We decided to start late for Calais and stop, as we did on the way to Brittany. It's not that we couldn't do it in one, and then some if need be. It's just that at our age, why bother?
Even so we aren't rich. So we wanted to find a nice modest well-organised semi-traditional village or small-town aunerge like ones we have known in the past. But it's autumn now and lots of those places seem to be closed after the tourist season proper.
Actually there's another reason why those places seem a bit thin on the ground these days. Here on the way into Rouen on the sort of route departementale that we now mimsingly favour, we have found another Etap Hotel, sort of motel actually. We stayed in one on the way to Brittany too. Cheap, herself says clean, free Wifi although the Mac made a frightful paranoid security to-do the first time, and TV. Urbane but not numerous staff.
The really strange thing was that the entrance, reception and breakfast nook sort of place were more or less identical in both places, real sense of deja vu which may reassure some but seems spooky to me. However at €44 or so for two with breakfast you aren't going to complain unless you are a wally.
We've both paid far more for worse accommodation. Spartan but adequate is about a hundred times better than pretentious but carp, we think in our snooty way. Only another few hours of purring along at 58 on cruise though. Damn!
Highlight of the day was stopping for ham and frites at a roadside place on the way out of Le Mans. I felt a bit sad at not managing to identify any of the famous circuit despite crossing the Sarthe river twice. But it was raining and there was a lot of traffic. The frites were twice what we needed and not all that nice, but served by a charming young fellow of around 20 to 25 in the intervals between his tinkerings with three very similar purplish Mazda V6 coupes, two 2 litres and the good 2.5, he specified. We had a nice little car chat. His mate is a chef in Scotland and got a lovely gold MGF for only two grand. I tried to tell him about K series head gaskets. Charming young geezer in the modern mode, could just as well be from anywhere. Herself thought so too.
So coming through Le Mans wasn't a complete waste after all.
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Encountered a diversion near Le Mans once, while on the way home from La Rochelle. Very annoyed until I realised I had to divert to the right or end up on the Mulsanne straight on the Sunday of the 24 Heures du Mans, going the wrong way!
I gather you enjoyed your hols?
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"but not numerous staff." You were lucky to see any - reception staff only there from 5.00 pm to 10 pm (9.00 pm weekends) - otherwise entry by credit card only.
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I suppose that's how they manage the prices lancara.
Herself took issue with me saying these places aren't spartan at all. Of course she comes from intellectual stock. One of her cousins once had his hot water bottle freeze solid in his bed, in a house I later stayed in in an ancient university town. I suppose her struggles with the sort of prefab shower stall - highly efficient however - in this place seemed exotic to her. She prefers baths although showers seem less hassle to me.
I suppose adequate isn't spartan really. But my impression is that if it isn't quite poncy a lot of people will feel cheated and even grumble.
Note to iffy: no black mould in the shower that I could see. But the whole thing is made out of plastic like a portaloo or something in a caravan. It sort of creaks when you lumber about in its very restricted space.
Should we complain and demand something more robust and permanent seeming?
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On my bike trip to the Somme in June a very tired PU turned up at a pre-booked automated hotel in Arras - the pin number they sent me to get in to the unmanned reception wouldn't work, my Bank de la Rosbif credit cards would have been more use as tent an the helpline was not answered. The room was comfy enough though when I eventually sorted access - as AC says for less than 44 a bargain. Saying that I got a nice Gite on the Somme with covered parking for less and was far better.
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...Note to iffy: no black mould in the shower that I could see. But the whole thing is made out of plastic like a portaloo or something in a caravan. It sort of creaks when you lumber about in its very restricted space...Should we complain and demand something more robust and permanent seeming?...
AC,
Mmm, that's a tough one.
On balance, I feel the absence of mould outweighs the other considerations.
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I'm surprised no-ne has said "They are all like that now, Sir!"...
It seems that all the "chain" type hotels are like that these days, whether Etap, F1 or whatever... cheaply built using lots of plastics and all bedrooms identical... The price we pay for cheap digs...
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Plenty of old style hotels just struggling to make a living in the centre of the older smallish 'market' towns. Pick a town that has a 'bypass' and drive thro the centre. You are guaranteed 'character', but not necessarily lowest cost. Works better in rural France, probably not as easy around pas de Calais.
The difficult places are some of the northern coastal resorts, where many of the old style hotels have been converted to holiday apartments.
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'ave you got a rheum ? A zimmer ? Does your duwg bite ?
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Sun 3 Oct 10 at 12:58
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A burm? What kind of a burm?
Ze exploding kind!
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Mould indicates damp. Needs looking into.
John
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i had a night in an etap
lovely place and lovely fresh chocolate de pains for brecky with super machine coffee
oh and the carpark was gated for security but i still saw a car with a missing window so maybe the area was a bit iffy?
(no caravans i could see though) ;-#)
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I stayed in an "unrestored" hotel in Le Touquet de Paris on the same trip - for 48 Euros, I got a room that was clean basic and quiet - the shower seemed to require some work - plenty of mould in the grout, but a really comfy night's sleep in a feather bed and a delightfully darkened corridors and landing, nice continental breakfast the next day...lovely coffee.
The human receptionist let me park the bike in a gated garden. Nice place if you're ever passing.
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We stayed at an ETAP at Bourges - just off the Autoroute. For €45 not bad, the current Mrs R was more than happy especially with the free Wifi. Breakfast at €4.50 exceedingly good value - well recommend. Note to Premier Inn and Travelodge - the French are coming - your rates are far too high in comparision.
