Ashford and surrounds

[Johnny_boy]

We're planning to camp down the South Coast for a few days then, on the 12 July, leave Ashford via Eurostar/SNCF for a few days with Mr Mouse and Co.

I'm looking for some advice on where to leave the car and where to sleep the night before in Ashford or there about. We're on the 07:28 train and the car will have tent and various other things in it but nothing valuable.

When we come back, we'll be staying elsewhere for a few day before heading home.

Could anyone offer any advice on where to stay/leave the car?

Is the change in Lille quite straightforward? Look like we have just under an hour on the way out and just under two on the way back and there's a few shops round the outside of the station according to Google Street View for food or any last minute things.

Thanks in advance.

 

[HFJohnson]

We stayed in the Ashford North Premier Inn last year and it was perfectly fine, this year we'll be staying in the Central one. Ashford isn't very big so it doesn't take long to drive to the station. There are a couple of carparks by the station - a bit multi storey which is about £11 a day but is a very short walk to check in (you just walk through a tunnel across the road and you're right there) and another one which is £5 a day but is a bit further away.

 

[Johnny_boy]

Thanks for the info, I've had a look at the AA iPhone/iPad app and found the two car parks that you've mentioned. I think we'll just go for one of the Travelodges and drive to the car park, maybe dropping everyone off at the station first so we can pick up the tickets.

What I should have mentioned is we'll have a roof box on the car which I scratched the first time I used it in Nottingham in a multi-storey so looking for somewhere open preferably. I'll maybe see what they look like in google maps.

 

[Johnny_boy]

I've booked the hotel now I just need to sort out the car packing and somewhere to eat in the evening plus some kind of breakfast though I suppose I can pick something up at the station.

 

[aj2703]

I've booked the hotel now I just need to sort out the car packing and somewhere to eat in the evening plus some kind of breakfast though I suppose I can pick something up at the station.

Johnny, which hotel did you book..?

I would highly recommend that you book the Premier Inn at Ashford (Eureka Leisure Park). http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/ASHEUR/ashford-eureka-leisure-park It has a beefeater literally next door to it that does fantastic food, and also on the park there is, a cinema, frankie & benny's, pizza hut and a few bars etc. There is also (just over the bridge) which is a 5 minute walk a massive sainsburys, which for me last Jan was a god send as i actually forgot to bring my coat, so was able to get a cheap one from there .

 

[ROBEAR84]

We stayed in the Ashford North Premier Inn last year and it was perfectly fine, this year we'll be staying in the Central one. Ashford isn't very big so it doesn't take long to drive to the station. There are a couple of carparks by the station - a bit multi storey which is about £11 a day but is a very short walk to check in (you just walk through a tunnel across the road and you're right there) and another one which is £5 a day but is a bit further away.

You can leave your car at Ashford Central Premier Inn for no charge and a taxi to the station is between £5-7 depending on the time of day. We did this for our last two trips and our friends are staying there a week after us this year and have double checked that leaving the car there is still ok.

 

[HFJohnson]

You can leave your car at Ashford Central Premier Inn for no charge and a taxi to the station is between £5-7 depending on the time of day. We did this for our last two trips and our friends are staying there a week after us this year and have double checked that leaving the car there is still ok.

Yes I'd heard about this and am still considering doing it. It's just the thought of having to wait for a taxi on our return journey when we'll be keen to get home! Can you leave your car if you're not staying there at the end of the holiday?

Johnny-Boy - I'm 99% sure that the cheaper carpark at Ashford is open air so should be fine for your roof box.

 

[Verity Chambers]

We always leave our car at the hotel and get a taxi back, it only takes a few minutes.

 

[ROBEAR84]

Yes I'd heard about this and am still considering doing it. It's just the thought of having to wait for a taxi on our return journey when we'll be keen to get home! Can you leave your car if you're not staying there at the end of the holiday?.

Yes that's not a problem. The lovely receptionist even brought her car round to jump start our very flat battery!

We never had to wait too long for a taxi. 1st time there were loads on the taxi rank but the 2nd time (on the direct train) it was later and so much quieter and there weren't many around so we called from the taxi free phone and waited about 10 mins or so for our taxi to arrive.

 

[Johnny_boy]

Thanks for the updates folks, I booked the Travelodge this morning - it had gone up a pound since the day before so I was worried it would be the same as the Eurostar which went up £30 on the return overnight between checking and booking. The open air car park looks the business HFJohnson, I think I'll do a test drive the night before to see how to get there, park and get to the station.

Does anyone know if you can pick up your tickets from the station the night before? Just one less thing to worry about (i.e. longer in bed in the morning!)

Thanks for the hotel info AJ2703, gives us a few choices for food. My kids really love Toby Carvery (it's the only place they clear their plates) but not one anywhere near there but Frankies and Bennies or Beefeater sound good alternatives.

All we have to do now is sort out a campsite near that area for the first few days, looking round the South/South East coast for 4 days before Disney.

 

[tennisfan]

Thanks for the updates folks, I booked the Travelodge this morning - it had gone up a pound since the day before so I was worried it would be the same as the Eurostar which went up £30 on the return overnight between checking and booking. The open air car park looks the business HFJohnson, I think I'll do a test drive the night before to see how to get there, park and get to the station.

