Poster: A snowHead
|
Howdi all. We are driving to Les Arcs (from Belgium) on Friday 5 February. I am trying to find a hotel somewhere near Dijon. Our wish list? - not too far from the motorway (A31 I think). Normally we stay in a Formula 1 and dont even pre-book but on this occasion, my other half is celebrating a fairly significant birthday (50!) and he already feels hard done by that he has to drive on his special day! So we would like to be somewhere where there is a bar/restaurant on-site or within walking distance. We aim to arrive by 20h00. Not terribly keen on B&Bs but will consider. Thanks very much y'all!
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Apologies if I posted this question in the wrong forum.
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@kearnsh, You are keen as mustard.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
We had a comfortable night at a sensible price in the Ibis in the centre of town a couple of weeks ago. Park underground there and there are literally loads of restaurants just down the road in easy walking distance, seemed pretty secure when we stayed, they close the garage doors overnight.
No shortage of restaurants in town, loads of really nice places if you want proper dinner (but will have a price tag to match) for birthday. I'd suggest booking as it is Friday night and quite a few places were pretty busy when we wandered through.
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Thanks Digger! I was kind of trying to avoid going into a city but I will definitely check it out. Much appreciated!
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@kearnsh, it isn't far off the motorway to Dijon, so not a major detour to stop in the middle. Quite a few other hotels, we only needed a bed for the night for cheap but if you have time to go through Google there will be deals in some of the big chains I suspect and might get something a bit more upmarket than the Ibis if you have a search.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Novotel Dijon sud meets your requirements. Near motorway and has onsite restaurant. The rooms can vary so ask for a refurbished one when you book. If you are used to F1 it will be better than that!
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@kearnsh, absolutely, have a look at:
http://www.olivier-leflaive.com
We stayed here last summer on the way back from southern France and it was absolutely brilliant. It's a wine grower's house converted to hotel and restaurant, in a small village in the midst of Burgundy, not far from the motorway and will have just re-opened after a winter break.
For a special occasion, the set menu and a wine flight would get you right back in the good books. The service was delightfully informal and the staff were great. :0)
We stayed in the suite soleil, which was top notch and very spacious.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Digger the dinosaur wrote: |
We had a comfortable night at a sensible price in the Ibis in the centre of town a couple of weeks ago. Park underground there and there are literally loads of restaurants just down the road in easy walking distance, seemed pretty secure when we stayed, they close the garage doors overnight.
No shortage of restaurants in town, loads of really nice places if you want proper dinner (but will have a price tag to match) for birthday. I'd suggest booking as it is Friday night and quite a few places were pretty busy when we wandered through. |
Thanks for that! It looks the ticket. My only concern is the car park. Someone mentioned in a tripadvisor review that they couldnt access it with a roof box. Which would be a concern! I will call the hotel to double check...
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
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.
|
@kearnsh, there a other restaurants in walking distance and some lovely ones in the square about 5 minutes walk away, and after all it is a special occasion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowymum wrote: |
Novotel Dijon sud meets your requirements. Near motorway and has onsite restaurant. The rooms can vary so ask for a refurbished one when you book. If you are used to F1 it will be better than that! |
Thanks! We have stayed in that very same hotel several times and it fits our needs well. It would be perfect. However, it is already fully booked on the date in question! Its half term in Belgium and a popular stop-off point for people travelling from the low countries...
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
twodogs wrote: |
@kearnsh, absolutely, have a look at:
http://www.olivier-leflaive.com
We stayed here last summer on the way back from southern France and it was absolutely brilliant. It's a wine grower's house converted to hotel and restaurant, in a small village in the midst of Burgundy, not far from the motorway and will have just re-opened after a winter break.
For a special occasion, the set menu and a wine flight would get you right back in the good books. The service was delightfully informal and the staff were great. :0)
We stayed in the suite soleil, which was top notch and very spacious. |
What a gorgeous place! I dont mind paying a bit, but not sure that its worth shelling out nearly £400 when we have to leave early the next morning and we have our teenagers in tow. Now if only I could hatch a plan to drop them at a Formula 1 down the road, preferably with a McDonalds next door...
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@twodogs, we stayed there last summer, it was gorgeous.
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I am brand new to snowheads. As you have all been so terribly helpful, perhaps I could bother you with another question.
On what forum could I post the question "nearing middle age, out of shape woman, terrified, skis every year but not improving, prefers to stick to blue and red slopes wants to know if taking shorter skis might be easier to manage and help her confidence on the slopes." We are going to Les Arcs 1950 for about the 5th time. I love it and am happy to just pootle around for an hour or two on the easy slopes, to spend plenty of time reading, in the spa, drinking coffee and wine and preparing nice meals for the gang in the evening. I am excellent at après skiing! But more seriously, I know that my lack of skills and confidence is holding me (and my family and the rest of the group) back from some great days on the mountains. I know that I should take some more lessons (and probably will do) but do you think taking shorter skis might help? If this should be on another forum topic, pleaes let me know where I should post it! Merci beaucoup to you all!
