Hotel or camping during a cycling tour?

[steveindenmark]

We use tents, B&Bs, hotels, Airbnb, Couchsurfers, Helpx and our latest purchase is a box Cargo trailer which will will sort out to be a mobile camper/ bike storage. It will allow us to get further afield and see more.

 

[MarkF]

Sounds like you'd enjoy the Dutch cycling holiday of some guys I met on the ferry once: their plan was to wake up each morning and cycle downwind.

Yep, remove "downwind" and that's what I do, the best places I've ever been to are the ones I've found by accident.

We use tents, B&Bs, hotels, Airbnb, Couchsurfers, Helpx and our latest purchase is a box Cargo trailer which will will sort out to be a mobile camper/ bike storage. It will allow us to get further afield and see more.

That's interesting, what is this cargo box trailer that will be a mobile camper?

 

[CopperBrompton]

Yep, remove "downwind" and that's what I do, the best places I've ever been to are the ones I've found by accident.

That's built into the design of almost any cycle tour, though. I pick a place I've never been to before, mostly or wholly passing through places I've never been to before: it's all discovery.

 

[dr snuggles]

B&B/Hotel always.
I just like to be able to relax in comfort after a hard days riding.

 

[User482]

After a long day's touring, I want a hot shower, good meal, a few pints and a decent night's sleep. So it's always hotel/ B&B/ hostel for me.

 

[andym]

After a long day's touring, I want a hot shower, good meal, a few pints and a decent night's sleep. So it's always hotel/ B&B/ hostel for me.

Camping definitely has its disadvantages, but it's pretty rare to stay in a campsite that doesn't have hot showers, and isn't within easy reach of a pub and/or somewhere that serves decent food. The long day's touring usually takes care of the decent night's sleep.

 

[User482]

Camping definitely has its disadvantages, but it's pretty rare to stay in a campsite that doesn't have hot showers, and isn't within easy reach of a pub and/or somewhere that serves decent food. The long day's touring usually takes care of the decent night's sleep.

True, but I want convenience, and a B&B in a town definitely wins on that score. I've done a fair few walking/ camping tours and I can't say I've ever cared for the camping bit! Family camping's different as we can use a much bigger tent and take plenty of kitchen equipment etc.

 

[stuee147]

i love camping the best bit about camping is you dont have to get to a specific place to stay if you decide during the day that way looks better there is no issue with going off your planed rout. if im away for a long time like a mounth or two camp most of the time but eveny couple of weeks or so i have a night or 2 in a B&B or travel lodge so i can get a good clean and do some washing ect

 

[wintonbina]

Mostly camping, most have electricity, wife and dryers, here in mainland Europe anyway, never been to the British Isles.
We're mostly on a budget and credit card touring is just too expensive.

If it includes a 'wife' at your campsites then it's Hotels for me!

 

[snorri]

. Tbh even it was possible, I like wondering where I'll I'll end up, I don't enjoy planning.

I see that as part of the freedom of touring, I never know until late afternoon where I will lay my head at night, except for the odd occasions when I stay for more than one night.
I prefer to camp but enjoy a night in a hotel or hostel one or two nights per week in order to sort things out, or for a city centre stopover. Also when the weather looks ominous I usually head for hotel or hostel.

 

[Cringles]

I'm just back from a short weekend trip, only 140 mile, bit of nee pain made me have to cut the trip short. My only gripe with camping is waiting on the tent to dry the following morning, when you have morning dew on the outside and condensation on the inside. Felt like a losing battle trying to dry it with towels.

 

[andym]

My only gripe with camping is waiting on the tent to dry the following morning, when you have morning dew on the outside and condensation on the inside. Felt like a losing battle trying to dry it with towels.

If my tent outer is wet I put it away in a separate bag and then dry it over lunch (if I can, if I can't at least the inner will still be dry).

 

[Brandane]

Hotels for me too, so I can do 100 miles a day, travelling with just two or three kilos of stuff. When I went across France a friend told me not to bother booking hotels, and though I had target places in mind for where I'd end up at the end of each day (big enough to have a choice of establishments), I enjoyed the not knowing where I'd stay each night. In fact the first hotel I called in on each night had a room (this was in late July): the most expensive was 55 euros, and the cheapest £25, for a single room.

That's my experience of France too, mostly. HOWEVER.... I did get caught out once and I suggest you don't try turning up on spec when the French themselves are on holiday (which seems to cover much of the summer). I ended up having to buy a tent and sleeping bag.

 

[Cringles]

If my tent outer is wet I put it away in a separate bag and then dry it over lunch (if I can, if I can't at least the inner will still be dry).

Good idea actually! I'll try that next time Cheers.

 

[Brandane]

Sounds like you'd enjoy the Dutch cycling holiday of some guys I met on the ferry once: their plan was to wake up each morning and cycle downwind.

It would be just my luck to come off the ferry and be hit with an east wind. Very short tour in that case!