For food we went to the next door Novatel - resonable priced food, but no Moule et Frites on the menu :)
RR
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I know what you're saying RM - mind you stayed at the Premier Inn at Manchester airport - £69 quid no brekkie but included free parking at a nearby Jetpark - so not so bad. BTW nice place for a decent night's kip.
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Never tried any of the Accor group chains except the rather too basic Formule 1. We've always been pleased with the BB Hotels tinyurl.com/2bj98wx.
Four bed rooms ideal for a family. They are all alike though!!
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It was BB's technology that nearly deprived me of a decent night's sleep in Arras - room was a bit whiffy (smokers)
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We stay fairly regularly at the ETAP Hotel beside Nice Airport. One of the very few hotels where we are actually prepared to pay the extra for breakfast. OK - it is somewhat spartan, but it does the job, and we keep going back.
The only downside is that there is no free parking.
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" Note to Premier Inn and Travelodge -
the French are coming - your rates are far too high in comparision."
Etap are owned by Accor Hotels who already have a huge presence in the UK. through such brands as Novotel, Mercure,Sofitel, and Etap amongst many others. I suspect the reason that French Hotel rates are cheaper than hours is mainly due to the cost of land and planning permission. France is a big country and most of the cheap hotels are set up on the edge of towns - often on commercial land industrial estates. They are usually of fairly basic construction.
I stayed at the Kyriad in Chartres on Saturday, almost new and and an excellent overnight stop for anyone travelling from the Channel ports to the south via the A75. Cost was EUR60
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" I suspect the reason that French Hotel rates are cheaper than hours is mainly due to the cost of land and planning permission"
And yet Etap seem to be able to charge cheap prices here also -
£37 for tomorrow, £28 some other nights (for a room for 2). Travelodge in the same area - minimum price £48.50.
In case nobody else has mentioned it (you probably have! ), Logis de France have some fantastic value hotels - family run generally which are much more "individual" than the chains, if a little more expensive, and often with a really good restaurant. Well worth a look
www.logishotels.com/
Mind, it has to be said that the chains are often very conveniently situated on main routes though they can be full of "business" travellers quite early and one might have to go to the next door MacDonalds to eat! Having said that, how come the French MacDonalds have a much tastier menu than those here? (even if they don't open for breakfast and if they do it's coffee and cakes rather than a sausage or bacon McMuffin!! Oops, never thought I'd have to confess to knowing much about MaccyD's!!!)
Phil
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PS Had to do an "emergency" job up in Aberdeen recently - got late and had to stop overnight near Dundee/Perth - Travelodge/Premier Inn wanted £77 so drove on to a little seaside place near Alloa - found hotel which charged £40 including massive breakfast - also had an excellent range of single malts in the bar when I arrived, a couple of which I sampled before retiring in the company of a very friendly owner and charming barmaid - not many of those in Travelodges!!!
It pays to look around!!
Phil
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>> - also had an excellent range of single malts in the bar when I arrived,
>> a couple of which I sampled before retiring in the company of a very friendly
>> owner and charming barmaid - not many of those in Travelodges!!!
>> It pays to look around!!
>> Phil
>>
You retired in the company of the owner and the charming barmaid?
wasn't the bed a little crowded? ;-)
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>> " Note to Premier Inn and Travelodge -
>> the French are coming - your rates are far too high in comparision."
>>
I think that its one of those "shop around" moments... I'd agree that some are overpriced, however if you do shop around you can get some bargains.. Me and SWMBO are staying for three nights in Southport later in the month at one of the Brittania chain at £42 a night B&B... not sure what its going to be like, as its one of the "old style" hotels wth disabled rooms!
BTW trying to get prices for rooms with disabled facilities is a real pain - the big chains list it as an option, but several of the "laterooms" style websites, whilst they list the option can't guarantee the room! I've ended up checking the prices, then going on the hotels' website and then phoning them and hoping they'll match the online price (if the room is available!) - its a right rigmarole!
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Forthcoming trip to Scotland at end of the month
UK Travelodge - £29.55 a night B&B and Campanile £29.00 a night B&B
France Etap for comparison €43.15, €38.70, €45.10, €38.10
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lancara,
Those are very good deals but (unless I am mistaken) according to Travelodge website, only obtainable if you book at 3 weeks in advance. For those of us who don't know whether we will be in Aberdeen or Eastbourne the day after tomorrow the cheapest rooms are anything from £41 to £77 (and don't include breakfast?)
Phil.
Enjoy your Scottish trip!
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should they not pay you to stay in southport?
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I reckon you're thinking of Blackpool, BB, you'd have to pay me to stay there! Southport is so much nicer, or at least it was when I was last there!
Will let you know in a couple of weeks!! ;-)
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Britannia have a pretty lousy reputation round here. Hope the Southport one is better.
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...Hope the Southport one is better...
I've stopped a couple of times in the new Ramada on the seafront at Southport.
Modern four-star hotel which lives up to its billing.
www.ramadaplazasouthport.co.uk/
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Yes, i could possibly agree about land prices, but did stay at ETAP in Salford for £19 in August - booked 2 days in advance. Mind you they did rush us £3 for parking....
I know you can get "bargains" with Travelodge but they are few and far between, and some of the older ones are looking very down at heal. I stayed at one near Newcastle recently and it was very tatty and they still wanted £39, and that was the discounted price.
I just think the large chains in the UK are getting, shall we say, greedy!
RM
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Last day. What has become of French hotels. - Manatee
