Euro (Fronch) Trip

[KungFooBob]

If the wife's passport lands in the next few days (she's had a text to say it's on the way), the first week in July I plan to ride to Annecy and back.

I've not done a bike holiday since buying the motorhome, now it's gone, I've got the GS.

I've done the French/Swiss/Italian Alps a couple of times so know what to expect. I'm booking nothing but the tunnel (I usually use the ferry, as I like a bit of a rest after riding 250 miles to Dover), but you can swap club card points for three times the value chunnel vouchers which makes it a no brainer).

On the way down, stop when ever I feel like it, probably making use of budget IBIS hotels as close as possible to city centres so we can enjoy the bars and night life. Probably Reims and Djon. Been through Reims a few times, but never stopped.

Will use Annecy for a base for a couple of days, then start working my way back to Calais.

Anyone got any 'must sees' on the way down or back up?

(If her passport doesn't turn up, we're either going Ireland or Wales).

[weeksy]

I'd personally stop in Troyes if it were me. I'd also go up to Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz etc...

Annecy is really nice... but the food is a bit, well, meh... It was a bit hit and miss in that context.

[KungFooBob]

I'm not a foodie. I'm happy to eat chips all trip (I'm a very picky eater).

I think Reims is her idea because it's where the HQ is for Veuve Clicquot, which was her favourite until I bought her a bottle of Krug 2000 for new year

We could try Troyes on the way back up.

[KungFooBob]

I've checked my old EHIC, it's still valid to 2024 and the NHS site says it's still good and I don't need one of the new GHICs.

I don't need a green card from the insurance because we're now all in the GCFCA.

I must remember to pack the hi-viz's.

I suppose I should apply for a critair sticker if we're going anywhere near cities, it won't come in time, but the website says a copy of the invoice will be fine.

The wife can sort the travel insurance, but does anyone have any recommendations for single trip Euro breakdown cover?

[DefTrap]

I'm ok with IBis hotels - a standard level of 'ok' is assured, and there's generally no surprises.
But BORING, and they've gone up in price so that saving isn't exactly buying you dinner.

I've switched over to using Booking.com - the rating system is pretty good, anything 9+ is typically excellent. It does take more effort though. And, at the moment, you have to take a bit more care as a lot of places have changed hands over Covids and I assume the previous ratings just carry-over.

No advice on eastern France, the west side is where the cool cats are.

[KungFooBob]

The hotel is generally just a place to rest my head, I doubt we'll eat or drink in one unless we have too. I like the IBIS' cos they usually have a secure or underground carpark, although I've no idea how likely a bike is to get nicked parked on the street, I guess the same chance as in the UK?

[Count Steer]

Reims is Plenty to see and eat. Have stayed at the Hotel au Tambour twice. Once with a bike group and once just 2 couples on 2 bikes. Small pool, secure bike parking about 25 yards away, prices from £90 at the moment. Rooms were OK. Our friends on the last trip wanted a big room so they got the 'mobility' suite - ground level and just across the road from the hotel. It's 0.9 miles from the centre so, a decent stroll.

It was a while ago but it looks like it hasn't changed much. (4* on Booking.com).

[mangocrazy]

No advice on eastern France, the west side is where the cool cats are.

In NE France you're always subject to the gravitational pull of Paris. Centre or west every time for me.

[Yorick]

Green Flag repatriated my bike from the Pyrenees and gave us a hire car for rest of our holiday.

[Noggin]

From Annecy you can go to so many places! Weeksy's suggestions but some of the passes through and into/out of the Tarentaise valley are awesome. There are some good biking roads between Albertville and Grenoble/Lyon but one I have really wanted to try is from Albertville to Chamonix over the top. You could do Annecy to Albertville then go back to Chamonix over the top (think it goes through Megeve). Some of those high roads are AWESOME! But they are narrow as well as twisty!. But I reckon it would be totally worth it on a bike

Lyon has an amazing reputation for food, but if you are a fussy eater, maybe that's no good!!

It kind of depends what you want to see!!

If I was home (as planned) I'd come and meet up (Annecy is about 1.5-2 hours from me, depending on which bit of the lake you are going to!)

Annecy town is both beautiful and gak at the same time. If you can find the town hall (mairie) and start there, there are some seriously stunning buildings, a river to the lake that, looked at from the road (back to the lake) could be Venice! Other parts were sicked up in the concrete age There is a company doing meals on a boat trip - bigger boats set up as a restaurant. I have planned to do an evening trip for years - the sunset set (and rise) over the lake is just stunning!!

Head from Annecy towards the N90 (Albertville) and look left, the mountains there are the Beaufort (cheese) area. I mean, it covers a LOT of the mountain area from Albertville down to Bourg St Maurice. But if you like cheese, there is a fab cheese shop in Albertville. If you want to try the Beaufort, head to a cheese shop (I know of a good one in Albertville) and ask for the OLD version. Then say, no, Older. and on until you get to try the really good stuff (the stuff in the supermarkets does NOT compare!!). It's sodding expensive but the really good stuff is seriously good!!

Hope the passport arrives and you get to do the trip



Oh, on travel insurance - make sure you can stay in the rehab centres here rather than having to be transferred straight home. Hopefully completely unnecessary, but the rehab is so completely different and better than in the uk!

[KungFooBob]

Green Flag repatriated my bike from the Pyrenees and gave us a hire car for rest of our holiday.

£36.99, which is a good chunk cheaper than the AA and around the same price as the companies no one has ever heard of, deffo worth a look.

[Yorick]

Green Flag repatriated my bike from the Pyrenees and gave us a hire car for rest of our holiday.

£36.99, which is a good chunk cheaper than the AA and around the same price as the companies no one has ever heard of, deffo worth a look.

My subframe broke right on French/Spanish border.
They took bike right back to my home.

[KungFooBob]

You should have used lolly pop sticks and gaffa tape to splint it

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

You should have used lolly pop sticks and gaffa tape to splint it

No, he should have used plastic padding and Araldite to fix it - isn't that what always happened in the adventure touring tales you used to get in Bike magazine circa 1984?

[DefTrap]

No, he should have used plastic padding and Araldite to fix it - isn't that what always happened in the adventure touring tales you used to get in Bike magazine circa 1984?

Who was that 'correspondent' that Bike magazine had with his unlikely tales of biking in South America?

[KungFooBob]

Dan Walsh?

[KungFooBob]

https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/10570 ... walsh.html

[Yorick]

You should have used lolly pop sticks and gaffa tape to splint it

It was only held in place where the tank bolted to it. Scary.

We pulled into a layby for a scenic view. Went down huge pot hole and big snap. Bugger.

2 up with all camping gear.

[DefTrap]

Dan Walsh?

That was him.

Tall stories from shit'oles in the back of beyond - something like that.

[Asian Boss]

When I've been abroad in recent years Booking.com has been fantastic for finding accommodation for that / the next night. So easy and never let me down.