Hello folks,

Despite having bamboo for ten years I have never taken him abroad.. not even over the channel!

This summer that is set to change, we have 10 days off and ellie really wants to go to the Vendee area and I'd really like to ride in Morzine on the way home...

but where can you recommend?

Plan so far:
- Going to take the channel tunnel on 5th August in the afternoon - so looking for a cheap hotel or good campsite en-route to Vendee area - maybe near Le Mans?
- Know somewhere ace in vendee area to camp? small and quiet is more our style
- Where else should we go?
- en-route to morzine, should we go across middle of france or detour down to the south and visit somewhere else on the way?

All ideas welcome!

regards,

fritz

Morzine is not exactly "on the way home"

When you say say ride - do you mean on a bike

I would head south from Vendee and do a big loop round Toulouse or even Carcassonne and then east to Provence and then up towards the Alps, maybe taking in Ventoux (nice photo opportunity on top)

10 days should be plenty and not too much time on the road each day.

That would certainly be the Tour de France.

Ian

Whichever route you take you won't regret it,I've done the tunnel route several times coming down to the Charente.The peage routes are okay if you don't mind motorways.Having said that they are much quieter here in France and if you travel on Sundays HGV's except those with animals or perishable goods are not allowed to travel. The D roads are better in my view as you get to pass through some lovely villages. Me having all the time in the world being retired means I'm in no rush.

One important thing to remember is make sure you Satnav doesn't pick up speed cameras as you will will get a hefty fine and have it seized,if the Gendarmes pick it up and stop you.

Come over it,s brilliant.

Unless you desperately want to finish off in the Vendee I would go on the right hand side of France - first stop Reins, then down the German boarder to your train/bike ride. If you want cheap hotel/motel we use http://www.premiereclasse.com/en/default/aspx. Same standard thoughout France. Really good one in Le mans (new) near University.

Just make it up as you go along, that's what we do. You shouldn't really have too much trouble finding a reasonable 2 star hotel or campsite. Yes, there can be the odd rubbish one, but not very often. We tend to start looking out for one after about 5pm as we tour around, and more often than not we've found somewhere decent and have settled in by 7pm. We tend to camp a few nights, then have a night in a hotel. We've never booked or planned anything, even in high season, and not had a problem finding somewhere to stay. The worst that's happened is we've had to spend a bit more money on something altogether more upmarket than we've needed

In fact I've just booked two weeks off today with a view to slinging the tent in the car and just winging it. The only plan I have is to pootle down to the Loire in the 1st week, then onto Dordogneshire for the 2nd week. The only confirmed and booked bits will be the Chunnel.

I'm really looking forward to taking the Deuche, as it will be my first time with the car in France too. Previously we've taken my other daft car.

Good luck with it, and enjoy!

just go - most towns have a municipal camp site near the pool/sports centre just rock into town sit and have a beer in the cafe and ask someone when you turn up in a 2cv they usually find room for you.