Well as anyone who knows us will tell you, we have also given up le comping when its only for one night en route, there are so many chains so cheap, (we try and head for the 'B&B' chain as at least they all have locked carparks after 7pm) and small hotel/restaurants in little villages here there and everywhere who will often quite cheerfully and without being asked offer your 'moto' a cosy garage for the night - or even in the rear lobby of the hotel along with 2 Irish bikes and M'sieurs cruiser on one occasion ! You get good buffet breakfasts in nearly all of the chains.
At the slightly more up-market Etap's (nicer curtains and bedspreads) they also have a restaurant so that's the evening meal sorted if the town's too far away and you can't be arsed (or your arse is too sore LOL) to get back on the bike. But their breakfasts aren't so good IMHO. If you really are on a budget you can stay at Formule 1's - they are ridiculously cheap - but Rolfy and Jan nor me and Pete would want to unless we had no other choice and it really was only for the one night - as they are not ensuite. You can easily afford to be picky when there is so much choice at such reasonable prices.
I have not experienced the Bonsai chain - I always seem to get this mental picture of Clouseau coming home to be met by Cato; and imagining that happening to us as we roll bleary eyed into our rrrum!
Anyway, it's hardly a problem whatever you decide on - unless of course you choose to stay in Orleans (you know, the place where Joan of Arc came from!) the same weekend as the Euro conference of Jehovah's Witnesses (don't ask!) -that was a Premier Classe hotel - I said never again and haven't - but that was also cheap, ensuite and a good breakfast, whatever else I say about it !
Jen
PS Dave that's come round really quick, hasn't it?
