Can anyone recommend overnight hotels from Le Havre to CVO? We would prefer to travel via Bordeaux and take two nights, three days to get down. I know there are lots of hotels in Bordeaux but we think it would be better to try and get round the city and stay somewhere just South on the first night and are open to any suggestions for the second night, say a further 6/7 hours driving time. Thanks.

Hi Ellie 2

We will be doing a similar trip, but using Cherberg. Any recommendations for hotels, B&Bs etc in France would be welcome. We are looking to spend a few days wandering and sightseeing, so hotels that are interesting and not on the beaten track are of interest.

Hi Ellie 2

Don't know if this will be a little too far South for you but the town of St Jean de Luz is a good place for a stop over. There is a small 2 star hotel there 'Le Petit Trianon' that I've stayed at that is a bit basic but ok (recommended in the Rough Guide to France). It's at the back of the town but in walking distance of the seafront and all the little fish restaurants. They have a web site so you can take a look.

Alternatively if money is no object (200 euros+) then the Sofitel at Biarritz is very nice!

On the way through Spain we generally stay in Badajoz at the Confortel which is a modern 4 star hotel in the middle of a golf course about a mile outside of the town. You can generally get a room for about 50 euros through one of the booking sites like Expedia.

Hope this helps

M.

Thank you so much for your very helpful information. Will have a look at those.
Ellie 2.

I echo Ellie's thanks, will also look at these.

Well, we recently returned. Took ferry to N. Spain then drove down to CVO, returned via Spain and France to Le havre. Tried a variety of types of hotel on our travels, from 40+ euros per night to about 90 euros, most included breakfast. Also visited friends in S. Spain. We did a lot of sightseeing, so aimed at spending 4-6 hrs travelling a day. As we were driving we went for hotels with parking on site, which limited choice, but we can recommend all of the following, but for different reasons:-
Spain
Salamanca The Parador. Large room fantastic view of town and city. Free parking on site, charge for garage parking.
Merida Hotel & Boutique Spa Adealba. Boutique hotel. Very clean and modern. Charge for garage parking – off site, staff take it and fetch it. Difficult to find. Marvellous Roman ruins in walking distance. Take the little train trip first, as some not worth the walk.
Seville Silken Al-Andalus Palace. Large modern hotel. Big room, biggest and best breakfast ever – there must have been about 8 different tables/serving areas with just about anything you could ever want, even tapas type food. Free roadside parking (may be difficult if hotel busy) and charge for garage parking. Was slightly out of town, but easy to find. 24 hr taxi rank outside, about 6 euros each way (easier than braving traffic and trying to find parking).
Figueres Hotel Figueres Parc. Nice relaxing hotel. Better inside than looks outside. We had room 301, and were taken across an unappealing roof terrace to what turned out to be a very large triple room/mini suite, with our own terrace with table and chairs and sun loungers. Had fantastic meal in restaurant. Free parking on site.
France
Rocamadour Hôtel Du Roc. Cheap and cheerful hostel type accommodation, but fantastic location, and ‘hotel’ has free car park (first come first served). This is a must visit village, which clambers up the hillside. Beautifully lit up at night, like a fairytale. I don’t like heights, and was worried, but need not have been. Village is on roughly 4 levels with lifts inside the rock faces between levels 2, 3 & 4. For those that like heights the views are fantastic, and you can walk the ramparts at the very top. Whilst there we visited the underground caves at Gouffre de Padirac, with a boat ride down the subterranean river – fantastic.
Orleans Suite-Home (yes, that is what it is called). Complete change here, as it had a kitchenette and dining/desk area. Bed area could be screened off. Nice place, lovely room, shame about the location. The view from our room was of a graffitied, run down industrial area. It is out of town, restaurants locally did not look great and as we arrived late at night most had shut as had the supermarkets we found. If staying, get organised and take your food with you, as kitchenette well equipped with basics for food prep. Easy to find, free on site parking. Orleans was a traffic nightmare, as they are laying a new tram line, and the day we went there was a demo/march going on.
Rouen Best Western La Bertelière. Lovely rustic looking hotel. Rooms very corporate. Off the beaten track, very quiet. Fantastic meal in the restaurant. Breakfast good choice including local produce, and even champagne in an ice bucket.

All bookings were made late, some the same day, via Booking.com. We generally find their rates are good, and hotel info & pictures are good. Also do not have to pay in advance.

We drove down from Holland this year and stayed in Niort (just above Bordeaux) a lovely town, and then stayed in Valladollid which has wine to die for

On the way back stayed in Burgos (would def go back there) and then in Tours a very middle age like place. Enjoyed all our stop overs the prices ranged from €48 to €120

A good site to use is http://www.venere.com

Gary