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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Rouen - anyone love it?

17 replies

sweetaddict · 05/05/2010 20:54

Thinking of stopping there on way back from a camping trip, what do you think? I like the look of it, but never been myself.

OP posts:

fortyplus · 05/05/2010 20:58

Errr... ok for one night. Some family friendly restaurants next to the cathedral.

NathanBarley · 05/05/2010 21:25

go to honfleur instead

Original poster

sweetaddict · 05/05/2010 22:23

ooh interesting, so not really then? What's in Honfleur?

OP posts:

fortyplus · 05/05/2010 22:28

Honfleur heaving in the summer. Pretty harbour full of mega yachts. Twee little town - think somewhere like the French equivalent of Padstow.

NathanBarley · 05/05/2010 22:42

sweet little restaurants by the harbour. it's a pretty town. Rouen has the feel of a nice but quite characterless city IMHO. The cathedral's quite interesting for about 20 minutes (Richard the Lionheart's tomb a highlight)

SpringHeeledJack · 05/05/2010 22:47

we always get lost in the one way system and have a massive row

fortyplus · 05/05/2010 23:21

SpringHeeledJack - what about that bit where the road runs alongside the railway tracks with all the graffiti all over the place? [shudder] No - Rouen not one of my favourite places!

MsMaryWollstonecraft · 06/05/2010 10:19

ho ho- know it well...it reminds me a bit of Middlesbrough down that end

Original poster

sweetaddict · 06/05/2010 19:13

Hmm rethinking now then, no offence against boro of course... Dont fancy Honfleur if heaving, though it's probably the same everywhere. Any other nice stopovers in Normandy? Don't really need to be on coast as we will have been beachy in the south for a week.

OP posts:

SpringHeeledJack · 06/05/2010 19:18

oh pleeeeease, OP, post when you get back- would love to know how you get on as get thoroughly sick of long day's drive to Vendee every year with three squabbling kids...

(made an unscheduled night's stopover in Le Mans once when the car broke down...def do not recommend!)

DecorHate · 06/05/2010 19:23

We always stop on the outskirts if Rouen. We keep meaning to go into the city centre for a few hours but haven't been able to face the thought of driving in and finding somewhere to park. We also always seem to have problems finding the correct route around Rouen. Despite our best efforts to go a different way we also always end up by the railway tracks!

We usually just spend a few hours at the local shopping centre - they have a Decathalon and we get something to eat around there. There is now an Ikea too and it's far less crowded than the ones here...

said · 06/05/2010 19:28

Rouen is ok for a night. We stayed in hotel there and the receptionsist almost accused me of child abuse because we'd arrived late and Expedia had fucked up our booking. It's a bit tainted for me

SpringHeeledJack · 06/05/2010 21:25

Heh! DecorHate

...looks like that road by the railway is populated solely by lost brits. Do you think that's what they built it for??

DecorHate · 06/05/2010 22:11

The problem I find is that our map, the directions off Google Maps or wherever and the road signs don't tally, esp when it comes to road numbers. We seem to manage ok coming back but have never been able to go out on the road we come back on!

KoalaSar · 22/05/2010 23:56

We went to Rouen for a couple of nights a few years ago and I really loved the place, BUT some French people chucked a brick through our car windows (presumably because it had a british numberplate) and like the other poster, it rather tainted it for me.

I love France (did a French degree) but I always seem to have trouble there - arguments with campsite owner in Annecy last time we were there, also had tent raided when camping in the Loire valley. Hmm.

Leslaki · 28/05/2010 21:21

If it's only for a stopover saty at he Novotel Rouen Sud - it's fab!!! It's out by the university/exhibition centre area and by a small wooded area designed for walks. Has a supermarket, McD's nearby. But hotel itself is excellent!! near main motorway to vendee and it has a lovely restauarnt/bar which has a kids play area (playstations n Lego - all happy!!) next to it! Wine for mum, play for kids - yay!!! Outside there's a pool, tennis court, 'woodland walk' area and swings. Room was great and once when we had to have room service it was great too. My fave stopover in France!!!

LadyInMauve · 29/05/2010 19:02

We have done stopover at this Novotel several times too, and will be doing again in July. Nice friendly place, good service and well placed for a quick drive to Eurotunnel in the morning or as a stopover after an evening crossing to France.

Have stayed at several Novotels around France and almost all have had good quality family accomodation, friendly staff and good breakfast. A big plus is that they have 24 hr reception in case you are delayed en route and arrive late at night.

The Campanile hotels shut up at 11pm and if you arrive late you have had it as there is no-one around. This happened to us once and we ended up having to book into the Novotel next door. Had tried to ring the hotel but got no answer. They refused to refund our prepaid room as they claimed we did not try to inform them of late arrival. Will NEVER use them again.

The one exception to the Novotel rule was the Novotel in Lyon which we stayed at in March. The most SURLY receptionist in the world greeted us on arrival and managed to check us in without more than a grunt. Had to pay extra for adult's breakfast, too, most of the time is included in room rate.

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