Cadaques, Collioure...where to stay?
Jul 30th, 2007 | 10:40 AM
#22
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,505
Likes: 0
Bear in mind that you will be travelling during a very busy week (most people will end their vacation on August 25) and that there will be a lot of traffic. You can't possibly see both the coast and the mountains during the 2 free days you have after Girona.
I suggest you drive from Girona to Figueres then enter France via Col d'Ares.
You could stop in Besalu, Olot, Ripoll (abbey of San Joan de Les Abadesses) Camrodon on the way. The first French towns after the border are Prats de Mollo, Arles-sur-Tech, Amélie-les Bains and Céret.
On your second day you could drive to Carcassonne via Lagrasse and the Cathar Castles.
I would skip Montpellier, it is quite a detour. I would also ski Andorra which will be very, very crowded.
I suggest you drive from Girona to Figueres then enter France via Col d'Ares.
You could stop in Besalu, Olot, Ripoll (abbey of San Joan de Les Abadesses) Camrodon on the way. The first French towns after the border are Prats de Mollo, Arles-sur-Tech, Amélie-les Bains and Céret.
On your second day you could drive to Carcassonne via Lagrasse and the Cathar Castles.
I would skip Montpellier, it is quite a detour. I would also ski Andorra which will be very, very crowded.
Jul 30th, 2007 | 12:32 PM
#23
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Overwhelmed by the helpful responses!
Pvoyageuse - any recommendations on where to stay? Should I assume you thought we'd stay in Ceret on night 2 and ...?...Carcassonne on night 3 (though we weren't convinced about staying there up till now)? Any suggestions for specific towns/hotels. Also, if we stayed around Carcassonne, would it be reasonable to assume we could drive back to Barcelona through Mirepoix and Foix, stopping in each place for a bit, and still arrive back at the airport by 3 or so?
I tend to want to know where we're staying before we leave home. I know that puts a crimp in the "just drive where you feel like going" concept, but we speak little to no French and the idea of pulling into a town, possibly late, and not knowing where we're staying doesn't sound like a fun, relaxing trip to me.
Anyone think we should bother heading for Toulouse? I'm getting the impression that there'll be plenty to see staying within the area south and east of there.
Pvoyageuse - any recommendations on where to stay? Should I assume you thought we'd stay in Ceret on night 2 and ...?...Carcassonne on night 3 (though we weren't convinced about staying there up till now)? Any suggestions for specific towns/hotels. Also, if we stayed around Carcassonne, would it be reasonable to assume we could drive back to Barcelona through Mirepoix and Foix, stopping in each place for a bit, and still arrive back at the airport by 3 or so?
I tend to want to know where we're staying before we leave home. I know that puts a crimp in the "just drive where you feel like going" concept, but we speak little to no French and the idea of pulling into a town, possibly late, and not knowing where we're staying doesn't sound like a fun, relaxing trip to me.
Anyone think we should bother heading for Toulouse? I'm getting the impression that there'll be plenty to see staying within the area south and east of there.
Jul 30th, 2007 | 01:46 PM
#24
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,505
Likes: 0
"any recommendations on where to stay? Should I assume you thought we'd stay in Ceret on night 2 and ...?"
Yes I did ! You mentioned Ceret, I assumed you wanted to spend the night there!
This is why I suggested the Col d'Ares (or Ares Pass) route. Driving from Girona to Céret and stopping at the places mentioned in my earlier post would fill a day, allow you to see some parts of the Pyrenees and arrive in Ceret before it gets pitch dark.
But my recommendations are not binding !!!!
Hôtels in the area :
La Terrasse au Soleil (châteaux et hôtels de France), route de Fontfrède (a mile from Céret)
Fax : 468.87.39.24
Le Mas Trilles (Hôtel et Châteaux de France), Pont de Reynès near Céret on the National Road.
fax.468.87.42.62
Carcassonne on night 3 (though we weren't convinced about staying there up till now)?
It was also a suggestion. Assuming you spend the night in Ceret and want to visit the Cathare Castles and Lagrasse on your way to Carcassonne, you'd first have to drive to Perpignan (40 mn), then to Saint-Paul de Fenouillet (50 mn) then visit Quéribus and/or/Peyrepertuse/La Pradelle Puylaurens/ then to Lagrasse and finally to Carcassonne. Enough to fill a day.
Any suggestions for specific towns/hotels.
Hôtel de la Cité in Carcassonne is supposed to be great.
Fax : 468.71.98.71
"Also, if we stayed around Carcassonne, would it be reasonable to assume we could drive back to Barcelona through Mirepoix and Foix, stopping in each place for a bit, and still arrive back at the airport by 3 or so?"
Definitely not. The fastest way is to take the highway from Carcassonne to Barcelona via Përpignan and it's approx. 300 km. Count on possible delays at the border because it's vacation time.