Does anyone know if you can pick up your tickets from the station the night before? Just one less thing to worry about (i.e. longer in bed in the morning!)

Thanks for the hotel info AJ2703, gives us a few choices for food. My kids really love Toby Carvery (it's the only place they clear their plates) but not one anywhere near there but Frankies and Bennies or Beefeater sound good alternatives.

All we have to do now is sort out a campsite near that area for the first few days, looking round the South/South East coast for 4 days before Disney.

We love Toby carverys but there are only 2 in kent. There is one in Manston/Ramsgate which isn't too far from Ashford but still a bit of a trek. There are a few campsites in the South east coast area, try looking at St Margaret's Bay, its near Dover

 

[Johnny_boy]

We love Toby carverys but there are only 2 in kent. There is one in Manston/Ramsgate which isn't too far from Ashford but still a bit of a trek. There are a few campsites in the South east coast area, try looking at St Margaret's Bay, its near Dover

Thanks for the tips Nikki, I noticed the nearest Toby was about 26 miles away using the app so we might give it a miss.

I got stuck watching BGT last night and forgot to look at campsites, try again tonight. At least Disney is all booked

I downloaded the Eurostar app yesterday as it promised you could use it foe electronic tickets but it wouldn't retrieve my booking but I've discovered I can pick up the tickets the day before.

I tried to find out if the second leg of the journey, Lille to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy was TGV or standard train, I think it looks like TGV which is a bonus as I've only ever been on the 12 minute journey from the airport and travelling by TGV has been something I've wanted to do for years..

 

[scribbleuk]

Have you got your campsite sorted yet?

What sort of campers are you? Do you like a site with a pool, entertainment etc? If so Two Chimneys in Birchington is a very good site. http://www.twochimneys.co.uk/ Which being in Thanet is close to the Toby carvery at Westwood Cross.

Or if you like more back to basics I couldn't recommend Nethergong near Canterbury highly enough. It's over 25 acres and they will only allow 25 tents at a time so you can camp where you like, in the woods, by the pond or river, or just the field. It really is a lovely place and they've just made it into the next edition of Cool Camping. http://www.nethergongnurseries.co.uk/camping.php We get veg boxes delivered from there and campers can get loads of fresh veg too.


Just a note on Ashford parking. Both the station carparks are very good and secure. I'm not sure how I would feel about leaving my car at the hotels though. Not that Ashford is a bad area just if I remember correctly the hotel carparks are ungated public carparks. (the eureka premier inn defeinately is)

Hope this helps
Mark

 

[Johnny_boy]

Hi Mark, we only camped for the first time last year, once in North Berwick and the second time in Condette near Calais. Neither pace had a bar but there was kids entertainment in the French one, donkey rides, pedal karts, etc. The first campsite was a bit rowdy though we were in a quiet area, the toilets had vomit in them the next morning and many discarded bottles and cans which the staff cleaned quick enough the next morning. By contrast, the French one was the opposite, most people had young kids and were all in bed by 2230. My kids had a ball and if we hadn't been going to Disney, they wouldn't have left.

What's important for us is a kids playpark, other kids for ours to play with and something to do other than just a bar and also an electric hookup. I'll have a proper look at the sires when I get home but my first glance was quite favourable.

Cheers

John

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I tried to find out if the second leg of the journey, Lille to Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy was TGV or standard train, I think it looks like TGV which is a bonus as I've only ever been on the 12 minute journey from the airport and travelling by TGV has been something I've wanted to do for years..

I'll confirm that it's TGV

 

[Johnny_boy]

I'll confirm that it's TGV

Fantastic! Just what we wanted to hear

 

[Johnny_boy]

Have you got your campsite sorted yet?

What sort of campers are you? Do you like a site with a pool, entertainment etc? If so Two Chimneys in Birchington is a very good site. http://www.twochimneys.co.uk/ Which being in Thanet is close to the Toby carvery at Westwood Cross.

Hope this helps
Mark

cheers Mark, two chimneys seems to fit the bill. I may book it tonight if DW agrees.

 

[Ms Poppins]

If you decide to park at Ashford International station, park on level 5. This leads over the walkway directly into the station. And I wouldn't worry about picking up tickets before. If you're doing this with the machines inside it takes minutes and there are always plenty of staff around to help. I thought we'd need to use the machine for our tickets, but they were already printed and staff handing them out.

The security check is very quick, and once through there is a seating area and a small cafe/bar and shop.

Eurostar is the very easiest way and this station is perfect.

I also found a thread that diser Lisa C from Ashford collated - here

 

[Johnny_boy]

Thanks Julie for the info, very useful, especially the link. I think we will be parking in the open air car park because of the roof box so I'll be doing a reccy to see how far it is from there to the station. I'll probably drop everyone else off first with the luggage then park and run back to the station.

 

[scribbleuk]

There is a drop off point at the station door so that would probably be the best thing. Although the car park is right next to the station if it's busy you still could end up with a 5-10 minute walk from the far end of the car park.

Glad I could help with the camping. Two chimneys is a very nice site there are plenty of things to do in thanet including some lovely beaches all around the Thanet coast.