First trip starts Friday, couple of questions (1 Viewer)

[Diane1969]

Morning all, well nearly time for our first trip to start and just had a couple of questions.
As we're leaving home at 3 am we thought we would head to Saint-Valery-sur-somme for the first night,before doing a long run Saturday. Do we use the supermarket at Calais or can someone recommend one nearer our destinastion? (I'm guessing Calais will be more expensive)
Also what petrol stations should we aim for as I'm sure some will be a rip off, like our BP stations .
And lastly good wine to buy, I drink Malbec and Pinot Grigio here.

Thanks for all the advice you wonderful people have given me.

 

[scousebird]

Calais supermarkets are no dearer/cheaper than the others, give & take with prices as over here. I would be tempted to shop asap so you're stocked up.
Supermarket fuel stations are cheaper than the others generally.
Wine is down to taste, you might find a french malbec but it's mostly french wines that are sold. Just buy some & try

Most of all enjoy your first trip.

 

[Lot lover]

Sweeping generalisation time

Supermarkets - Aldi, Lidl, Leader Price tend to be cheaper than the biggies (Carrefour, Leclerc, Cora) but limited range of goods and parking can be a bit of a challenge.

Fuel - agree that supermarkets are cheaper most of the time. Beware fuel stations in small towns and villages as with those on motorways their prices are 15 - 20 cents per litre more expensive rthan supermarkets. Also in rural areas fuel stations can be a bit like hens teeth, we tend to start looking for somewhere to refuel when tank is down to half-full (or half-empty whichever comes first).

Wine - in this weather we drink rose (plastic bottle varieties), once it is cold who notices that it is not premier cru? Red in boxes is lighter to carry than bottles and just as good, particularly annoying for wine snobs.

But enjoy your first trip and remember, here in France you can buy everything that you need but have left at home.

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[Shrimp]

Supermarche are all over, Aldi & Lidl are good, L.Eleclerc is the most expensive, Intermarche & Carrefour are good, Casino is ok as long as it's a biggish one, then there's loads of others, all sell a bit of everything!
Fuel is relatively cheap, some Supermarche are easier to use than others, we avoid ones without a kiosk, the kiosk closes at 12-noon & reopens about 2pm.
Wine? Suck it and see. There is gallons of different wines there, try some you will find some you like and don't diss the cheap ones some are very good and you wouldn't know if you were drinking a cheap one or an expensive one!
Mostly have fun & try everything!

 

[KeithChesterfield]

Don't use Motorway fuel stations unless really desperate.
Most Supermarkets have car parks the size of a small town and parking is easier after noon when the locals finish shopping.
Some smaller Supermarkets shut between 12 and 2.
Carton wine is as good as most low to middle price bottled wine.
Where is your destination?

 

[mitzimad]

weve just came back and the carrefour in cite europe was dearer than others further in to france

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[Just smiffy]

If you are doing a run from Calias to st valery there is a supermarket with fuel on the roundabout just before you go in to the town ......
Carrefour at the bottom of the map...

 

[Diane1969]

Don't use Motorway fuel stations unless really desperate.
Most Supermarkets have car parks the size of a small town and parking is easier after noon when the locals finish shopping.
Some smaller Supermarkets shut between 12 and 2.
Carton wine is as good as most low to middle price bottled wine.
Where is your destination?

we are looking at heading for the Loire Vally as long as no rain is forecast

 

[Diane1969]

oh I forgot to ask, we are taking an inflatable Kayak, are we allowed to take these on lakes and rivers, are there any licensing

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[TerryL]

St Valerie-s-Somme is a nice aire but gets crowded quickly, especially at this time of year. It's also a bit of a hike into town. Le Crotoy, on the other side of the bay is much bigger, although not as nice, but you stand a much better chance there. Bit cheaper too (€7 pn plus €2 for services if you need water). Were there on Thursday, took dog to vet in Rue, 5 mins away.

We've found Auchan or Super-U/Hyper-U are good value and their fuel is about the cheapest. Sorry, we're not wine people but they all seem to have a good selection.