"I tend to want to know where we're staying before we leave home. I know that puts a crimp in the "just drive where you feel like going" concept, but we speak little to no French and the idea of pulling into a town, possibly late, and not knowing where we're staying doesn't sound like a fun, relaxing trip to me".
I would not venture out without reservations either, especially around that time of year. It would be different in March ! This is why I gave you the fax numbers of some hotels.
"Anyone think we should bother heading for Toulouse? I'm getting the impression that there'll be plenty to see staying within the area south and east of there".
I'll repeat myself : you only have 3 days. You can't possibly see all there is to see in such a large area in such a small amount of time : you have to make a choice.
Yes I did ! You mentioned Ceret, I assumed you wanted to spend the night there!
This is why I suggested the Col d'Ares (or Ares Pass) route. Driving from Girona to Céret and stopping at the places mentioned in my earlier post would fill a day, allow you to see some parts of the Pyrenees and arrive in Ceret before it gets pitch dark.But my recommendations are not binding !!!!
Hôtels in the area :
La Terrasse au Soleil (châteaux et hôtels de France), route de Fontfrède (a mile from Céret)
Fax : 468.87.39.24
Le Mas Trilles (Hôtel et Châteaux de France), Pont de Reynès near Céret on the National Road.
fax.468.87.42.62
Carcassonne on night 3 (though we weren't convinced about staying there up till now)?
It was also a suggestion. Assuming you spend the night in Ceret and want to visit the Cathare Castles and Lagrasse on your way to Carcassonne, you'd first have to drive to Perpignan (40 mn), then to Saint-Paul de Fenouillet (50 mn) then visit Quéribus and/or/Peyrepertuse/La Pradelle Puylaurens/ then to Lagrasse and finally to Carcassonne. Enough to fill a day.
Any suggestions for specific towns/hotels.
Hôtel de la Cité in Carcassonne is supposed to be great.
Fax : 468.71.98.71
"Also, if we stayed around Carcassonne, would it be reasonable to assume we could drive back to Barcelona through Mirepoix and Foix, stopping in each place for a bit, and still arrive back at the airport by 3 or so?"
Definitely not. The fastest way is to take the highway from Carcassonne to Barcelona via Përpignan and it's approx. 300 km. Count on possible delays at the border because it's vacation time.
"I tend to want to know where we're staying before we leave home. I know that puts a crimp in the "just drive where you feel like going" concept, but we speak little to no French and the idea of pulling into a town, possibly late, and not knowing where we're staying doesn't sound like a fun, relaxing trip to me".
I would not venture out without reservations either, especially around that time of year. It would be different in March ! This is why I gave you the fax numbers of some hotels.
"Anyone think we should bother heading for Toulouse? I'm getting the impression that there'll be plenty to see staying within the area south and east of there".
I'll repeat myself : you only have 3 days. You can't possibly see all there is to see in such a large area in such a small amount of time : you have to make a choice.
Jul 30th, 2007 | 04:14 PM
#25
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Agree wholeheartedly....forget Toulouse. I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear you say that!
I also agree that during the peak tourist season, having reservations is a good idea. I don't even like to go without reservations in March, but I am a bit of a control freak!
We arrived in Ceret in March to find a convention in town and the hotel we'd hoped to stay in completely booked. We stayed across the street instead in a perfectly okay place. It was minimalist and would not have been my first choice, but the people there were very sweet and we loved the town.
It's an area where I could imagine going back to live for a month or two... I am headed to Paris and Burgundy this Fall, but I envy you your locale!
I also agree that during the peak tourist season, having reservations is a good idea. I don't even like to go without reservations in March, but I am a bit of a control freak!
We arrived in Ceret in March to find a convention in town and the hotel we'd hoped to stay in completely booked. We stayed across the street instead in a perfectly okay place. It was minimalist and would not have been my first choice, but the people there were very sweet and we loved the town.
It's an area where I could imagine going back to live for a month or two... I am headed to Paris and Burgundy this Fall, but I envy you your locale!
Jul 30th, 2007 | 04:42 PM
#26
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
You guys are great and make me laugh. I sort of knew when I asked about Toulouse that I'd get a rise...we didn't seriously consider going there but I just had to ask 
.
I'm at that stage of planning where things are just beginning to gel and I'm finally beginning to get excited. Amy40, your comment about envying our locale made me feel that twinge of anticipation I've been waiting for...thanks!
On to more reading and a few emails to inquire about reservations. We have just a little over 2 weeks till departure, so I s'pose I'm not rushing into things reserving a room....
.I'm at that stage of planning where things are just beginning to gel and I'm finally beginning to get excited. Amy40, your comment about envying our locale made me feel that twinge of anticipation I've been waiting for...thanks!
