UK Monster Owners Club Forum » .: General :. » Biker Friendly Cafes/Hotels etc » Riding in Europe ...

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 11-04-2006, 11:43 AM   #1
Lady-Bob
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Riding in Europe ...

I fancy going over to Europe for a couple of days just to have a ride around with a bit of scenery for my first ride abroad.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where is friendly to ride and a good biker B&B or hotel along the way?

Would also be interested in your opinions on ferry vs. eurtunnel for cost/comfort (not that I like long dark tunnels.... nor ships that make me go green either but I guess one of them is going to be necessary!)
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 12:08 PM   #2
Yorkie
Anglo-Saxon Warrior
 
Yorkie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike: M900
Posts: 2,485
Cool

On the ferry the bikes are strapped down by the crew most of the time i used to stand and watch them do it just to make sure they didnt damage it.

As for the train i think i just stood by the bike.

Comfort is on the boat, speed is by rail.

Get to FR**CE and head south, the weather is usually better, but watch your speed.

I used to go to Germany quite a lot, the long way. Yorkshire-Dover-Calais-Fatherland. A long time in the saddle, but i thought the journey was worth it.

Yorkie.
Yorkie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 01:01 PM   #3
CK & AK
flob-a-lob-a-lob
 
CK & AK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NW Surrey
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 3,306
Bob, a good 1st trip is Portsmouth - Cherbourg.
A nice bimble off the ferry south to St Mere Eglise (still got a parachutist hanging from the chrch in the town square, must be a dummy! ) & pretty town to wander through.

Plenty of nice cheap accomodation in St Lo further down the road (only about 100k from the ferry in total) - with good roads to rideout to the Normandy beaches, see the huge memorials, also not far to Bayeux (of the tapestry fame). Great local eateries.

Where ever you go - have a good time

C
CK & AK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 02:15 PM   #4
Bodybag
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Ireland

I'm off there tomorrow morning for 4 days. I'll let you know how it fares as a good biker destination when I get back on Sunday evening. :-) ROute so far is Leicester to Holyhead, Ferry to Dublin, blag it for 4 nights and come home on Sunday. Perhaps more planning might be needed next trip?!
  Reply With Quote
Old 19-04-2006, 12:24 PM   #5
abbeyalto
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by pbodycote
I'm off there tomorrow morning for 4 days. I'll let you know how it fares as a good biker destination when I get back on Sunday evening. :-) ROute so far is Leicester to Holyhead, Ferry to Dublin, blag it for 4 nights and come home on Sunday. Perhaps more planning might be needed next trip?!
How did your trip go? I might be off there for a week or so at the end of August, so any info you've got will be very useful for me!

Cheers

Benjy
  Reply With Quote
Old 19-04-2006, 01:15 PM   #6
Lady-Bob
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Is Plum still about???

How long does it take by Ferry to get to jersey/Guernsey?? Is it expensive?
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2007, 01:15 PM   #7
bad-yeti
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by CK & AK View Post
Bob, a good 1st trip is Portsmouth - Cherbourg.
A nice bimble off the ferry south to St Mere Eglise (still got a parachutist hanging from the chrch in the town square, must be a dummy! ) & pretty town to wander through.

Plenty of nice cheap accomodation in St Lo further down the road (only about 100k from the ferry in total) - with good roads to rideout to the Normandy beaches, see the huge memorials, also not far to Bayeux (of the tapestry fame). Great local eateries.

Where ever you go - have a good time

C
Did a similar trip last year, but did Dover, Calais Then to a little town called Le Crotoy (Lovely little village and the Hotel is cheap with a lockup for bikes), then on to St Mere Eglise and then basically messed around northern France for 4 days, then to Cherbourg and home.

The French seem to be alot more Bike friendly people wave etc and more to the point they seem to notice you and give you plenty of room, it totally changes my perspective of them.

One thing to bear in mind (sorry if covered didn't read whole post) quite alot of the gas stations are automated and only allow French Credit Cards, we got caught out and stranded without fuel as a result....lol you should see me n a 748 with a fuel can bungied to the tank.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 03:07 PM   #8
eonan
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Going Dutch

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
I fancy going over to Europe for a couple of days just to have a ride around with a bit of scenery for my first ride abroad.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where is friendly to ride and a good biker B&B or hotel along the way?

Would also be interested in your opinions on ferry vs. eurtunnel for cost/comfort (not that I like long dark tunnels.... nor ships that make me go green either but I guess one of them is going to be necessary!)
How about Holland? I know a great Glasgow girl, Linny. She runs a B&B for Bikers over there. She has a really good web site, with all sorts of help and advice on the best, and cheapest ways of getting over there, and really takes care of you when you're there...suggests all sorts of routes etc.