 

[Oscar]

St Valerie-s-Somme is a nice aire but gets crowded quickly, especially at this time of year. It's also a bit of a hike into town. Le Crotoy, on the other side of the bay is much bigger, although not as nice, but you stand a much better chance there. Bit cheaper too (€7 pn plus €2 for services if you need water). Were there on Thursday, took dog to vet in Rue, 5 mins away.

We've found Auchan or Super-U/Hyper-U are good value and their fuel is about the cheapest. Sorry, we're not wine people but they all seem to have a good selection.

Useful info - thanks, regarding the vets at Rue, did you book in or just turn up? thanks

 

[Viennese]

Calais supermarkets are no dearer/cheaper than the others, give & take with prices as over here. I would be tempted to shop asap so you're stocked up.
Supermarket fuel stations are cheaper than the others generally.
Wine is down to taste, you might find a french malbec but it's mostly french wines that are sold. Just buy some & try

Most of all enjoy your first trip.

If you want Malbec, then look for Cahors wine, that's where it originated (my favourite too!)

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[Viennese]

And lastly good wine to buy, I drink Malbec and Pinot Grigio here.

Buy the 'black wine of Cahors' if you like Malbec - the same grape.

 

[Hellski]

Morning all, well nearly time for our first trip to start and just had a couple of questions.
As we're leaving home at 3 am we thought we would head to Saint-Valery-sur-somme for the first night,before doing a long run Saturday. Do we use the supermarket at Calais or can someone recommend one nearer our destinastion? (I'm guessing Calais will be more expensive)
Also what petrol stations should we aim for as I'm sure some will be a rip off, like our BP stations .
And lastly good wine to buy, I drink Malbec and Pinot Grigio here.

Thanks for all the advice you wonderful people have given me.

Not too sure what time you'll be arriving at Calais but the supermarket at Cite de Europe doesn't open too early, 9 from memory.

 

[The Wino]

Just go and enjoy yourself!. I would buy 2 ot 3 bottles of wine and try them (see username!) . If you like malbec don't buy cheap rose you will think its water!. I would suggest a southern rhone blend vacquerayas is usually nice but not cheap loads of supermarkets might be a few cents more a litre near calais but not a big deal in the total cost of things. Most petrol now self service pay at pump with a card 24/24

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[Figaro]

we are looking at heading for the Loire Vally as long as no rain is forecast

Where abouts are you going ?
Were on 08.50 tunnel on Saturday, la mailleraye Sur seine / chartres / sully Sur Loire then heading west.not been before so not sure what to expect.
Weather forecast seems a bit mixed

 

[Oscar]

It's very windy and cool at the moment at Le Crotoy! We're heading towards Loire region soon

 

[Diane1969]

Y

It's very windy and cool at the moment at Le Crotoy! We're heading towards Loire region soon

es we found this out the hard way after checking weather apps that said it was going to be sunny

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[Diane1969]

Where abouts are you going ?
Were on 08.50 tunnel on Saturday, la mailleraye Sur seine / chartres / sully Sur Loire then heading west.not been before so not sure what to expect.
Weather forecast seems a bit mixed

We haven't booked anything , but plan was to head to Loire but not sure now, weather very cold here at st valery survsomme . Hope you have a good holiday .

 

[Figaro]

We just arrived at la mailleraye Sur seine, had to queue to get on aire at ,3pm, one off, one on ! Got a good pitch on the front though, warm enough but not sunny

 

[TerryL]

Useful info - thanks, regarding the vets at Rue, did you book in or just turn up? thanks

We just turned up - all three times late morning and they were happy to do it there and then. Mind it only takes about 10 mins, cost us €35.40 for Westie, including supply of tablet (and a treat when he wouldn't take it, little b----r!)

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[Diane1969]

Ended up at vendome , weather perfect for us , warm and cloudy but still sunshine , have decided to stick it out in the Loire for a few days

 

[Diane1969]

We just arrived at la mailleraye Sur seine, had to queue to get on aire at ,3pm, one off, one on ! Got a good pitch on the front though, warm enough but not sunny

We have been using the Acsi sites and had no problem getting in. Worth paying for as we like to be on a site