauna facility. Here's the website
http://reservation-hotel.logishotels.com/jreservit/changelangcode.do?forward=fichehtl&langcode=EN
Th decor is fairly standard, Travelodge-type , a cut above Campanile but fairly plain. We're fans of the restaurant and make the stop-over evening a part of the holiday. Being close to the Autoroute is a bonus in winter, when generally all you want is to get checked-in and relax after a long day. Parking right outside the room is reassuring as well, when all your valuables are in the car.
This is in the southern Champagne area and they have a good range of Champagnes by the glass.
Just avoid the 'Andouillette Veritables' sausage, unless you're a real fan of chitterlings. It's made from pig's colon (sic) - although its marinade is very tasty, it's the aroma that's the problem. Given it's made of colon, you can guess what it smells of ....... Everything else on offer is excellent, however.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 25-11-14 22:32; edited 1 time in total
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@msej449, yes, the Val Moret is a favourite - it's always full of GB cars. I have friends who try to stay there because they like to swim. I really CBA, on that drive - I just want to get there, really.
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| Boris wrote: |
Again, horses for courses etc, but I just couldn't do that, I need to know I have a room, especially with kids in tow. |
A long time since I had any kids in tow that were young enough to matter, but I can't do it either. Our stops are always planned. I just know on the one occasion I don't that we will end up struggling to find a room.With a tired driver/ hungry hubby it wouldn't be a good combination, and we do need to make sure the dog is welcome. We turned up to one Logis that indicated dogs were welcome to be asked if we were leaving the dog in the car overnight.
Early January may be quiet but we have found that many family run places take a break after a busy Christmas and New Year. We've struggled to find somewhere on a return trip before just after New Year , and on our way South this January our usual stopping points are closed. If I use chain hotels it is usually an IBis or Holiday Inn.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Accor have a special offer until 28th November of up to 40% off and free breakfasts. We have Mercure at Annemasse booked for our trip down at 59.40 euros including breakfast and a Novotel at Reims Tinqueaux for our trip back at 63.60 euros including breakfast. We normally use one of Ibis, Campanile, etc but these rates are cheaper than their room only rates.
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@Timc, this offer just popped up in my inbox too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Another vote for B&B. Me and Mr NN just see how far we get/ what the weather is like and I just book via my iPhone with a bit of Google action.
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