Looking for advice!

Nick_Sellick

Hi All,
We are planning to drive to Zurich next summer to stay with family.
We are on a bit of a budget so I'm looking for advice from seasoned travellers, something I definitely am not!
We would like to break up the drive with an overnight stay between Calais and Zurich. We will have two children with us, aged 15 and 11.
What is the best bet for accommodation? If at all possible we would like to stay somewhere that has a pool so that the children can have some fun and the journey becomes part of the holiday, rather than a chore.
Is there anything tio choose between Chunnel and ferries?
Any or all advice very gratefully received.
Thanks very much for your help.
Cheers
Nick

DomRavioli

Have a look on google maps once you have a route or two planned out - it shows hotels.

Then go on tripadvisor and read the reviews. m

I remember staying in something like a french Travelodge kind of place near a service station near the border, it was 15 years ago but it was quite fun. Not a scooby where it was though - it had a massive playground and it was red.

warwicktiger

I live in France but nowhere near your route, but drive back to the UK via Calais 2-3 times a year, a similar distance.

If you want cheap and cheerful overnight hotels then Formule 1 fit the bill, on the outskirts of most towns. Most have double be rooms with an additional child bed. ( http://www.hotelf1.com/gb/home/index.shtml )

Usually restaurants in walking distance and not far off the auto routes.

SPeed limits on auto routes 130 kph (81 mph) when dry, 110 kph (72mph) when raining. Often the "ordinary" Route National are shorter in length than the motorways so despite lower speeds do not take much more time and if you share driving more pleasant to drive. Petrol/Diesel much cheaper at supermarkets than motorway services (10-15% less).

Diesel - 1.035 euros per litre today, about 82 pence, petrol about the same as uk.

Ferries usually cheaper than chunnel, prices vary widely according to dates and times of day so cannot generalise pricewise. Chunnel less likely to be disrupted by strikes or weather.

If you message me the dates of your travel I can check for bank holiday dates - definitely to be avoided here!