Anyone stayed in a Formula 1 Hotel in France as a stopover for camping? If so are you allowed to have 4 people in their person rooms?

[2babyblues]

Hello, we are camping in the Dordogne for 2 weeks this summer but will need to stop for a night somewhere each way. We are thinking of using a Formula 1 hotel in France as the rooms are only £24 a night and we don't want to unpack all the camping stuff for just one night.

Firstly, has anyone used these and are they ok?

Secondly, has anyone had 4 in a room? The rooms say they are for 3 but we (2 adults, 6 year old and 3 year old)could easily fit in. I don't think anyone will check but don't really want to book it then be told we need to book 2 rooms but they don't have an extra room if you know what I mean?

A lot of the chain hotels seem to only do 2+1 which is really annoying if you have 2 children (Etap, Ibis etc). I'm not sure how they would respond to you having 4 in the room though.

We've just been to France and stayed in a Suite Hotel on the way back. It was more expensive than Formula 1 but it was great.

Not only did it have a double and 2 singles (one was a pull out bed from under the other, but a proper mattress) there were screens on a track that you could pull across to partition off the room and a microwave, fridge and kettle.

Great as a stopover hotel IMO.

oh, it also free tv (including English channels), free films, internet access etc. A bath and shower cubicle in the bathroom and the loo was separate (so nobody interrupting your bath when they need a poo -or does that only happen to me?)

Don't do it. Formula 1s are bloody grim - really, truly awful. The shared loos and showers are not right next door, and are filthy, the towel is quite literally a tea towel, the coffee is good but the rest of the breakfast piss-poor.

Admittedly I'm basing this opinion on just one hotel. We could have been unlucky. But it was awful.

And to answer your question - 4 in a room would be fine. One adult on the bunkbed bit above, one adult and the DC in the bottom bed which is roughly double-bed sized.

Thank for that, will look into Suite hotels then. Know what you mean about trying to have a bath in peace!!

I was just going to post what Hassled did - ours was awful, the top bunk is attached to the bottom bunk so every move disturbs whoever's in the other bed, & when it's hot there is no air.

We stopped over in a Premier Classe instead this year - similar building & price (42 euros for the 2+1) but there was a tiny en suite, the window had ventilated shutters so could be left open, & the top bunk was attached to the wall so no movement.

Norbert's Suite does sound much nicer though!

If you know roughly which area you want to stay in, somewhere to go is a very helpful site for locations & prices.

Hassled speaks sense

We did just that one year. NEVER again, for all the reasons given above!

Infact, we just drive with no stop-overs now, having had another grim experience in a proper hotel.

I can't imagine staying somewhere that didn't have an en-suite.

I did wonder why places like Formula1 were so cheap and now I know!

If you want something more traditional (and quirky in some cases!) the Logis de France group have a lot of hotels but you will find 2+2 rooms aren't that common

And I just had a look at the Suite website, they're offering 50% discount if you book between 10-16 June for stays between Jul 8 & Sep 6!!!

Many thanks for all your replies. Am sort of torn between paying more as after camping it might be nice to have ensuite etc. Though we are camping to save money so it wouldn't make sense for us to spend lots of 2 nights. Thanks for all the suggestions. We are happy to squeeze into a room for 3 but I am unsure whether the hotels themselves would mind.

www.hotelbb.com do some great family rooms often with a mezzanine for children. Great once children are beyond toddler. They also have a small ensuite which is much easier than shared facilities. Limit in family rooms is 4. We are 5 and now the children are bigger we get a second twin room and take all the towels ot of that room and sleep all together in the family room.

Totally agree with what was said about Formule 1. They were great when they started but now they have a reputation for having more than one guest per night (IYKWIM!). Not a great family atmosphere.

www.logisdefrance.com do have family rooms. Go to the website for the hotel you are interested in and check out the room rates. You will often find a family room there. IMO avoid French hotels which dont have a website - they practically invented the internet with prestel.

Only down side to logis is that you are expected to eat in the restaurant which is another expense to keep in mind.

Sorry, just a second thought. I think there are insurance issues with over filling the hotel. If the reception spots you they may say 'non'.

Mmmmm, exactly the same problem here.. one 4 year old and one 19month old. Seems crazy that you'd need to book 2 rooms for a "normal size" family of 4?? Am now worried too as we have booked a Premiere Classe at Vierzon on the way to the Dordogne. What happens if they say "non"? I can't remember if I said 2 children on the booking form or in fact whether it gave me the option or not.... We did stay at the Tours Premiere Classe last year in one room and noone said anything but no.4 was a baby - wonder if it'll make any difference now she's a toddler.

I'm yet to book the return hotel as haven't decided how many miles we're aiming for on first day but did have a look at the Suite Hotels website as that sounds good. Am I being silly though?, I can't see any 50% special offer anywhere and the rooms seem to be over 100Euros???? Also had trouble when looking at the France map for hotels as I couldn't seem to get in to the Orleans or Tours hotels. If you notice this, Ponders, any chance you could do me a link please?!! Thank you.
By the way OP, Premiere Classe is still a box like the Formula 1s but such a plus getting an ensuite bathroom.

Aha, don't worry Ponders, have worked it out now - unfortunately they don't have hotels in the area I want them!! Nevermind, Premiere Classe it is, think we'll risk it....

I think Formule 1 are great if you just want a no frills stop over. I think if you have one in a travel cot you could easily manage with one room. I wouldn't worry about being spotted by reception - they don't really have a reception as such. We've always arrived late at night, stuck our credit card in the machine that opens the gate and not seen a soul til breakfast (which is perfectly adequate for the price).

Good point LillianGish - if just one of you checks in.. even if they are on reception, they just give you your room card anyway and expect you to find it yourself don't they!! So they won't even know about the 6 kids in the car!!!

2babyblues, I'd pay the extra £10 or so for the ensuite at Premiere Classe as you have children who are bound to need the loo and you won't want to go traipsing round in your PJs. Prmiere Classe have loads of hotels. I've just booked Le Mans for the way back from the Dordogne.

We stayed in a Premier Classe in the same situation ... & the dcs still talk of it as the highlight of the holiday
It had one double, one bunk over the double & an additional single. Small but adequate bathroom.
We stayed in Formule 1 pre-kids and always had ensuites. You had to open the bathroom door to turn round, but it was there....

Hey all we're just back from France, camping too, no advice re hotels, but wanted to warn you all that food prices are way up on what we paid last year, basic bread, cheese, pasta is ok, but other items are far in excess of what we're currently paying in the UK (and we paid in france last year) which was a slight shock to both ourselves and other campers on our site (who we talked to) so please make sure you budget extra for food/cram what you can in the car with you.

Missed this last night, mzmum, glad you got yourself sorted out!

Another good site to look by price is booking.com although finding specific locations - eg N, S, E or W of a city to match your route - is a bit harder.

frizbe, we're just back too & didn't notice prices being much different (but maybe we'd forgotten!) Local produce is a good price, esp on markets & at roadside stalls, & meat from the market was reasonable too when we got some.

Diesel is cheap, best price in supermarkets about 1.12 euros, under £1 a litre. Petrol is about the same as here though - around 1.40 euros at supermarkets (avoid buying on the autoroute if you can)

Via booking.com I just came across a group called Fasthotel - prices similar to Formule & Premiere, but proper buildings, with secure parking for the ones I looked at, & one of the Orleans ones even has A/C

this is the Orleans one - it's not a huge chain but worth looking at it to see if it's got one in the right area.

Agree about the diesel was cheap but supermarkets were defo more expensive on quite a few things..... although chicken was the same price! agree that local stalls are the way to go