Touring Recommendations For Spain And France

I've heard about the ban but I believe the main N260 can be used and that road is worth the trip in itself. I think it's the smaller roads further up in the mountains where bikes are banned. The N260 is the one, running West/East as you descend through France.

 

Personally i'd concentrate on Spain. You'll find the towns and villages much more lively at night. Bars and restaurants tend to be open at night after your days riding whereas in France it can be difficult to find somewhere to eat and drink.

 

I must be going to a different France, never had a problem finding somewhere....

 

I am going to the FIM meritum in Andorra and on to the FIM Rally in Zaratoga from June 16th to 26th . To late for anyone to enter now but I will post a report and photos when I get back sometime in early July.
Check the FIM touring section on the net.

 

Depends where you are. In big towns it's ok. In small towns and villages everything can be shut in the evening. For instance two weeks ago the french village I stayed in, the bar shut at 8:00pm, in another village the restaurant didn't open at night and there wasn't a bar. So no, you are going to the same France, just different bits.

 

I've been riding through France etc for holidays for years now and never had a problem, I don't tend to stop or even ride through big towns/cities so I don't think it's that*.

Maybe it's the days you're stopping, Rural France still tends to shut down a lot on Sundays and Mondays (although not as much as it used to), it's not as bad now, but smaller places will still be fairly quiet.
If you are travelling on those days, finding a hotel with it's own bar/restaurant, in the smaller places, is a good idea


*Ironically, on one of last years holidays, I stopped at a bigger town that was on my route, as it was a convenient stop, thinking it wouldn't be a problem.
The hotel only did snacks and the local restaurants were closed because it was a Monday

 

Oh well two different opinions I suppose, That's what forums are all about though eh ?

 

I have always found larger towns do have a night life in France, but as Andy says the smaller towns and villages to not tend to have the same level of pubs or restaurants open.

 

I was always successful with "booking.com". I booked the evening before in the area of the planned end of the following riding day. Meals weren't also never a problem there. The opening times of fuel stations may cause to an issue!