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Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 4 Jan 2023, 5:43pm
by Dursleycyclist
I am planning to do Avenue Vert in the summer with a friend. Have planned the route using the sustrans booklet and web advice from the Avenue Vert site.
Just wondering if anyone who has done it recently might have useful tips /advice! I am aware that the sustrans book is 2020 and things might have changed.
Not figured out yet how to get back from Paris (hoping that Eurostar might swing back into action with bikes) - if not how have others returned? We are planning to stay over in Paris (having made the effort to get there!). Anyone got a good hotel recommendation that will take bikes in central-ish Paris?
Thanks in advance for any helpful thoughts!
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 4 Jan 2023, 6:50pm
by ANTONISH
Dursleycyclist wrote: ↑4 Jan 2023, 5:43pm
I am planning to do Avenue Vert in the summer with a friend. Have planned the route using the sustrans booklet and web advice from the Avenue Vert site.
Just wondering if anyone who has done it recently might have useful tips /advice! I am aware that the sustrans book is 2020 and things might have changed.
Not figured out yet how to get back from Paris (hoping that Eurostar might swing back into action with bikes) - if not how have others returned? We are planning to stay over in Paris (having made the effort to get there!). Anyone got a good hotel recommendation that will take bikes in central-ish Paris?
Thanks in advance for any helpful thoughts!
It's possible to take a ter (regional train - Hauts - de France version) from Gare du Nord to Calais for whatever ferry you fancy but you may need to change trains (they don't always run the whole distance)
Eurotunnel run a bike shuttle from Calais to Ashford.
I don't think you will get bikes onto eurostar at the moment.They had a system where bikes travelled separately but I think it stopped during the lockdown - doubtless someone will have more up to date information.
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 4 Jan 2023, 6:52pm
by Jdsk
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 4 Jan 2023, 8:52pm
by bohrsatom
Also lots in the Europe 2022 thread:
viewtopic.php?p=1696966&hilit=amiens#p1696966. Check out the Freewheeling France website for advice on bike-friendly hotels in Paris.
Donald Hirsch's website on the Avenue Verte is a great resource too:
http://www.donaldhirsch.com/dieppeparis.html
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 6 Jan 2023, 4:47pm
by chocjohn9
I plan on cycling AV end of May. I will update this thread with my hotel discoveries.
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
I have waited and waited to do this. DFDS have been excellent with re-re-re-re-booking my crossing. Eurostar less good. I lost my ticket in the end. I'm determined now and will cycle the train sections if necessary instead. (I live near Brussels, so I could do local train to Ostend, cycle to Calais then train Dover to London) On the way back, SNCF do not accept bikes. It's 320k home....
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 6 Jan 2023, 4:56pm
by Jdsk
chocjohn9 wrote: ↑6 Jan 2023, 4:47pm
...
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
...
Thanks.
Is that about Eurostar's own service?
Current statement:
https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-i ... gage/bikes
"We’re working hard to relaunch the service before the end of January."
Jonathan
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 6 Jan 2023, 5:52pm
by Dursleycyclist
chocjohn9 wrote: ↑6 Jan 2023, 4:47pm
I plan on cycling AV end of May. I will update this thread with my hotel discoveries.
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
I have waited and waited to do this. DFDS have been excellent with re-re-re-re-booking my crossing. Eurostar less good. I lost my ticket in the end. I'm determined now and will cycle the train sections if necessary instead. (I live near Brussels, so I could do local train to Ostend, cycle to Calais then train Dover to London) On the way back, SNCF do not accept bikes. It's 320k home....
Be really helpful to have your updates - I have most of the route and accommodation sorted (except Paris - next task!) - and waiting for Eurostar update on bikes - hopefully that news will be out later this month! That would make getting back so much easier!
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 6 Jan 2023, 7:08pm
by scragend
But directly below that it says
We know that many of you are keen for us to relaunch our bike service. We’re sorry that it’s taking us longer than anticipated. We’re working as hard as we can to relaunch it before the end of the year.
It doesn't say which year! Sounds like they're just plucking dates out of the air. I'm not expecting to see Eurostar carrying bikes any time soon.
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 7 Jan 2023, 10:45am
by ANTONISH
chocjohn9 wrote: ↑6 Jan 2023, 4:47pm
I plan on cycling AV end of May. I will update this thread with my hotel discoveries.
I went to London over Xmas and wondered into the Eurodispatch office. They told me that their services will resume mid-Jan, with boxes and small freight, bikes to follow "soon" afterwards.
I have waited and waited to do this. DFDS have been excellent with re-re-re-re-booking my crossing. Eurostar less good. I lost my ticket in the end. I'm determined now and will cycle the train sections if necessary instead. (I live near Brussels, so I could do local train to Ostend, cycle to Calais then train Dover to London) On the way back, SNCF do not accept bikes. It's 320k home....
Why do you say that SNCF don't accept bikes - it's easy enough using the ter regional services- agreed TGV assembled bike space is limited or non existant.
Of course if you are going on DFDS it isn't a huge distance from Dunkerque ferry terminal to De Panne and the Belgian rail network.
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 7 Jan 2023, 6:16pm
by GideonReade
We did it in I think 2015 and stayed in the Auberge de Jeunesse in Paris. Don't recall any issues.
Think we camped along the way. Somewhere along the AV, there was no site so we just found a quiet place.
For the UK leg, can't remember exactly where, it was right on the route. Summer, lots of people, many cycling, maybe another route crossed, SDW perhaps. I remember thinking the farmer* was taking the p*ss with high prices and sh*te facilities.
*Range Rover sort of farmer rather than the quad bike variety. Expensive to run, I daresay.
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 10 Jan 2023, 5:24am
by MarcusT
I'm a little confused. Why is everyone concerned about the Eurostar for bike transport? Pretty much all regional trains in Europe take bikes that do not need to be disassembled and packed. As far as UK to France, there are several services offered for cyclists
Or am I missing something?
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 10 Jan 2023, 7:19am
by Toffee
MarcusT wrote: ↑10 Jan 2023, 5:24am
I'm a little confused. Why is everyone concerned about the Eurostar for bike transport? Pretty much all regional trains in Europe take bikes that do not need to be disassembled and packed. As far as UK to France, there are several services offered for cyclists
Or am I missing something?
Probably because the French trains don't bring you back under the channel. When we did it a number of years ago they were still using the bike hangers, it was a brilliant service.
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 10 Jan 2023, 7:59am
by bohrsatom
MarcusT wrote: ↑10 Jan 2023, 5:24am
Or am I missing something?
Yes you are. London to Paris by Eurostar takes 2h16m, London to Paris by train to Dover, ferry to Calais, train to Paris takes an entire day (perhaps even a day and a half)
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 10 Jan 2023, 11:43am
by Kevin67
I got the train from Paris to dieppe. Very easy with 1 change. Then ferry to Newhaven, cycled to Brighton then train back to London.
Bit time consuming but worked
Re: Avenue Vert and Paris hotels
Posted: 10 Jan 2023, 5:48pm
by ANTONISH
bohrsatom wrote: ↑10 Jan 2023, 7:59am
MarcusT wrote: ↑10 Jan 2023, 5:24am
Or am I missing something?
Yes you are. London to Paris by Eurostar takes 2h16m, London to Paris by train to Dover, ferry to Calais, train to Paris takes an entire day (perhaps even a day and a half)
We travelled back from Paris to St Pancras by Eurostar.
Check in took some time - also we had to get home from St Pancras. Rather more than 2h 16m.
Obviously it is quicker by Eurostar but not that much.