Recommended stopover places en route to SW France

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psh
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Recommended stopover places en route to SW France

Post by psh »

Does anyone have any favourite locations they go to to break the long journey from Calais down to Bordeaux? Any recommendations would be gratefully received.
Fleur
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Post by Fleur »

Can't offer any suggestions. However I thoroughly recommend using the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St. Malo. You arrive at breakfast time (breakfast on board if you wish) and have an easy drive from there to Bordeaux.
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Moliere
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Post by Moliere »

It would be helpful, psh, if you could indicate a preference for the Eastern or Western routes. Or does your choice of route depend on where you decide to overnight?
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psh
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Post by psh »

Thanks for the replies so far - I'm looking for places near the Western routes but avoiding the coast.
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Moliere
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Post by Moliere »

Most of the places I know are around Orleans, but you'll be further west, so I would look at Tours - lively place with plenty of hotels and restaurants for every budget. If you want to stop a bit sooner, you could try Le Mans, just don't test out your car on the Mulsanne straight, because les flics know about it too, and they're always there, waiting!
Jumping is just dressage with speed-bumps.
Goscar
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Post by Goscar »

We enjoyed a stopover in Poitiers in 2017 and will be doing so again this year.
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Moliere
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Post by Moliere »

Goscar wrote:We enjoyed a stopover in Poitiers in 2017 and will be doing so again this year.
Just don't do it on a Sunday if you want an evening meal. Everywhere is shut (as we found out :lol: )

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CSE
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Post by CSE »

Le Mans once drove an old Austin Westminster down the Mulsanne straight. :)
However, it has more to offer that just a giant roundabout. :wink: The roudabout is used several times a year for events other than the 24 hour parade.
What does it have to offer. A lovely historic medieval centre.
Go at the right time of year to see this. http://www.nuitdeschimeres.com/?lang=en
the rest of the cultural sights https://www.lemans-tourisme.com/en/
if you take the motorways of which some are tolls according to viaMichelen the tolls now add up to €76.20. Last time we dove back to the Netherlands we chose to take the non toll roads as much as possible.
The road through Rouen is usually very busy and signs can be confusing as junction slips can be very close together.
Never try to out-stubborn your guests.
GillianF
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Post by GillianF »

When we used to make the journey and needed a stopover we often chose Tours. Plenty of hotels of all sorts. Otherwise, Evreux or Dreux.
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