In a months time we set off from Caen around 4pm Sunday, heading for the BB hotel near Bourges airport. I expect this drive to take around five hours- what sort of places will be open for food this time of day apart from MacDonalds, bearing in mind that I don't want to deviate more than a couple of miles from the autoroute?
------------- Johnny Hamster
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Johnny, stay on the autoroute and use one of the service areas - the larger ones on the autoroutes often offer really good value food (like the supermarket cafterias). Sometimes you can get the 'menu' type arrangement, with three courses, for around 10 euros - and children can have a 'menu infant' which is even cheaper, and often includes a small gift. You can also just order a single dish, rather than a complete 'menu' if you wish. There's a nice service area on the A11 which forms the route around Le Mans - Sarthe-Sarge Le Mans, which we thought was particularly nice. Even the smaller ones (like a large garage, rather than a full service area) often offer meals - we had a lovely strawberry tartelette at one, a couple of weeks ago. Don't knock the service areas, they can be great.
If you'd prefer to get off then autoroute, then 'Buffalo Grill' is usually available on each route into any major town, - and then there are the local restaurants, and pizzerias, which if you go early on (say 6.00 pm) will have plenty of space.
Thanks to you both - I've never heard of Courtepaille - looks like there's one very close to the hotel - it was the late Sunday aspect that was a worry. Looks like it's Viande et Frites all round unless we can find pizza. The 15 percent discount sounds like a good idea.
I expect it'll depend on how we go for time and how much we spend on the ferry. Otherwise BB hotels do a microwavable spag bol for those late arrivers. Can't wait!
------------- Johnny Hamster
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Buffalo Grill is very good. A bit disarmingly Franco-American (or do I mean disturbingly?!) Courtepaille are also good. I think all these places are different parts of the same chains as the hotels. That's why you often get them together.
Johnny - another possibility is to eat early in Caen (Ouistreham) on arrival - as you come out of the port there are loads of restaurants around a 'mini-roundabout'. We had one of the best meals in France, there - and there's parking spaces nearby with enough room for the caravan. We ate at the one which looks like a yacht festival (lots of white sails around the room, and dividing up the seats). It looks like it might be cheap and cheerful, and it was cheap, but the food was lovely. I had a 'Menu' - with seabass done in a salt crust, and it was absolutely delicious.
Sorry to hitch a lift on someone elses thread, but .......
We are travelling on a sunday ferry too - to Calais. Our first night is at LE VIVIER AUX CARPES, Seraucourt-le-Grand, St Quentin. It doesn't seem to do any sort of food at all. Have looked in the Courtepaille web-site, but there is nothing nearby. Has anyone stayed there who knows what is available locally - we would rather not have the faff of cooking on an overnight stop.
Ta
Alan
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We sail to Calais on Sunday morning and for our overnight stop we shall have spag-bol. The bol sauce is already in the freezer and will just need heating up and only the spag will need cooking.
Yes I know, you are B & Bing so can't think of cooking there
Quote: Originally posted by blatchatter on 01/7/2008
We sail to Calais on Sunday morning and for our overnight stop we shall have spag-bol. The bol sauce is already in the freezer and will just need heating up and only the spag will need cooking.
Yes I know, you are B & Bing so can't think of cooking there
I made a big vat of spag bol for dinner last night; half of which is neatly packaged up to take on our camping trip to Cornwall! We are staying in a Travelodge near Cheltenham on the way so nice dinner out and the bol should be nicely defrosted by the time we get to camp. Yum!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Eating out in France late Sunday
for those late arrivers. Can't wait!
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