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@kearnsh, why not post it in The Piste section? What length are your skis?
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
I have boots but not skis. I rent them at destination. thanks for the tip. I will re-post in The Piste section.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Hells Bells wrote: |
@twodogs, we stayed there last summer, it was gorgeous. |
Good on you, Hells Bells! we chose it because we'd rented a narrow boat on the Canal du Midi and I was adamant that I wanted a decent bath/shower on the way home after seven days on a boat (and I'm a bloke).
kearnsh wrote: |
@twodogs, we have our teenagers in tow |
Ah, in which case...! :0)
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@kearnsh, Did you check if the Novotel in Beaune had any space? That is ok too and rooms better from what I recall. From there you take the A6 for a short distance and then cut across on the A40 back to bourg en bresse, then south.
I'm not an expert on skis but I doubt it is ski length that is your problem. I'd book yourself a few private lessons and maybe invest in your own skis if you self drive. I bought some K2 rocker skis a few years ago which are longer than skis I used to hire (due to the technology associated with them which passed me by as it was all in French!) and I've been very pleased with them.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
@cameronphillips2000, I really can't be bothered to drive into town for dinner after a long day on the road, and I suspect OP's hubby will feel the same. My hotel either needs to be there already, or there should be a decent place to eat in the hotel I am staying in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hells Bells wrote: |
@cameronphillips2000, I really can't be bothered to drive into town for dinner after a long day on the road, and I suspect OP's hubby will feel the same. My hotel either needs to be there already, or there should be a decent place to eat in the hotel I am staying in. |
Yep, know how you feel. The great thing about Dijon though is that it's next to the autoroute and most of the hotels are on the town side of the motorway. It's then a very short drive in for a bite and wander at night.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Or even a walk, as I prefer a glass or two of wine with my dinner to water.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You could try the "Dijon Est - Mirande" Kyriad hotel.
"Mr Skiinghamster" and I spent two nights there 1-3rd January on our way to the Aosta valley. Its a small chain, nowhere near the size of the Accor group (Ibis/Mercure/Novotel etc). We found it on Booking.com but they do have their own website too.
Its not super posh, but is comfortable and has a restauarant on site with a nice selection of meals and a very good value menu du jour. Its only about 5 min off the motorway and right next to a tramstop that will take you into town simply and cheaply (about E3 each return).
It also has ample on site parking and we felt quite safe leaving our skis and other kit in the car overnight.
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Closer to Troyes than Dijon but the best restaurant/hotel I've stayed in is Le Val Moret. It's literally two minutes from the autoroute exit and while the room we had in a barn conversion was reasonably priced the restaurant has a range of price options and does seriously good food. Being in the middle of Champagne means the wine list is none too shabby either.
http://www.le-val-moret.com/en/map.html
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@Valkyrie, it is indeed the most convenient of hotels on paper, but for us, it is completely in the wrong place for our journey timings and I've had far far better and cheaper food elsewhere. Our room was freezing, son was at the other end of the grounds and the car park was a skating rink, which is a problem in winter when you have to cross it to get to dinner. We didn't go to the spa as it was too treacherous. Perhaps we just got a bad night, but I've never felt the need to go back. I didn't quite get why people thought it to be so good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We headed into Dijon one very cold night because of freezing fog on the motorway. Found a central hotel easily enough (French towns always have hotels signposted, with their star numbers) and asked the hotel for a restaurant recommendation, which was excellent and inexpensive. Dijon has loads of hotels (2 stars sere our choice) and loads of restaurants. Unless you are travelling at a specially busy time you don't really need to book ahead. I entirely agree that I'd not want to drive to dinner. It's well worth staying central and having a bit of a walk around.
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Thanks very much to you ALL for your time and helpful advice! Although I had originally ruled out the possibilty of going into a town, I now realise that it would not be too inconvenient nor time-consuming. I have looked into all the options you suggested. Ultimately, I found a new Holiday Inn Express between the motorway and town centre. it has excellent reviews and, by cheekily signing up to the Holiday Inn Rewards Club, I got an extra 10% of the price. There is a late bar, restaurants on the doorstep, free secure parking and breakfast included. Cant ask for more! So thats sorted! Thanks again!
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@kearnsh, good one.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Good choice - stayed there at New Year - ate at the restaurant next door - French chain but good quality meat - 15% discount if staying at the HIEx - also a chain fish restaurant & Quick burger drive through close by
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Holiday inn express, fairly new and cheap as chips
|
|
|
|
|
|