Here you go http://www.bikemotel.nl

Last edited by eonan; 11-04-2006 at 03:09 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 06:00 PM   #9
CK & AK
flob-a-lob-a-lob
 
CK & AK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: NW Surrey
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 3,306
or, for a short & economical trip, you could try getting on the ferry at Southampton.........

across to the Isle of Wight!

cant get lost there as the island isnt that big, deals for under £100 for at least 3 nights full board - including ferry too!! Going from Southampton takes longer too.....

they speak the same language, drive on the same side, and there are one or 2 nice roads thrown in...

Just an idea to throw your way, if you have 2 or 3 days to spare....

sorry, I'll get my coat...

C

Last edited by fatbloke; 16-02-2007 at 07:01 PM..
CK & AK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-02-2007, 07:52 PM   #10
slob
.
 
slob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: East London
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 9,733
Quote:
Originally Posted by eonan View Post
How about Holland? I know a great Glasgow girl, Linny. She runs a B&B for Bikers over there. She has a really good web site, with all sorts of help and advice on the best, and cheapest ways of getting over there, and really takes care of you when you're there...suggests all sorts of routes etc.

Here you go http://www.bikemotel.nl
just look at those twisting mountain roads
http://www.bikemotel.nl/cms_uk/image.../front_air.jpg
slob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-02-2007, 07:55 PM   #11
bigredduke
Nothing to see here
 
bigredduke's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: brough
Bike: M1100evo
Posts: 1,550
Quote:
Originally Posted by slob View Post
just look at those twisting mountain roads
http://www.bikemotel.nl/cms_uk/image.../front_air.jpg
Methinks a Harley would be more appropriate.
bigredduke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 06:06 PM   #12
bigredduke
Nothing to see here
 
bigredduke's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: brough
Bike: M1100evo
Posts: 1,550
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
I fancy going over to Europe for a couple of days just to have a ride around with a bit of scenery for my first ride abroad.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where is friendly to ride and a good biker B&B or hotel along the way?

Would also be interested in your opinions on ferry vs. eurtunnel for cost/comfort (not that I like long dark tunnels.... nor ships that make me go green either but I guess one of them is going to be necessary!)
try www.speedferries.com, they are fantastic value and only 50 mins. crossing from Dover to Boulogne.

You won't get far in two days. A lot of northern France is extremely tedious, flat & boring. Try to head for Brittany, wonderful coastline and great seafood! The downside is the weather can be very much like the West of Ireland.
Good luck!
bigredduke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2006, 07:01 PM   #13
gary tompkins
1/2 man - 1/2 pogo-stick
 
gary tompkins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Dartford, Kent
Bike: M900ie
Posts: 7,241
The Portsmouth to Cherbourg ferries or Seacat are a bit of a rip off TBH @ £150 (ish) for bike + rider, and there isn't a very good choice of crossing time these days either.

Dover to Calais or Boulogne is usually the cheapest ferry crossing, with the Calais route at around £45 return at present. But this could leave you with a lot of riding (and petrol expense) to deal with on the other side depending on your final destination?

You find everybody is a lot more friendly towards bikes & bikers on the continent, even plod often gives you a nod or thumbs up as you ride past. Just watch the kph speed limits (especially the 20kph ones in town) and treat junctions & roundabouts with extra caution and you should be ok.

Also make sure you keep your lights on, carry spare bulbs, first aid kit etc... as this has been a legal requirement for some time now.

Most large towns have a good choice of hotels or B&B's, and the prices are very affordable compared to the UK. It is a good idea to book in advance though - especially at peak periods like school & bank holidays.
__________________
GT
Fully paid up member of the S.A.S. (Scottoiler Appreciation Society) 27,000 miles on original chain - and still going strong!

Last edited by gary tompkins; 11-04-2006 at 07:06 PM..
gary tompkins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-04-2006, 03:39 PM   #14
Lady-Bob
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
These are all great suggestions and tips thanks guys. .Someone has mentioned a biker motel in Brugge?

Indoor parking for the bike by your room apparently... anyone heard of it or know what it's called?
  Reply With Quote
Old 18-04-2006, 08:54 PM   #15
Dribbley
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Belgium, and not just for the chips

Best place for a couple of days is the Ardenne region of Belgium.

Not far to go, lots of bendy roads, chips, hills, chips, forest, chips, and lots of biker friendly B&B and pubs etc.

This might be the place you have heard of http://www.grd.be/motorhotel/default.htm
  Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:14 AM.

vBulletin Skins by vBmode.com. Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.