overnight trip to france

[GlitteryPink]

me and my boyfriend want to take the car to france on the eurotunnel and stay overnight. We are mainly going for the hypermarket but thought we may as well make the most of it while we're there and have a meal out and see whatever else is round the coastal area. Can anyone recommend a good site for bokoing all this, can you get travel and hotel deals together or would we be better off booking the eurotunnel and hotel separately? Also what is there in the calais area is there much to do apart from shop for alcohol?

[vehelpfulguy]

I think if you travel over on the tunnel after midnight and come back the same day it counts as a day return which is cheaper.

I did this a few years ago and there were loads of people waiting till the clock went over to midnight and then buying their day return ticket.

You can travel over, get there about 2 or 3 AM (with the hour difference), have a kip in the car for a few hours, then go to the huge shopping centre just by the tunnel exit.

It is called Cite Europe

http://en.citeeurope.com/vue/form/citeeuropeuk /accueil/accueil.htm

Spend the rest of the day in Calais and get the evening train back.

No hotel bills.

[vehelpfulguy]

In fact the Cite Europe web site has three local hotels if you want them, an Ibis, Etap, and Suitehotel

On this page

http://en.citeeurope.com/vue/form/citeeuropeuk /accueil/accueil.htm

[vehelpfulguy]

My link above to the 3 hotels did not seem to work.

Just go to the Cite Europe web site a select the Leisure tab.

Three hotels are listed, but a link near the top of the page takes you to details for other hotels.

[Buenchico]

Don't bother eating at Cite Europe. The food's much better in the restaurants in the centre of Calais.

In particular, I recommend 'Au Calice' at 55, Boulevard Jacquard. (That's one of the main shopping streets. The restaurant is easy to find).

Calais is quite an attractive town. If you're the type of person who only enjoys shopping at places like Lakeside & Bluewater, you might not enjoy it. (Stick to Cite Europe). But, if you love individual little shops, selling fine foods (including some great local wines and cheeses), you'll love it.

There's plent of information here:
http://www.calais-cotedopale.com/
(That page will probably load in French. Click on the Union flag, at the top left, for English).

Chris

[pega]

You could look into a trip Newhaven to Dieppe, its a lovely fishing port with some very nice shops and some comfortable reasonable hotels Would be ferry which I gather is much cheaper that Tunnel, I have only been as foot passenger, but a very nice place, have been to Cite Europe many times lots of shops there and they have hotels now, but nothing to see, where as Dieppe is a really nice sea side have stayed there more interesting you could look it up Have a good trip, I went France on a coach trip last week for a day very nice change and good weather.

[sam100]

i do this trip about 3-4 times a year. calis is ok for booze and hypermarkets but Cherbourg is better for shopping in general as well. Book a fast cat boat if you can from poole as only takes an hour and a half. Leave as early in the morning as you can. book the hotel seprately by finding something yourself or on the net. most of the time i just turn up and book what you like the look of when driving about (not recommended tho in school holidays). Campanille hotels always provide a good bed for the night and most of them are in good locations and offer a restaurant option. there is also one in calais centre.
however, cherbourg is my place of choice in fact am going in two weeks again. Nice hotel by the marina which is about �104 for two nights inc continental breakfast.... hope this is of some help. have fun.

[sam100]

just read the other post City Europe is good for shopping in calais too has lots of well known shops such as zara and mango etc plus french shops but is on the outskirts of calais