Planning on doing the Route Napoleon in SE France on the way back from WDW on the Monster. Can anyone recommend any reasonable hotels at either end. My original idea was to stay overnight around Grasse before riding north up the Route Napoleon, ending up ultimately somewhere between Grenoble and Annecy. (Yes, I know that's (a) a bit vague and (b) a long way!) I want to pre-book accommodation rather than ride up and hope for the best.
In the 90s I had this fab book filled with chambers d'hôte in prestigious houses in France. You'd find a castle or something you liked the look of in the area you wanted to go and then rang 'em up and booked it. Far more interesting than a hotel. You got to chat with the owner, and often they cooked for you in the evening and even ate with you. I had some great evenings and stayed in the most amazing places. Cost less than a hotel and was miles better. Barely out of your leathers before they are offering you a beer. Can't seem to find the same book now, but something similar must exist on Amazon or the web.
Just checked: you can still get the book, but it hasn't been published since 1992. So not very useful (although Amazon will sell it to you for 7 quid - doh!) But the site you want is this one: Location vacances chambres d'hôtes, city break - Gîtes de France
When I did the Route many times in the 90's we'd stay in Digne les Baines...a Spa town where every bathroom has a steam room driven by the volcanic streams underground.....never, ever had to book....Booking.com: 7 hotels in Digne-Les-Bains, France. Book your hotel now!
Did it in 83 and still remember that road. Also remember leaving Menton and driving all the way home only stopping for fuel and snacks. Had no money left for food or an overnight. Paris at 3am in a just a leather jacket, tee shirt and jeans was pretty cold, bike was a Z750L3 with no fairing so that helped keep the cold at bay :biggrin: Was a good trip, went down through NE France into Interlaken and then down to the south coast via lake lussane. Had my girlfriend on the bike who today is my wife.
Wot, you mean after these spectacular planning errors and introduction to great discomfort, she married you? Got to be true love! :biggrin:
Instaed of the Route Napoleon, you should consider the Route des Grand Alpes (runs from Menton to Lake Geneve, mountains all the way). I've done both & in my opinion the RdGA is MUCH better. I've done it on both a Monster 1100S & my Multistrada.
Was a fun trip, did not book one thing. Just turned up at Dover with a tent in the backpack and just went
Of course, bikes had real luggage carrying capabilities in those days - you didn't need a "tourer". You just had a bike. Market segmentation? Bah! Humbug!
The rucksack was so heavy my wife could not walk with it( she's only small) thankfully the weight sat on the tail piece so was not too bad on the move
Old pics in France - Hows about this? Sept 1989 on the way to the Bol d'Or at Paul Ricard. Sorry I'm not much help on the original subject of this thread as I always took my tent.
