 Poster: A snowHead
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@rjs, ah, we don't get the ferry. Turns out I can't use that hotel anyway, as they only allow one dog under 10kg. I think mine was that weight when we got hin at 9 weeks old.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| Can I ask where you all eat when you stay at these hotels on industrial parks, as not all of them have restaurants? Maccie D's will not do, I hate the things. |
Usually chain restaurants, for Tinqueaux there's the Novotel, Campanile and Ibis with their own restaurants, just up the road at Thillois there's a Leon's Fish brasserie,Sherlock pub Del Arte Italian and a Hippopotamus, plus several other restaurants nearby.
For transit type hotel stops Reims is one of the best for choice.
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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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@Timc, thanks, must have improved since we last did those places, as we had to eat the cheese stash in the cool box as there was nowhere to eat.
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@Hells Bells, To be fair there are quite a lot of these industrial estate hotels with not much near, Reims Tinqueaux ticks all the transit boxes, Google map search for restaurants nearby chosen hotels is a useful tool.
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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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@Timc, yep, I've done that regularly and not been successful. I found one place that obviously only opened Mon-Fri. That's why I tend to stick to Logis hotels, as even if they aren't in towns they usually have a reasonable restaurant. It was Tinqueux I stayed in originally that put me off. We ended up eating roadkill in the Campanile hotel. My overnight stay is part of my holiday, so transit hotels aren't really on the agenda, I just wondered if it had improved.
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@Hells Bells, Inis hotels often have a small bar and ready meal type food available for late arrivals. Buffalo Grills are also a favourite and normally situated near the main overnight areas off motorways. Other option is chancing autoroute services and they is also stocking up if on a Flexiplus crossing
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My overnight stay is part of my holiday
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Ah! Not part of mine. And if I can do without an overnight stay, that's even better (not possible from your neck of the woods, I grant you). My days of driving to the Alps are pretty well over but that first coffee and "pain au raisin" in an Aire was always good!
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At a cost of almost £200 to upgrade to Flexiplus, I can have a very decent meal in a very nice bistro. Ready meals do not figure in our home diet, so won't be part of my holiday either. Last time we chanced autoroute they were closing down for the night, and we had a very stale sandwich. I'm going to stick to my usual stops I think.
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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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Couldn't agree more about ready meals and sometimes the late night offering in an Aire is pretty dire. In which case I'd probably skip it - I tend to drink a lot of coffees (often not very good coffees) on those drives, and if I eat little or nothing, that's fine by me. I usually start off with some sandwiches from home, or sometimes cheese and bacon scones - they can get me as far as Macon! I'm going to Gatwick on the train on Tuesday to catch a flight arriving Gva at 1935. I shall take a sandwich and an apple with me, and that'll be that. No way do I buy meals in airports!! And not even a G&T on that occasion as I have to pick up a hire car on arrival - in the dark. The journey just gets done - I'll pick up some lovely things to eat and drink up the mountain in the supermarket in Sallanches on Wednesday morning, having spent what will probably be a pretty reasonable night in the Ibis budget. I like good food, and mostly cook for myself, but am not a bit bothered going without much for a few days. Especially having tried to get into my winter Levis last night and finding I couldn't do them up. 
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@Hells Bells, I couldn't agree more. Many are the EoSBs for which I've tracked down and pre-booked lovely meals. (And prepared nice snacks for the journeys, to avoid motorway food of any sort.)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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That said, I'd also probably be likely to eat very little if I were travelling on my own.
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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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My sister, who makes magnificent pastry, always used to make super pasties for my mum and dad, in their modest camper van excursions into "la France non-profonde". Beyond the pain au chocolat with a coffee I eat little or nothing in Aires. A day without food does nobody any harm. And when I take sandwiches I often end up chucking some out, several days later. One of the pleasures of travelling alone is not having to eat something just to keep somebody company!
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@Origen, if I didn't eat for a day, I would be unable to drive, as I would have a horrendous headache. We used to have picnic on Eurotunnel, and have an emergency stash of pork pies. But that was lunch, and with a 6am departure time, my sonss and hubby are usually hungry by 7pm.
You are obviously of sterner stuff than us. Why the rush to get to a destination? Chill, see the sights, eat, drink and see more of the country you are travelling through.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Origen, Au Bureau, close to the Ibis Budget in Sallanches does a decent burger ( mind you I love french burgers, only ever had one poor french burger, never eat burgers in UK.) and a good range of passable "fuel".
