shropshirelass

We travel from Shropshire to the Gers (1.5  hours south of Bordeaux) and it takes us 10 hours from Calais.  We have done it without breaking the journey, leaving home in the early hours of the morning for a 7.30am ferry and then driving via Rouen, Le Mans, Alencon, Tours etc but it's pretty tiring.  We like to break the journey down at Vouvray which is about 5 hours from Calais.  We've found a very reasonable and lovely place to stay near there with an excellent restaurant and the friendliest  owners is the Auberge de la Brenne http://www.auberge-brenne.com/.  We stop off in Vouvray on the way back too to stock up with delicious Vouvray Sec and sparkling wines which must be some of the best quality and best value wines in France.  Another place to stay although with incredibly basic rooms but a superb restaurant is in Vouvray itself - Le Grand Vatel 8 AVENUE LEON BRULE 37210 VOUVRAY Tél. : 02 47 52 70 32 - Fax : 02 47 52 74 52

Hi Deby If I hear of anything i'll let you know.  I'm eagerly awaiting news of how much the new long stay at the airport is going to cost - fingers crossed that it won't be too expensive. [:)]

Hi Cathy Thanks for the reply, there isn't really a deadline actually.  We finally took the plunge and bought a car after managing with hire cars and driving down here for 3 years or more.  In the future we will down here for longer periods of time each time but may need to go home to the UK for 3-4 weeks in between.  We therefore need to leave the car somewhere.  As it currently is so expensive at Bordeaux airport we thought it wouldn't be a reasonable option to leave the car parked there for any length of time.  If the car park does indeed open in March and if it isn't too expensive then it will be an option but it might turn out to be not as cheap as we hope.  In which case any new parking found would be of great interest to me so I would be so grateful if you could keep your eyes and ears open on my behalf.  Thanks for taking an interest, Kim  [:)]

Ah ha!  I was just looking on the Bordeaux airport website for an email contact when I happened upon this amazing bit of "latest news" PARKING « P4 » : UN NOUVEAU PARKING « ÉCO » DÈS MARS 2008 Déjà gestionnaire de 3.800 places de parkings réparties sur 5 parcs, l’aéroport a commencé la construction d’un 6ème parc de stationnement. Offrant 1 200 places, ce nouveau parc baptisé « P4 », entièrement sécurisé, sera mis en service début mars 2008. Situé à proximité de la zone de fret, il reliera l’aérogare toutes les quinze minutes par une navette dédiée. Ce nouveau parking aura l’avantage d’être économique et s’adressera plutôt aux stationnements supérieurs à 5 jours. Renseignements : 05 56 34 50 71 So it would appear that the airport had already identified that they were not offering any real long term parking and has addressed the problem.  If it doesn indeed open in March this year then my problems will be solved - fantastic.  If they charge the same as Toulouse Blagnac do then it won't be too expensive - fingers crossed everyone who uses Bordeaux. [:)][:)][:)]

Hi Anton No I haven't seen anything either.  It's a shame because it's just so expensive to leave the car in the long stay there for say 3 weeks or so.  In the UK you can get a good deal if you book and pay in advance but it's not possible to do it at Bordeaux at the moment.  Thanks for the reply though and if you hear of anything it would be great if you could let me know. [:D]

Is anyone aware if there is any off airport long term parking near Bordeaux Merignac please?  Whilst I could park in the long term car park at the airport the cost soon mounts up on anything over an 8 day stay.  There are so many off airport car parks in the UK but as yet I don't think anyone has started them up here in France - there's probably not the need to I suppose. Many thanks [:D]

It's not Montreuil sur Mer is it?  If not it's quite similarish although I can't remember a hill at the back but there is a castle somewhere there.[8-)]

It is a small world and yes the journey on from Calais to Shropshire is the straw that breaks the camel's back!  No after Rouen you join the autoroute to Le Mans and then Tours, Poitiers, Bordeaux and after that towards Toulouse.  It's might be the A28 but if you just follow the blue autoroute signs you won't go wrong, especially as Bordeaux is signposted for much of the journey.  It's a great motorway from south of Rouen all the way down there.  We get off at junction 5 south of Bordeaux for Marmande and make our way cross country though Casteljaloux, Fargues sur Oubise, Duras and Reaup but that's for Montreal so I guess you must have to go further on to Agen perhaps.  Oh and we've been in Montreal for almost 3 years now - we try and get down there most months apart from the depths of winter. We have the best of both worlds at the moment.  Have a great trip. [:)]

Hi Fancy Shropshire and the Gers - SNAP!  We take the route through Rouen too and it is easy as long as you follow the signs.  Our teenage daughter drove down last year and even she didn't have any problems so don't worry.  We can drive from Calais to our house in Montreal du Gers in 10 hours with a couple of stops for coffee, lunch etc but it is a killer.  We're going down in a few weeks time and think we'll break the journey somewhere this time.  Happy motoring [:D]

Hi I have just pm'd you. [:)]

Thanks for the advice - it's good to hear that it isn't too difficult.   Fingers crossed that it works out! [:D]

