Choosing Accommodation
Accommodation in the UK
Derby Pride Park - Holiday Inn Express - Reasonably priced hotel with clean well equipped rooms, free breakfast and well stocked bar that does basic bar snacks. No “Secure Parking” but a free car park behind a barrier with car parking spaces outside reception if you get there early enough. Also, we have never had anything other than good service from the excellent staff
Convenient access to Derby train station so you can access nearby Nottingham, but also in walking distance of Derby itself and the Football stadium at Pride Park. Also, in riding and driving distance for events at Donington Park Race Circuit.
A number of chain eateries nearby make it easy to get food.
Ashford (Eureka Leisure Park) - Travelodge - If you time it right you can get a cheap room here. Very basic, but everything you need, and for groups does rooms that sleep more than 2. It is an open Car Park but they have a bay outside the manned reception that is reserved for motorcycles if you get there while there is space in it.
It is in a convenient location for accessing the Channel Tunnel and Dover ferry, with both about half an hour away.
More of a hotel to use on a transit night to and from the continent, it has it’s own bar and serves basic food and breakfast, but there is all the usual chains on the Leisure Park. Also in easy walking distance of supermarkets if you need any supplies.
Accommodation In Germany
Hotel Waldblick - Schenkenzell (Black Forest) - A hotel Geared for bikers, with garaged parking facilities available. They are geared for bikers so can help with local route information and you won’t get better food anywhere.
You can’t get better customer service anywhere, from your Hosts the Kilgus family, through to all of their staff, and the rooms are amazingly comfortable for a great nights sleep.
There is also a great outside dining and chill out area, and because it’s in a lovely quiet village, it’s a lovely place to have some down time.
Also, if you are that way inclined, check out their new spa facilities. Find their website here
Hotel Traumblick - Cochem - Hotel within 5 minutes walk of the old town at Cochem. This accommodation has garage parking, but it is suggested you contact the accommodation before you book to make sure it is available for your stay as if it is busy the other parking is a short walk up the hill in a chained off area.
Great accommodation and an outside seating area with a great view of the Moselle makes this a lovely place to chill.
24 hour vending machine in the lobby makes it easy to get refreshments, and you are no more than 10 minutes walk from some of the best eateries in town.
Hotel Zur Post - Klotten - Plentiful indoor parking, comfortable rooms and a host who is not only always happy to help, but is also an amazing chef.
You can jump on the train at the station, which is just over the road, and head into Cochem about 10 minutes away, but make sure at some point you sample the food in the hotel - it’s AMAZING.
As it is by the trainline, and trains do use it 24 hours a day, just note you will hear them, but was not an issue for us.
Hotel Wilhelmshoehe - Auderath - Spacious rooms, convenient for the Nurburgring and most importantly, garaged parking if you request it, means this hotel is a great one for bikers.
Top class friendly service from a great team and good quality, reasonably priced food mean this is a great base for a couple of days. A bit out of the way, but with a nice restaurant and big garden, just park up here for the evening and chill out.
Hotel Schwarzwaldhof - Hinterzarten - A nice, traditional black forest hotel, set in a small village with plentiful restaurants, coffee shops and a small general store and chemist.
The half board option provided good portion size served in a really comfy restaurant. In the morning, the breakfast choice was good as well.
Message them before your stay to check if one of the garages is available for you to park your bikes. It is also right by a convenient railway station that can be used to get to many places including Lake Titisee.
Accommodation In Slovenia
Hotel Kristal - Ribcev Laz - A lovely hotel on the scenic banks of Lake Bohinj. Quieter than the built up area of Lake Bled, but you can easily ride to Bled, or use the bus that stops outside the hotel and takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Also, if you fancy a day off the bike, it’s an easy day to take a boat across the lake then walk to the Savica waterfall.
