French road trip

[michelle mx5]

We are hoping to do a few weeks touring in france in the summer with the mx5. Any ideas for a route ( Leaving from wexford, or through england and return through wexford) and any tips for packing (we have a boot rack). All ideas will be helpfull... Thanks

[leamyj]

So jealous....France is beautiful, try staying off the motorways as much as possible, they're expensive and you miss all the culture. Frank on here has done some recent touring in France if I recall correctly?

[fobbzy]

Me and my better half did 2 weeks in Brittany last year. We used Key Camp and went last 2 weeks in May. Found Key Camp to be cheap as chips and stayed in 2 location's, first Benodet and 2nd in Dol-de-Bretagne. Bought Rough Guide and Lonely Planet and every day just went for a drive based on what we had read the night before. Great hol I have to say..... So many little gems we found just tootleing along with the top down........ Only saw one other MX5 in the 2 weeks......

[Steve]

Quite likely doing something similar (although... in something a little larger than the MX5), would be interested to hear more on campsites and routes too.

[franksm]

Hey Michelle

Just put some €€€ on ferry tickets for early September. Can't wait

This will be our third trip to France, and we'll likely be doing the east coast, in to Switzerland and Italy perhaps.

The last two times, we stayed *completely* off the toll roads. With a satnav configured for A- and B-roads, it really worked out well. Also, we just booked the first night's accomdation in advance. Everything after that was booked on the fly using a laptop. Worked out great, not too expensive, hotels and guesthouses.

If you are on Facebook, search me out as I have a map up there of the last route we took. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 508&type=3

This was the 'mode de transport', backpack and all:



In summary, though, here are the places we visited:

- arrived in Cherbourg
- Montreuil-de-Belay
- Collonges La Rouge
- Carcassonne
- Mirepoix
- Parc Du Pyrenees
- Bagneres De Luchon
- Col D'Aspin
- Sauveterre de Bearne
- Orthez
- Biarritz
- Biscarrosse Plage
- Arcachon
- Le Mans
- Normandy
- then back to Cherbourg

[michelle mx5]

Thanks franksm. Your route looks great. We have spent many holidays along the west coast of france with the kids over the last 15 years. Mostly by jeep or transit crewcab (also known as"large wine container") so the mx5 trip will be different. Hope the car makes it and the sun shines (early June). Keep the ideas coming... Thanks

[Merlot man]

Going to france meself this weekend CANT WAIT !!! Not taking 5 bringing 5 series ,wife likes comfort! Going to the alsace and Burgandy region on north east side, might try and get into Germany as well.
Staying in Colmar and nuits st Georges hoping to get some wine in both areas!
Brian