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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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@Origen,
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A day without food does nobody any harm.
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That is far from a universal truth.
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One of the pleasures of travelling alone is not having to eat something just to keep somebody company!
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I look on this in the diametrically opposite way: one of the pleasures of travelling with others is the enhanced pleasure of eating with others! But each to his own.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Timc, I fear that burgers are likely to be full of processed crap in both countries.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| KSH wrote: |
| @Timc, I fear that burgers are likely to be full of processed crap in both countries. |
Probably but at my age I have put far worse in my body that the difference that 6 or 7 burgers a year are going to my health is miniscule.
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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 always pack a couple of screw top mini bottles of red wine to have once we arrive at our late stop just to help relax following what can be a stressful drive. Normally drank out of the thin [sealed] plastic cups found adjacent to the bathroom sink. 
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Thu 16-10-25 7:08; edited 1 time in total
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@Ozboy, is the sick a result of eating burgers?
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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 always take a car fridge’ with a supply of different pre-made rolls and juice cartons, as a contingency. You can always find that your journey doesn’t go as planned, or you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and starving. Sometimes the food gets thrown away but more often, it’s welcome when we take a break at a small aire at a mealtime. Some people happily manage if they skip meals, but I get a migraine if I don’t get something to eat at mealtimes - even if it’s just a small roll - especially if I’m driving.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Thu 16-10-25 8:37; edited 1 time in total
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We have stayed in Troyes. It is lovely and would recommend it to anyone for a stopoff
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We are trying Val Moret for first time this year on our way back. Must remember to pack the budgie smugglers. Won't be a good look after two weeks of wine and mountain food.
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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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@No Style, they were fine with normal swim shorts last time I was there
I do get “hangry” if I don’t eat and lose concentration - not great combo for driving. We also take food with us for journey and usually first night as well. Obviously not breaking any rules about what we take in to EU 
While it can be nice to take time and enjoy journey, from Calais to Lyon I’ve done a million times and more than happy to blast along the autoroute fuelled by machine coffee and snacks
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 16-10-25 10:07; edited 1 time in total
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Thanks Boris, I will pack board shorts too
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We've used the Campanile in Central Reims, which is a short walk from the cathedral (classic gothic) if you've an hour or so to spare. Adequate food and underground secure car park. Bit further off the A26 though if you're in a hurry.
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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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Val Moret has a really nice restaurant but I’d recommend avoiding the local speciality of Troyes, the andouillette sausage. Unless you’re a dedicated offal gourmet. It’s made from the large intestine and stomach of a pig. It’s marinaded and the marinade is great, but I found that unless you’ve finished within 5-6 minutes, the intestine smell starts to emerge and well, it smells of what you’d expect intestines to …..  *
If you are a vegetarian they do have a separate vegetarian menu, but you have to ask for it. My partner has always been pleased with what they serve up and while not a vegetarian myself, I’ve actually opted for the veggie dishes sometimes, as they’re well-prepared and presented.
*[edit: the wait staff will often query an obvious Brit ordering andouillette. It’s not pretentiousness - I suspect that they’ve had lots of people leave it mainly untouched because it wasn’t what they expected.]
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Fri 17-10-25 9:59; edited 4 times in total
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I’d recommend avoiding the local speciality of Troyes, the andouillette sausage.
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+1. My OH was a great fan of sausages and opted for this. I warned him, told him he wouldn't like it (having read about it on Snowheads....) but..... he ordered it anyway. I think that was the only time I ever saw him leave such a lot on his plate. 
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You know it makes sense.
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@No Style It’s also worth joining the Logis de France ETIK loyalty scheme before you stay at Val Moret or any Logis. You get €uro credits for both accommodation and food and the rate is relatively generous. A single stay and meal for two at Val Moret gets us around €11-€15 in credits to spend against subsequent Logis stays. Just remember to give them your ETIK account number when you check out. Credits come in the form of vouchers in €5 increments.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Fri 17-10-25 12:27; edited 2 times in total
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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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A recent trend all over France we’ve noticed is the growth of large bakeries in modern shopping areas. Boulangerie Ange is an example. They open very early in the morning and serve extremely cheap breakfasts as well as freshly made sandwiches and filled baguettes etc etc. instead of having breakfast in the hotel we now usually breakfast there and stock up with sandwiches for lunch in transit. Our favourites are either chicken or tuna “bagnats”.
