Boulogne Hotel/Ferry

Generali

Am taking Mrs G to Boulogne on Friday. Any ideas for:

1. A decent hotel there. Preferably in the old town.

2. A cheap ferry directly to Boulogne. I hate driving an English car on French roads.

Any help much appreciated.

cheekymole

www.speedferries.com are direct from Dover to Boulogne

can't help with hotels as I always stay out of town although www.hotel-bb.com could possibly have one close. (sorry just checked and it's on the retail park so not central)

Generali

Hmm. Ferries too expensive. Is Dunkirk a nice place or is it a dump like Calais?

cheekymole

Dunkerque at the ferry terminal is a dump but there are a few nice places around there

Generali

When you say around there, do you mean away from the ferry terminal or do yuo mean Le Touquet or something down the road?

cheekymole

Can't you get a foot passenger ticket to Boulogne (where would you leave your car?)
It would be easier to get into boulogne from the terminal than into dunkerque (terminal is miles away from town)

(school hols start friday that's why tickets are hiked up)

podiluska

Too late for a cheap ticket, i think. Try ferrysavers.com.
Or why not go on foot to boulougne and take a cab from the port.

cheekymole

If you don't want to drive, Le Touquet could be a bit hard to get to (esp from Dunkerque) but if you did drive, how about going to Brugges in Belgium from Dunkerque (about an hour in the car)

Generali

According to Mrs Generali, it's not possible to get a foot passenger ticket to Boulogne (seems a bit wierd but there you go).

I heard Brugge is really nice but I think that might be for another time.

I had a look at the Dunkerque (or ...kirk) tourist office website and it sounds nice. Only no pictures presmuably due to it being blown to bits in the 1940s. Thinking I might take the chance. If it does turn out to be a hell-hole then it's not on an island or anything. I can get out if I need to!

cheekymole

Good luck generali and hope you and mrsgenerali have a good one

Generali

Cheers cheekymole. From what I can tell, the architecture is C20th brutalist but the place is quite nice despite that. As long as I can find a good restaurant and a decent bottle of wine, I'll be happy. Often that's easier to do in places that aren't full of tourists.

The beach looks very nice. Shame the forecast is for rain.