Just back from a very wet trip to France and needed a hotel room in Calais after arriving on a late Eurotunnel. Found and used for the first time a Formule 1 hotel. You need your credit card to make a reservation to a machine outside the front door. This gives you a room number and code for the front door and your room locks. Clean, almost cell-like bedroom with only a washbasin, but communal showers and loos work well and were super clean. The shower has a fan blower that will dry you completely - just like a car wash - and no wet towel to deal with! Cost was 33 Euros including breakfast which we missed because on Sat's and Sun's they start breakfast at 7.30 and we were long gone by then. There seem to be a few chains of hotels in France that offer this sort of no-frills approach. I really recommend it.
The Limousin can be very very wet in late April - not fun under canvas on our first continental camping trip, but at least it was warm. We came home early after 36 hours of continuous heavy rain!
------------- Best wishes
AntC
If trees gushed blood when they were felled by meddling men.....would he forbear and let them live? M. Peake
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We always used Formule 1 until a few years ago when we discovered Premier Class. Same format at Formule 1 - but for a few pounds more you have an en suite, small but providing you are not a 20 stone giant perfectly adequate - and a better variety of food for breakfast, all in a very light and clean environment. Highly recommended
My tip for F1's is to make sure you've got a pen and to write the security code number for your room on your arm!
I'm poor at remembering numbers, I have a tendency to sleepwalk and I always need to get up for a wee in the night....the first time we used one I was terrified I was going to wake up naked, out in the corridor en route to the loo with no idea of the number to get back into the room so I now write it on my arm (not hand!) so that I don't worry about it as the more I worry the more likely I am to sleepwalk!
PJ's are an obvious requirement!
------------- Piglet
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If passing thro' Calais, e.g waiting for vet to the dog's pass port, I can reccomend Cottage Hotels, 500m from sliproad from the Chunnel, have own bar / restaurant, + website.
Have used cheap motels for over 20 years, while drifting up & down France. Advantage is that can get in (if vacancies)at any hour. Can get the head down for a break without breaking out camping gear, Can bunk up family and off quickly for anearly start. Trick is to collect brochures from a range of motels to collect websites. Beware of French "fetes" & the school return.
------------- Cryptian
Life is not a rehearsal--It's the real thing !
Many years ago, I was travelling alone in France having arranged to meet my boyfriend off the ferry in Calais. Trying to use my mediocre French, I asked in a bar for a cheap place to stay for a single woman, travelling alone. Except I used 'travailleur' for traveller - which meant I asked for somewhere for a 'working girl' to stay....
I actually spent a very comfortable night in a brothel. They regarded me with curiosity, I think they assumed I must be having the night off !
Not sure that I could recommend it though...
Ibis and Formule 1 are all part of the same company - Accorhotel (as are Mercure, etc., etc.) - they run from Formule 1 at the bottom of the chain getting more expensive and luxurious as you rise! All of them are efficiently run, I gather.
Quote: Originally posted by kerrythecamper on 18/5/2008
I can personally recommend Hotel Le Grand Air in open countryside near Guines just south of Calais. The proprieter speaks English and will greet you with a genuine enthusiasm and is helpful in every way. Excellent food and rooms.
Obviously a bit more upmarket from a F1 but not too expensive and in my opinion very fair value for money. See (in French):