Hi - I know this isn't really a general discussion subject but it doesn't seem to fit in house renovations or antiques so please excuse me for posting it here. [:D] I have bought some unpainted furniture and want to paint it in the French distressed faded sort of way.  What is the simplest way to achieve this effect - I'd like the pieces to end up generally off white but with odd bits of colour showing through.  Do i need special glazes and if so what should I look out for - what are the french names? I don't particularly want them to be crackled all over rather the edges worn off etc.  Many thanks [:D]

I too am sure that the days of cheap fares are coming to an end and in fact I think that it won't be too long before most of the low cost carriers disappear either.  It's an enormous bubble waiting to burst.  Totally understand all the economics just cheesed off really. By the way - £15 was the lowest ever and that was ex tax - perhaps in these days of all the costs quoted (ha ha) I should have stated the total cost.  That would be the total excluding the cost of each bag, early boarding, etc etc....  And as to loyalty - the loyalty was always dependent on cost but good for a tie breaker situation Ludlow - hmmmm - I know it well! [:)]

Never travelled on a weekend - always midweek and all the flights 3/4 to full.  Never paid less than  £15 each way and usually the planes are full of business travellers who I'm sure haven't booked their flights months in advance at low prices.  One thing I have learnt is not to be loyal to a particular airline (in this case BMI Baby)and sadly wish I hadn't recommended friends to fly with them.  [:@]

Hi Ian Thanks for the information.  We have flown from Manchester a few times with BMI and each time has been a pleasant experience.  I think that was before Jet2 were flying from there or we would have tried them.  Sadly they are one of the other ones who are not flying this winter down to the South West.  Hopefully they will resume flights from there and Leeds next year and we will give them a try. [:D] Ps - there was an article on Midlands Today this evening saying that protestors have managed to get the Birmingham - Lyon route reinstated.  It was cancelled when FlyBe took over BA Connect and now Air France has stepped into the breech to provide flights.   Perhaps they might go to Bordeaux - hmmm wishful thinking

Having read this in the Sunday Times this morning I thought that you might find this article of interest http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article2368553.ece    

There can be many reasons why people need or wish to travel to UK, and furthermore circumstances may change, so that for example the declining health of an eldery relative, birth of a grandchild etc etc. mean that visits are now required Well said Sid - we know of two people who have had to travel back to the UK because of ill health in their UK based family.  They both will have long journeys to the north of England after the end of October and sometimes time is of the essence.  They currently use the Bordeaux - Manchester(International) and Bordeaux - Birmingham (International) routes but those are two of the many that have disappeared.

You cannot rely on the fact that lowcost carriers will always run these routes to small regional airports, and people should not get upset when timetables are changed.   Bordeaux is the 4th largest city in France - its airport is hardly "a small regional airport"!!!

I was told that you could change at Lille rather than Paris but it would appear that the TGV goes from Paris down to Bordeaux rather than from Lille - or at least that's what it says on the web site.  If it were via Lille it would be so much more convenient I agree.

Sadly I don't think there will be any other flights to Bordeaux this winter.  I am still awaiting a reply from BMI baby on their plans although as I've been waiting for several months I've given up on any customer service from them.  There are no flights at all from north of Luton or Bristol to South West France which is bizarre. Easy Jet fly to Bordeaux from Bristol if this is of any help. It is possible to take Eurostar from London to Paris and then onto Bordeaux but it's not often a cheap option and it involves changing stations in Paris.  As to flying to Toulouse then taking the train it would be a time consuming route - it might be better to travel to one of the UK airports and fly there direct.

Thanks Pat [:)]

Hi I'm looking for a restaurant on the way home from Pau to Montreal du Gers and after much searching have narrowed it down to Le Pigonneau at Riscle or La Bonne Auberge at Manciet.  Has anyone eaten at either of these or do you know another great find in that area?  I know all about Monsieur Guerand at Eugenie but the affordable option, Ferme de Grives is closed on a Wednesday night. Many thanks[:)]

That's a great shame that they aren't direct flights.  What a pain.  I think I would rather drive miles in the UK than risk changing flights - there is so much to go wrong with timings and airports aren't the same any more - so much hassle that the shortest amount of time that you're in one the better.  The glamour of flying is no more sadly.  

It does seem incredible doesn't it?  I've travelled from Birmingham to Bordeaux so many times and the flight is always at least 3/4 full and that's on a Tuesday or Wednesday whilst at the weekend the flights are nearly full.  I can't believe that they weren't making money out of them.  I wonder if it's anything to do with Bordeaux airport maybe?   Although having said that, they have greatly expanded the airport so one would imagine they want the flights to keep going there.  It's all very strange.  The BA from Manchester to Toulouse must be new as there never were direct flights with them before.  Is Air France flying Pau to Manchester?  We are equidistant to all three airports but much prefer Bordeaux but hey - we'll go to any of them that will take us!  Let's hope someone from the airline industry is reading this [:'(]

Hi David It's bizarre that there are currently no flights to any of the destinations in SW France this winter from Birmingham or Manchester.  The furthest "north" in the UK that you can fly from is Bristol which doesn't help anyone living north of the Midlands.  Perhaps they think that only those in the South of England want to fly there!  I have to say that we didn't ever think there would be a problem flying to a major airport like Toulouse or Bordeaux but it seems at the moment that we were wrong.  Perhaps one of the carriers will spot a gap in the market and re-launch flights down to there.