This hotel has plentiful parking in it’s own, open car park, but is in a quiet area. Rooms are of a good spec and the food and drink facilities are of a good spec. We have used the half board service and have never, ever complained about quality or portion sizes :)
Friendly staff with always help you out, just leave a bit longer than normal to check out as they are always willing to stop for a chat!
Accommodation In Austria
Hotel Weisseepitze - Kaunertal - This is just a Luxury Bike Hotel - underfloor parking with Garage and Cleaning facilities - along with swimming pool and spa facilities.
Great restaurant, comfortable rooms and all set in an idyllic region with view that really are up there with anything else in the world.
If you want to pay a bit more and do it in style - this hotel is a great option.
Accommodation in Romania
Pensuinea Elena - Viștișoara - Probably the best budget accommodation we have ever used. Set in the middle of nowhere, alongside a river, you can appreciate the silence as you sleep, and on a clear night there was no light pollution.
Just park your bikes in the garden next to the front door, and enjoy the best of Romanian hospitality. Just know, the host didn’t speak much English so many hand signal were used.
As it is in the middle of nowhere, we ate our tea here, and it really was a great meal, and so reasonably price, including making something vegetarian for one of our guys.
We loved being away from all distractions, but just be aware, you do have to use a long gravel road to get to it and phone signal is not consistent. We have never found accommodation this nice for this price anywhere else. Just enjoy basic and clean accommodation at a good price.
That basic, we can’t find a website but we booked HERE
Transylvania Inn - Near Bran - Really convenient to visit Bran and the nearby castle - with great view of the castle by night. You can go up into the tower in the hotel if you want to enjoy the views.
Plenty of parking in the Inn’s grounds - just be aware you have to use a gravel lane to get there and the car park is gravel - put it’s not a long lane and it’s pretty easy.
Nice rooms and restaurant - but the jewel in the crown is the deserts in the restaurant - just leave time for your evening meal as food this good doesn’t come quick.
Accommodation in Spain
Apartamentos Navalin - Tapia De Casariego - a brilliant self catering option for bigger groups - we had 2 apartments each sleeping 3. No food provided but there is a nearby supermarket and all the kitchen facilities you could ever need. So stop for supplies on the way.
Helpful staff who are happy to answer any question when you arrive and the place was IMMACULATE. Park you bikes outside some of the units or for the ones further into the building use the covered car port.
If you don’t mind a 25 minute walk you can head to the beach and the local town - but be aware there is very little open if you arrive in the off season.
Accommodation in Portugal
Casa De Fujacos - Valenca - Great for groups and self catering, including a nice outside kitchen and barbecue - this place has a great view of the town below and plenty of privacy. Park your bikes behind the entrance gates to the ground.
You can have a game of pool, or swim in the pool, so this is a great place for a rest day on tour.
Just make sure you have the cash deposit with you, but true to the owners word, it was returned to our bank on the day we left.
Not sure if there is a website but we booked HERE
Accommodation in New Zealand
Sport of Kings Motel - Rotorua - Set in the naturally thermal area of Rotorua - with the naturally warm pool to go with it - thismotel also comes with hot tubs and convenient parking outside the rooms.
We were greeted with some freshly ground coffee as we arrived and given all the information we could ever need about the area. When we had an issue, they let us use their computer to sort it out. You can’t fault the customer service.
A 15-20 minute walk to “Eat Street” to get your tea or to walk around the thermal park and the owner even took us out on a night time “Glow Worm” tour for no extra charge.
Well recommended and you can find them HERE
Siena Motor Lodge - Wanganui - We absolutely love the traditional, old school feel of this place. From the second we checked in after a very long days ride and were given an arrival pack of snacks (they were really timely!!!) we were hooked by the atmosphere of this place.
Clean, well equipped, and with parking right outside your door. Ideal after a long day as it meant we didn’t have to carry our luggage far.
In five minutes you can be at one of the normal change restaurants, but in 10 you can visit one of the better, local independent eateries.
Well worth a look