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http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/index.html

http://www.hotel-bb.com/

http://www.misterbed.fr/  (that one the site was down when I looked just now)

Hope that helps?

Have a look on the Gites de France website, then select Chambres d'Hote - to see if anything comes up in the area you're looking for.  If you've decided on your route, and know approximately where you may want to stop, then someone might be able to help with a more definite recommendation.

Thanks very much for the info so far - I had discounted the regular inexpensive chains due to their '3 to a room' limitation, thus started looking at the Chambres d'Hotes site for alternatives, for something a bit more local and individual.  Hadn't looked into the Hotel B&B chain, thanks Oxter - they do appear to have a family room for E60 plus breakfast is an extra E18... However I've just been quote E70, breakfast included (!), for two adjoining double rooms in a place like this: http://www.laberthoderie.com/british.htm, which sends some money in the locals' direction, rather than the big chains, and makes it a little more like a 'holiday' than just crashing out.

We'll be driving Clermont-Ferrand/Bourges/Vierzon/Orleans/Chartres/Rouen/Abbeville/Calais, with a stopover somewhere around Bourges or Vierzon or Orleans at the furthest stretch.  So I suppose I was ultimately looking for personal recommendations of Chambres d'Hotes along this bit of the trip, rather than just going through their website. 

All the same, it's really good to know about the Hotel B&B chain option!

Quote: Originally posted by planetabbott on 24/2/2009

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Thanks very much for the info so far - I had discounted the regular inexpensive chains due to their '3 to a room' limitation, thus started looking at the Chambres d'Hotes site for alternatives, for something a bit more local and individual.  Hadn't looked into the Hotel B&B chain, thanks Oxter - they do appear to have a family room for E60 plus breakfast is an extra E18... However I've just been quote E70, breakfast included (!), for two adjoining double rooms in a place like this: http://www.laberthoderie.com/british.htm, which sends some money in the locals' direction, rather than the big chains, and makes it a little more like a 'holiday' than just crashing out.

We'll be driving Clermont-Ferrand/Bourges/Vierzon/Orleans/Chartres/Rouen/Abbeville/Calais, with a stopover somewhere around Bourges or Vierzon or Orleans at the furthest stretch.  So I suppose I was ultimately looking for personal recommendations of Chambres d'Hotes along this bit of the trip, rather than just going through their website. 

All the same, it's really good to know about the Hotel B&B chain option!

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Dont know how old your kids are, but if they are small and you are only staying one night, what we used to do, was either dad slept in bunk bed and mum and two kids in double bed, or one kid in bunk bed, mum and dad in double bed and other kid in sleeping bag on floor. depends on how much you want to economise.

Premier classe actually do rooms for 4 and also have an en suite which a lot of the budget class hotels dont.

At the end of the day it all depends on how much  you want to spend on an overnight stop

Ah - thanks lyanabint, I wasn't sure if one would be allowed to take an extra child into a room for three - there's nothing on hotel websites that states such, and I hated the idea of arriving someplace after a long drive and finding that they wouldn't allow all four of us in the same room, or wouldn't honour our reservation for some reason.  Our boys are 6 and 11, but they're both quite slim, so they'd fit into a single bed no problem, or one could sleep in their sleeping bag otherwise.

Oxter, the chambre d'hote will take us for one night, no problem - with dinner also available at E17 for adults including wine, and less than that for the children's meals, it's not bad, I reckon.  Am continuing to research, though!

Hotel B&B have family rooms for 4 There is a mazzanine with 2 single beds and a gate across the stairs. They are around 55 to 60 euros for a family. You will find most Hotel B&B's are close to a chain of restaurants your boys will love called Buffalo Grill so no problem eating either. The Hotels also do a great buffet breakfast including bacon and egg for 5.80, half that for kids.

Carol

There you go planetabbott, isn't this a helpful place?

The french are pretty laid back.  If your french is reasonable, give them a call and ask about 2 slim kids - they might be ok about it?   If not, smuggle the smallest one in!!