We got by never booking, just roll into a town 4ish then look for hotels / pensions and go from there. That was pre COVID so things might have changed. Most places are pretty accomodating for bikes abroad, we've ended up parking in back gardens, hotel beer gardens and the like. Hope you have a good trip, I need to get my arse in gear and get back abroad

 

That's how we've always done it, albeit much later time wise, but going with friend who only passed her test last year and very nervous about leaving her bike in open car park. I know most of Europe is pretty good but northern France is the dodgy bit hence why looking to find somewhere in advance with secure parking for first and last nights. rest of trip we'll just wing it.

 

maybe King Karl could help you,, he has a gaf somewhere in France

 

About 3-4 hours from Calais is this biker friendly B&B in Belgium (great chips and beer in Belgium), especially if you are heading into Germany. Home

Its a great area to ride around and you could easily spend 4 or 5 days exploring the area in France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. Neil and Anne are great hosts and Neil is a riding instructor at the Nurburgring and Spa Francorchamps

I have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Baden Baden, at the start of the B500, which had secure parking for the bike, and was a short walk into town. if you do the B500, make sure you avoid the weekends.

Personally I would avoid Switzerland due to draconian speed enforcement, huge fines and sky high prices for everything (some fabulous roads though)

The Route Napoleon from Grenoble to the french Riviera is a great ride, in either direction.

Good luck and have a great trip

 

Last time l went over, l relied on airbnb (same day booking usually as l had no fixed route/location) and always found places that bike security was ok. The bike ended up in either a back yard, garage, barn or outbuilding. Probably safer than a commercial hotel facility.

 

Stayed here several times:

Bike and Biker friendly B&B in North East FRance

biker friendly, motorcycle friendly,

www.bikersbedsfrance.co.uk

Two hours or so down the A26 to clear the clutter and boring roads etc, then a nice cross country run to the B&B, handy for heading to Black Forest / Vosges.

Or head a bit more Eastwards in the Ardennes area, lots of nice places to stay in Belgium, you could reach Bastogne in about 4 hours (hotel Melba) or my preference these days would probably be Bouillon and Hotel de la Poste.

Hotel de la Poste - Relais de Napoleon III - Bouillon

Hotel de la Poste biedt u een verscheidenheid aan authentieke kamers met een vier sterren-standaard. Trakteer uzelf op een onvergetelijke ervaring in een historisch gebouw, wiens charme bewaard is gebleven sinds 1730.

www.hotelposte.be

Really depends on where you are heading - Germany / Switzerland covers a good few hundred miles north-to-south. Personally I tend to blast at least 2 hours of Motorway to make some progress, often 3-4 hours, doing this out and back gets you an extra day in the nice areas and your not missing much by not riding along slower roads with few nice curves that go through one town and village after another.

Troyes is a stunning little city and well worth a stop, and on the way towards Switzerland, but is pretty much 4 hours of Motorway from Calais (maybe 3 if you do a ton all the way) we have sayed here a few times, website is shit, but Hotel is good, secure parking and right in the old part of town - google images for Troyes if you are not familiar with it.

Hotel Troyes - Brit Hotel Comtes de Champagne

Découvrez le Brit Hotel Comtes de Champagne situé dans le centre-ville ! Profitez de son confort et de l'ensemble de ses services.

hotel-troyes.brithotel.fr

Best to work out where you want to be on the second night and plot a rought route, then you will know where you need to stop on the 1st night, but the reality is you can choose from hundreds of Hotels and most of them will be good, never eneded up in a real dump in the 20 or so Euro trips I have done.

 

Nice looking couple places there Ginger.

THIS IS NOT MY FIRST EU TRIP, always just make it up as we go, it is however my first with a relatively new rider on her own bike and so cannot do the miles me and my mate would normally do. Hence looking around 3 hours in.
I do not have any routes/plans as, as always, it depends on the weather and how we feel/ where we like the look of. Hate the idea of a trip with each day planned and places booked in advance.

 

Nice looking couple places there Ginger.

Hate the idea of a trip with each day planned and places booked in advance.

Makes asking for recommendations a bit moot if you don't know where your heading and don't want to book in advance 😉

Booking.com night before or on day will work.

 

If your looking at non toll roads,firsty avoid France altogether,& after leaving calais, go through Belgium and Luxembourg into Germany,especially if the Black Forest is on your to do list.

Iv always found this a better route,and not sure of what you want from your trip,but I also highly recommend the Black Forest !!

iv always used Booking.com,& depending how many people you are travelling with,I have never had an issue to date.

Note.....
If you do plan to go Switzerland,you will need to purchase a Autobahn Vignette if you decide to use their motorways,basically it's a road tax sticker....
But fines are heavy if you get caught without paying for the Vignette......
The views are special,but as previously mentioned,the price reflects......

 

http://www.booking.com/Share-dYGaPv

I stayed here last week on the way down to the Alps. About 2.5 hours from Calais which makes it doable if you're leaving late afternoon. Its away from the hustle bustle and has gated parking (and a pool).

 

I stayed near Saint-Omer last summer and found loads of biker-friendly spots with locked parking. One of the lads in our group booked this hotel singapore and had a great experience—smooth booking and decent filters for picking something with secure parking. Worth a look if you're planning your route and want to keep bikes safe overnight.

 

I've always used booking .com and google maps, when i've been with a mate one will be on booking and the other would be on either google maps or another hotel/bnb style site.