France Holiday

Thanks very much for sharing that. You've pretty much done the holiday I was going to do but had to cancel. Great photos too.

Two weeks on your own is a long time. Did you get lonely at any point? I think I would probably have needed some company after a few days. Mind you, being on your own can be very liberating too.

Jealous!

Did you have to pay for a pitch for your tent? I stayed in hotels when I went touring a couple of years ago - Formule 1 hotels are great if you're riding around France. ~£20 a night including (very basic) breakfast, although that price was split between 2 people.

[Luckypants]

I used a mixture of hotels / Formule 1 / camping on my trip. Most expensive campsite was in Millau, 12 euros for the night. Next night I paid 3 euros to camp! Formule 1 were around 30 euros and and a decent hotel 50 euros.

For a cheap trip, camp at the 'Camping Municipal' which can found via the tourist information office. 3-6 euros a night for tent and bike, one person. Travelling two up, I would opt for hotels and dump the camping gear.

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Did you have to pay for a pitch for your tent? I stayed in hotels when I went touring a couple of years ago - Formule 1 hotels are great if you're riding around France. ~£20 a night including (very basic) breakfast, although that price was split between 2 people.

Yeh the camp sites were usually about 7 or 8 euros a night. Which I thought was very good as some had swimming pools and washing machines etc. I suppose you could just pitch the tent anywhere but I would be worried about security.
I only saw one formula 1 hotel and it was full. But there are loads of similar places (basically a huge warehouse with bedrooms). But that was fine with me because I just wanted as cheap as possible.
I found that I didn't get a very good nights sleep in the tent. I think next time I'll just take more money and ditch the tent. It took up one full pannier with the tent and sleeping bag.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

I suppose you could just pitch the tent anywhere but I would be worried about security.

Camping Sauvage Interdit

Basically you can't pitch a tent except in a camp site almost everywhere in France.

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Camping Sauvage Interdit

Basically you can't pitch a tent except in a camp site almost everywhere in France.

Oh I didn't know that. But Im sure you could find somewhere out of sight, especially in the Alps

[Luckypants]

Well it may have happened sometime, somewhere in the Alps.... But TBH I'd pay the low charges of the comping municipals and have a shower available.

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Great write up Darren, sounds like an awesome trip and the pictures are fantastic, this one has to be on of my favourites, got it in a larger format?

In my experience, the cheaper hotels (F1, Kyriad etc) all offer excellent value, but they tend to be a little "out of town", which is probably why they're so cheap.

We usually like to have a decent meal with wine which is within walking distance of the hotel, so we opt for about €50 per person per night, plus the cost of the meal.

I don't think I could camp with the bike, I like my creature comforts too much !

.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

I used a mixture of hotels / Formule 1 / camping on my trip. Most expensive campsite was in Millau, 12 euros for the night. Next night I paid 3 euros to camp! Formule 1 were around 30 euros and and a decent hotel 50 euros.

For a cheap trip, camp at the 'Camping Municipal' which can found via the tourist information office. 3-6 euros a night for tent and bike, one person. Travelling two up, I would opt for hotels and dump the camping gear.

Thoroughly enjoyed those pics and the write up - not too much - just enough. How many of us wish we had the time to do this sort of tour - me included. Instead we all seem to be caught up in the Bl**dy rat race and seem to miss the point of living - me included I'm depressed now !