Smarttimes 2012 - Normandy Meet

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Of course I have! How you guys sort the flat is up to you. I am assumingyou'll all be happy in there....

[magnet]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

I have been reminded by the ever-organised Miss P to mention that I shall be attending. :silvertri Will be nice to go and terrorise those driving on the wrong side of the road again.

I shall go stand in the corner now and play with my keys.:p

[smartsparks]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Bloody hell !
I don't look on here for a few days & all this kicks off !

Deffo up for this like I said when we had a chat

Looks like you may want me over on a 'logistics trip' like we did in the early days when we set-up the 'facilities' block ?!? as this early list looks like getting a few more berths etc maybe required ?

Thanks for use of the apartment again

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

There you are Ian, you need to keep up
Putzie reckons the mezzanine will take another single bed so I will work on that idea if you are happy with that arrangement:p
The actual aparment will be changed again before next summer and I will PM you the details or FB or something so you will know.

The people staying as far as I can work out from the posts are as follows. I am assuming that some who have posted on here are going to Smarttimes but not Normandy

House
Miami and Dieseldoo
Davros and Linda
Dave and Tone
Julie

Apartment
Satan
Putzie
Smartsparks

Barrel
Fat Rick

Camping
Magnet
Richard and Ali


That leaves about 8 spaces in tents:camp:

[davros7760]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Hmm - without even meaning to we appear to have got ourselves organised

We already have 14 round the table - I know its a very long table but it would be hectic with 22! Extremely socialable, but hectic......

Which set off a train of thought about meals wot can be prepared easily

which set me thinking why not have the list modified so you declare whether you are veggie or vegan or not, whether fish/eggs/soya substitute are acceptable etc.

Also, whilst Brittany ferries have yet to release their 2012 timetable a lot of people may well be interested in their early crossing from Portsmouth
( logic dictates it will be a simular 7am(ish) depart 10:30 arrival with a shorter crossing time)

Our single crossing (Portsmouth -Cherbourg) cost us £130.

The other option is under £50 from Calais and a 5-6 hour drive. - the others seem very expensive for the relatively small reduction of road time

Which option is more appealling to people?

[dieseldoo]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

We're going with LD Lines at the moment as they seem to be half way between Brittany Ferries (exhorbitant and a short drive) and Dover ferries(cheap and a loong drive + tolls + fuel). They dock at Le Havre and your tolls are 5€ for the big bridge and 3.60€ (I think) and 1€ for another section. Boats are nice and clean and food and duty free shop quite good.

[OrangeDave]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

I am sooo looking forward to this, as all us veterans will be there, all of whom are our friends :lovesm:

Just to clarify, will we be at your house prior to the event? What day are we arriving at your place?

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

I thought arrival in Normandy at the end of the previous week - we will be there anyway so it does not matter too much

[dieseldoo]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Its really up to you when you arrive. If you'd like a few days with us first that's fine. You know the pack drill by now- everyone mucks in whenever they arrive as long as we know when to expect you.

[andrewh1973]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

myself (and my gf) would be very interested in this, but I know nothing about what the event is like, what kind of activities happen there? Also what would the costs be and any suggestions for places to stay - we're looking to do everything as cheap as possible so hostels are as ok as budget hotels...

[petronic]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

I am up for it but it will depend on my Olympic duties!!!! Camping!!!!!

[miami gulf]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Just had a look on a German forum which has the meeting at Antwerp - but that could be nothing more than a rumour. Perhaps there is something more on the other continental sites - I will keep looking.

[davros7760]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

I have never been hence I am very excited about this - I'm sure other members can enlighten us

Well broadly speaking you could elect to do one or both 'parts' of the holiday and you aren't obliged to attend the full time.

Most of us will probably pay £130 to cross from Portsmouth to Cherbourg (this years price) but there are cheaper ways to get there even with extra petrol

We generally contribute approximately 10 euros per head per day whilst we stay at the farmhouse (fresh brekkie, evening meals, water charges etc)
We have/can get extra tents over there - just bring sleeping gear.

We will then use a 1 1/2tanks of petrol to cross to Belgium.

The trick in Europe is to book hotels before christmas - a bit of a problem when the venue hasn't been announced!

Just tried a tentative search of belgian hotels in one area of Belgium chosen at random.

It is possible to find 2 star hotels charging 150euros for 3 nights for a double and you should allow about 15-20 euros per day expenses

Finally you'll need a tank of petrol to get back to calais as this is generally the most cost effective route back= about £50 though with enough advance notice you can get it cheaper.

Ball park figure for 2 people 500 -600 euros

If you need to keep costs down the biggest variables will be the hotel costs and doing Normandy as well!

Which means the earlier you commit the better deal you will get on the hotels.

You probably have more time to decide on the Normandy leg - though naturally there is a limit and in all our french trips there has never been this many people commit so early

[davros7760]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Antwerp will mean travel costs are lower and a wider range of hotels available

[OrangeDave]

Re: Smarttimes 2012 - Belgium (23rd-26th August 2012)

Going out, we will take the Brittany Ferries boat to St Malo and have a cabin. It's expensive, but we find it's worth it because you get the comfort and privacy of your own space.

We usually book the boat in December or January for the year ahead for all our trips. The Belgian hotels are OK. We usually stay in Ibis hotels, as we find them good value.