On to more reading and a few emails to inquire about reservations. We have just a little over 2 weeks till departure, so I s'pose I'm not rushing into things reserving a room....
Jul 31st, 2007 | 01:20 AM
#28
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
caseyhen,
Girona really isn't anything like Lucca, even though they both have walls. Girona is grand, with a grand, spectacular cathedral and other beautiful architectural sites, and its layers of history are much different. Like all great Spanish cities, it has been multicultural, so you have Arab baths and a Jewish quarter, and the historic city itself is just atmospheric and enjoyable. The food of Girona (it's wealhy city) is marvelous. Spending the night there would be very nice.
I preferred the towns on the French side to those on the Spanish side in the Pyrenees Of the Spanish towns mentioned to you, I would pause at the abbey of St. Joan. My favorite place in the Pyrenees was Pont d'Espagne, which is reached through Cautaurets, and not far from the Cirque du Gavarnie, which is considered the most breathtaking sight in the Pyrenees. It is not easy to go speeding around the high Pyrenees. Most of the roads lack guardrails, and they are steep and twisting switchbacks. (I took one with an 8 percent grade.) You can get very pretty views of the Pyrenees from Pau, and from there it is not far to foray up the mountains. You might think of spending a night there, perhaps after Ceret. Personally, I wouldn't go for Carcasonne on this trip,. I'd just try to see the spectacular parts of the Haute Pyrenees, and enjoy the small towns for what they are.
In August, you will have to reserve in advance, or at least be willing to have a cell phone and spend some time each day calling around in advance to make sure you have a place to stay. In addition to the Michelin guide, you can peruse the website of Logis de France and pick up an actual copy when you are in France (at just about any hotel). They are a tad pricey, but worth it if you are flying by the seat of your pants.
http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/recherch/index-ca.htm
In the Pyrenees, I think you are well advised to skip Lourdes. But that area -- near Pau, and St Bernard de Comminges and up toward the Cirque du Gavarnie and Cauterets -- might give you quite a taste of the high mountains and the kinds of steep pedaling over the "cols" that cyclists undertake for the Tour.
Girona really isn't anything like Lucca, even though they both have walls. Girona is grand, with a grand, spectacular cathedral and other beautiful architectural sites, and its layers of history are much different. Like all great Spanish cities, it has been multicultural, so you have Arab baths and a Jewish quarter, and the historic city itself is just atmospheric and enjoyable. The food of Girona (it's wealhy city) is marvelous. Spending the night there would be very nice.
I preferred the towns on the French side to those on the Spanish side in the Pyrenees Of the Spanish towns mentioned to you, I would pause at the abbey of St. Joan. My favorite place in the Pyrenees was Pont d'Espagne, which is reached through Cautaurets, and not far from the Cirque du Gavarnie, which is considered the most breathtaking sight in the Pyrenees. It is not easy to go speeding around the high Pyrenees. Most of the roads lack guardrails, and they are steep and twisting switchbacks. (I took one with an 8 percent grade.) You can get very pretty views of the Pyrenees from Pau, and from there it is not far to foray up the mountains. You might think of spending a night there, perhaps after Ceret. Personally, I wouldn't go for Carcasonne on this trip,. I'd just try to see the spectacular parts of the Haute Pyrenees, and enjoy the small towns for what they are.
In August, you will have to reserve in advance, or at least be willing to have a cell phone and spend some time each day calling around in advance to make sure you have a place to stay. In addition to the Michelin guide, you can peruse the website of Logis de France and pick up an actual copy when you are in France (at just about any hotel). They are a tad pricey, but worth it if you are flying by the seat of your pants.
http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/recherch/index-ca.htm
In the Pyrenees, I think you are well advised to skip Lourdes. But that area -- near Pau, and St Bernard de Comminges and up toward the Cirque du Gavarnie and Cauterets -- might give you quite a taste of the high mountains and the kinds of steep pedaling over the "cols" that cyclists undertake for the Tour.
Aug 1st, 2007 | 06:49 AM
#29
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Caseyhen, sorry to have been away...have house guests. How is the process going?
I dug around looking for the names of those two hotels before that last post and couldn't find them. Let me dig a bit deeper. Maybe pagesjaunes will turn something up.
In the meantime, there seem to be a bunch of nice places to stay outside of Ceret.
Okay, got 'em... The place I wanted to stay was the Hotel des Arcades. Instead, they sent us across the street to the Hotel Vidal. They both have websites and are both on pagesjaunes.
I dug around looking for the names of those two hotels before that last post and couldn't find them. Let me dig a bit deeper. Maybe pagesjaunes will turn something up.
In the meantime, there seem to be a bunch of nice places to stay outside of Ceret.
Okay, got 'em... The place I wanted to stay was the Hotel des Arcades. Instead, they sent us across the street to the Hotel Vidal. They both have websites and are both on pagesjaunes.
