[secondone]

We want to pack our bags in the boot and take a leisurely motoring tour around France for three weeks or more starting from Calais,driving down the West coast then perhaps through a bit of Spain then onto the south of France to St Maxime or thereabouts staying for a week or so then returning on a different route back to Calais. We would like to know if anybody else has done a similar tour and can recommend some good hotels and places to stop. We cannot find any travel agents who organize this type of tour so it seems we have to diy it. If you can give any advise/suggestions we would be very grateful.
Thanks
D&N

[barryk]

From Previous Post "Driving through Europe"

I would cross to either Le Harve or Cherbourg (or cross to Calais and head for Rouen) and drive down through Le Mans, Tours, Poitiers and spend the night in La Rochelle which is a beautiful old port with supurb seafood restaurents. Be careful though you may want to stay on for an extra day(s)!
From there I would take the E602 onto E05 (A10) to Bordeaux which is close to my favorite vineyards at St Emillion!
Better still go via the ferry at Royan and go down N215 to Bordeaux or even better,the D101 to Houtin and then the D3 to Carcans and onto Lege Cap - Ferret but then you miss out Bordeaux. From there it's into Spain and enjoy your holiday. I would then head east through Pau, Toulouse and head for Montpellier. Then start to head north (ish) through Nimes to Avignon which is gorgous. keep going norht through Orange to the Ardeche (great fun to canoe down). After that its north to Paris where you must stay for a few days. You can then return via Cherbourg or Calais.
Where ever you go learn to say hello, how are you and 2 beers please in French adn you will enjoy it.

[fxfrancais]

France

Hi, You might consider crossing the channel from Newhaven to Dieppe using Transmanche Ferries then take the route as suggested above. It is a 4 hour crossing and is a lot cheaper than the other robbing barons - especially Britanny Ferries!! Dieppe to Rouen is less than an hour. Have a good one

[Veccy77]

French Trip

Hi, why not sail to Ouistreham,Normandy. You could overnight in Caan and spend the day visiting the D-Day sights if your into that sort of thing and then move on from there. That also cuts of a 3-4 hour drive from Calais.

Accomodation wise. There are plenty of hotel chains all over France. A good value one is ETAP. It is quite basic, but you get a good sized family room with private facilities and a buffet breakfast. Very clean & tidy too.

If your heading to Spain, Lyon is a nice city and don't forget the The Millau bridge over the River Tarn in the Massif Central mountains. It is more than 300m (984ft) high - taller even than the country's Eiffel Tower.

Good luck and enjoy.