Heading for Provence so anywhere between Dunkerque and Reims wanted. Checked the latest check-in time for Premiere Classe on the Friday which is 9 pm so no good. An overnight at a reasonable price a couple of hours from Dunkerque, hotel, campsite or safe aire, not bothered which. We arrive in Dunkerque aout 7.30 pm and want to drive at leat 2 hours before stopping. Any ideas?
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Can't help with your query, as we haven't travelled that way for a long time, but hope you have seen my response to your thread: Provence-Camping Cheques in relation to your question re CC sites.
Not sure you would make Reims in 2 hours it may be nearer 4.
St. Quentin is about 110 miles from the port. Just south of junc 11, A26 there is a very large aire with full facilities. Can't comment on how safe it will be.
If you have Google Earth you can see it quite clearly about 2 miles south of Junc 11.
I did think about that travelling time, it's a good 200 miles I would guess to Reims, so you are probably spot on with 4 hours, allowing for a comfort break, although I am told that feeblecat, drives like a bat out of hell lol.
What about doing an overnight at the "Premiere Classe" at Armbouts cappel, just 13 miles South of Dunkerque, and you would be there in time for a slap up evening meal, at the adjacent "Campanile" hotel, for which "Premiere Classe" guests get 15% discount of the meal.
We have done the "Premiere Classe" at Armbouts Cappel, both for our first night, and last night, in France, and it's always been superb.
Can't think of a better way, to start your French holiday, especialy after that long drive from God's country!.
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After the Calais area, our next suitable stop on the way south is Chalons en Champagne, which is south of Reims so no good for your first night. Good campsite though.
If we arrive a bit early, we sometimes drive for a while then stop at a motorway aire for the night, on the peage section. I know some people wouldn't do this, but lots do, you'll see them parked up, alongside the lorries.
I would think somewhere like Cambrai would be about right from Dunkerque, and on booking.com there are loads of budget hotels available for that night. They include one at 39 euros per night, L'Inter Hotel - Tabl hotel. As mentioned in the other post, though, most French budget hotels are accessible with your credit card - you don't need a manned reception to get into them and the check-in-time doesn't really apply. We've arrived after midnight sometimes, and you just use your credit card to access your room.
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Don't bank on them being accessible after 9....we did and couldn't get in and access our pre-booked and paid for rooms at 10.30pm with 3 kids...nightmare! We were later than expected due to a delay at the port and deciding to stop to eat en route.
After trying all our cards (just in case), and much deliberating we discovered we could however pay for another room and gain access, which we had to do!! as a point of interest the hotel are not bothered at this point how many they cram in a room - our friends had 2 kids and put this info into the machine and were given a double room for 2 (they just took in their camp beds for the children).
Apparently, we should have rung them to let them know we were arrving after 9 and they would have given us a 'special' code to use in the automated machine. Nowhere on the documents we had printed out did it state this!
We did try to ring the emergency number posted on the front door when we were stranded outside, but it was an message in French, which was no good to us! (i know we shouldn't expect anything else)
Hi, thanks for replies. Val advised on my other thread that i dont have to pre-book and can just turn up at any time. If thats the case i think we are just better driving and stopping where and whenever the notion takes us. Good plan?
Don't take my word for it, though!!!! Looking for hotel rooms whilst on a journey is 'stressful' - as I mentioned in my posts after our last holiday. You're always on the lookout for somewhere to stay, yet wanting to get just a bit further, and hoping desperately that you'll find somewhere with rooms available when you run out of steam! It's also not easy (without SatNav) to locate some of the budget hotels as they tend to be tucked away in the middle of 'Centre Commercials' or industrial estates. Aires de Service de Camping Cars may be easier to find, and easier to get a place on - or stay overnight on a motorway Aire - we stayed some years ago on one on the way to Reims, but I couldn't tell you which one, now - it was brand new at the time!
Arriving at that time of night, if you decide on a hotel, I think I'd be inclined to book first, but let them know that you'll be arriving late just in case you need a special code.
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There is an aire 217 km from Calais on the A26 set out for caravans etc with water. It is seperate from the car parks and is regularly. checked by Mway security. It is by the 217 km distance marker.
Maybe the one Harryb mentions. We have used it with a caravan. It used to have lots of flowers and lavender, if it still exists.
FM
Know exactly what you mean, back in 2009 we only pre-booked our first and last overnight budget hotels in France, and left the other two to chance, this turned out to be a big mistake, finding room availability, for the other two hotels was a nightmare, and wasted loads of time, although we had a plan B to use the tent for an overnight, but arriving at a campsite at 7pm+ is never a good idea, for just the one night, especialy with anything but a backpacking tent.
Since then we have pre-booked all 4 budget hotels, these days we have a good idea were we will be at, along the journey, and if we do hit a jam, and arrive ending up at the hotel uber late, it's not an issue with the automated check-in systems.
For those looking for a posh budget hotel, I can highly recomend the B&B at Arras, unusualy large bedroom and ensuite for a budget hotel, very nice indeed, and was only built in 2009. also there is a supermarket with Flunch restaurant accros the road, so great for a good cheap evening meal.
The municipal site at Cambrai is an ideal stopover - small, cheap, relaxed and not busy (review left on here). The warden lives in a flat at the entrance to the site so you should be okay to arrive at that time but a phone call to confirm your ETA would probably be appreciated - English is spoken. I seem to remember, when we were there last year there were some quite late arrivals (up to 10pm or even after). If the office is closed when you arrive (whatever time) you just pitch yourself and pay later/next morning.
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: Overnight about 2 hours from Dunkerque