There is an “Ange” close to the chain hotels in Saint-Quentin and one in Tinqueux too near the B&B Hotel
boulangerie-ange.fr
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Poster: A snowHead
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Boulangeries Marie Blachère is very similar we've seen lots and used a few.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rdsweb, In terms of chains, many services now seem to have a Paul's - always found their pastries or croque to be very nice.
This thread is really getting me in the mood for Boxing Day drive down to the alps!!!!!
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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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@Boris, me too we’re off 12th Dec for la premiere neige at La Plagne. I agree about Paul too
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We stayed in the ibis Styles Reims Centre Cathédrale and also the Hôtel Campanile Reims Cathédrale and both were very similar, both do the job given your essentially just sleeping there. Decent enough beds for the whole family although the room in campanile was a bit bigger and better beds for the kids. Didn't manage to get in the car park in the campanile but there is plenty of parking on the street which is all fairly safe. Short walk into the main town and lots of restaurants to choose from.
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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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In Reims, we usually stay at the Novotel Suites Reims Centre because they have good family rooms which sleep 4 with a double bed and 2 decent converted singles (which suit even my now-gigantic children). There is a (paid) secure car park next door and it is an easy walk into town, although we usually eat at the Brasserie Le Clairmarais opposite the hotel. Just had a quick look on Google Maps and it only seems to add about 6 minutes to a journey to the Alps compared to stopping at the Novotel Reims Tinqueux.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Boris, we were in Prague in late August and at the Novotel, breakfast was not included and would have been 22 euros and I found myself wondering if I could eat 22€ worth, so one morning we had a huge breakfast in a Georgian bakery and cafe, and the next two mornings we ate at a Paul in a nearby shopping centre. It was interesting seeing the various versions of breakfast buffets in different countries. In Budapest I helped myself to Hungarian hummus, which i didn’t like very much, and baked semolina. Well why not, I haven’t had semolina for decades, and it was quite pleasant.
Back on topic, we used to enjoy dinner at the Val Moret during the week when they had the Etape menu in the evening as well as lunch time, and it was all of about 15€ for a three course meal. Didn’t apply Friday or Saturday and now it doesn’t apply at all in the evening, but we do always manage to eat well there. We dropped in mid afternoon in February on the way back from Les Gets as we wanted to give the dog a bit of a run off the lead, and we were going to be staying at the Ibis Tinqueux, she knows the track down by the fields and we had coffee in the hotel afterwards.
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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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Andouilettes. They are off the scale delicious. My favourite sausage. All you lily-livered types who regard them as the product of the ghastly frogs need to become a bit more cosmopolitan! Slightly OT but Comptoir Abel in Lyon is the place to go. Fancy one in London? Zedel have them.
A journey is both something to get over and done with as quickly and as cheaply as possible and something to be enjoyed with charm and delight along the way. No reason the two should be mutually exclusive.
Sandwiches and a flask - tick. Why drop £4 at Starbucks for liquid that’s essentially free if you prepare.
A bed in a box on an industrial estate - fine BUT not if it means eating in one of those ghastly chain restaurants.
Back in the 80s and 90s Campanile restaurants were much better than they are now. Quite a disappointment but that’s inflation/devaluation for you.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 20-10-25 14:52; edited 1 time in total
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A journey is both something to get over and done with as quickly and as cheaply as possible and something to be enjoyed with charm and delight along the way. No reason the two should be mutually exclusive.
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That's an interesting observation, and a true one (though you're WRONG about the andouillettes!). I generally much enjoyed my journeys to the Alps. Straight off the train onto the autoroute, listen to an interesting audiobook. Watching the miles tick away. Driving empty roads in the dark under a canopy of stars (well, yes, not always like that, but once when it got very foggy, driving into an eerily quiet Dijon blanketed in freezing fog and finding a warm hotel was good!). That first junction signposted to "Geneve". The "chicken aire" - a delight not only for children. The sight of the mountains in the distance. On the whole more enjoyable than getting to, sitting around in, and getting out of, airports and faffing around with a rental car. Though that's what I'll be doing on Tuesday.....
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FAQ
