Hey folks! Family vacation in Europe beginning 5/23 and can get the week off beforehand as well. MXDN didn’t work out last Fall, but the French GP at St. Jean d’Angely is the week beforehand and I’m considering going a week early to catch it and seeing other places in France before family time.
That said…I’d be solo, know about 8 words in French and don’t know diddly about the area! It looks quite rural…any public transportation or need a car? Lodging reasonable to get around there?
For the rest of the week after the race, I would make my way to Normandy, one of the WW1 sites (Somme or Verdun), Strasbourg area (some family roots) and Linz am Rhein (Germany…daughter teaching there this year) by Friday. It seems public transportation is big in Europe, but not sure how it would be for all of these places.
Kinda ambitious, but there are few bucket-list places that I have the chance to see…and moto! 
Appreciate any input!
Hire a car. I went many years ago and as good as public transportation is in France, getting to & from the track would be the problem as it's in a rural location from memory. I actually rode there from England on a KDX200 (must have been nuts) and stayed at some local hotel.
There's some accommodation info here Prepare your visit - Moto Club Angérien - Saint Jean d'angély - Charente-Maritime (motoclub-angerien.com)
It's a great track for fans to watch.
definitely get a car.... not sure if you enjoy camping, but if you like partying and crazy antics, consider buying a tent from decathlon and staying at the track, otherwise you'll probably looking at staying about 30mins away in a hotel
i wouldn't stay any longer around the track than you need to, there isn't too much there and if you have a list of other places, which it looks like you do, i'd plan just to do Saturday/Sunday at the maximum
Thanks guys!
LOL...from GB to there on a KDX200?! Actually sounds really cool and appreciate the link, Elliot.
I camped at Unadilla for years in the 80's and it was nuts. I still enjoy a good party and will check both campgrounds and hotels.
I’ve been twice, and it is about a rural as it gets.
Either airbnb or motorhome, most hotels are too far away. Bring food.
st Jean is worth the trouble, you won’t find better fans anywhere in Europe. It gets crazy at that place.
The Shop
St Jean is amazing.
Bring earplugs , to wear under a proper set of ear defenders, you will need them if you want any sleep.
If you camp, try and find some Brits, most of them who will be there will be well versed in the joys of the 'french way'.
I have not been to St Jean but I can give you some pointers about travelling, I don't know how familiar you are with Europe or France so apologies in advance if I'm stating the obvious.
If you wanna go camping at the track I suggest you look online for vids of MX des Nations or 24h du Mans moto, it's probably best if you do not plan any sleeping
As others have already said I would not spend too much time in St Jean before or after the race. Car hire would be mandatory, and for travel you could go train/plane plus car or car all the way depending on your destinations and if you enjoy driving.
Before of after the race, 1 h drive away from St Jean you have Royan, nice coastal city (and great zoo) or La Rochelle (fortifications, quite a bit of history and famous for its aquarium).
1h30min drive from St Jean (and very conveniently 2 h train from Paris... or 6 h by the highway) you have the city of Bordeaux which is great to visit and could work as a hub if you like wine (go to St Émilion village) or want to see this side of the ocean (Lacanau, dune du Pilat, various WWII bunkers on the endless sandy beaches).
Verdun will be more or less on the road if you drive from Paris to Strasbourg (5 h), otherwise it's 2 h by train. Strasbourg is great to visit just walking or using the tramway, lots of history, and very different from the southwest of France so you'll get a feel for how different some parts of this country can be.
About prices, car rentals can be ok if you choose wisely (400-500 €/week, check prices at Sixt or Budget), gas is expensive (a little under 2€/liter) as are highways. And make sure you're booking an automatic if you don't drive manual. Train and plane can get pretty cheap if you plan ahead (use any travel website like kayak), I'll say going by train then renting a car is probably cheaper and faster if your destinations are linked by TGV (literally "high speed train"), unfortunately the rail network makes like a star centered on Paris so definitely need a car at some point.
Honestly if you have some free time and don't know much of Europe you should look at low cost plane tickets (easyJet, Ryanair...just be aware there is an extra fee for checked luggage), for 100 € or less you can get round trip tickets for lots of different countries and could go places so take your pick (Spain, Italy, UK if you want to understand the locals, or more or less if you head over beautiful Scotland).
Finally we don't speak good English (obviously you'll get more luck with the young receptionist in an hotel chain than with the old timer Airbnb owner in rural France) but tourists making an effort are always appreciated, like just saying very simple polite things (bonjour, s'il vous plaît, merci), step up your hand gesture game and use some app to translate what you say to written french.
I wish you a great time!
Thanks - Merci! - so much guys...glad I asked!
Hadn't thought of Airbnb and will check them out. I did check out a few of the camping videos...holy shit! It looks like a blast to swing by for a while, but sleep elsewhere.
This would be my first time outside of North America, so it'll all be new to me, and I REALLY appreciate the detail.
Again, merci beaucoup and enjoy San Diego SX tonight!
At the Nations i went to , there was a guy with a Subaru engine on a shopping cart, he revved it on zoomies till 3am, when it blew up.
And when it did , he pulled another one out of the van.
There was also a guy with his own petting zoo, sheep, goats , and chickens. Not sure if he is the guy that walks round with the chicken on the stick at all the races, but its not a leap to think it is.
Zoiks! When I was looking for camping vids, saw a dude in one of the St. Jean MXGP videos and a 23 MXdN video with a crotch rocket mounted to a platform, no back wheel and a big long exhaust that glows pink with flames from the exhaust and it's revved to the moon...and revved...and revved! Must've overlooked the shopping cart guy!
Gotta check that campground out for a bit, but this solo, middle-aged Yank is already looking for Airbnbs!
Airfare booked...this trip's a go!
Going the Airbnb route and appreciate anyone's input on:
- Arriving in Paris early afternoon on Friday and it's about a five-hour drive to St. Jean on Friday afternoon. I'd like to drive during the daytime and it looks like either Orleans or Tours would be where I'd stay Friday night. Recommendations about either town?
- I'm looking for a place in the St. Jean area for Saturday and Sunday nights. How bad is the traffic getting in and out of the track?
Trying to learn some Française, too!
MXGP regulars...what are the details with the pre-purchased/cashless drink option?
- Are we allowed to bring beers in our cars and carry around the track or is buying from the vendors the only option?
- I'm almost afraid to ask...how much do they charge per beer at the track?
- Can the cashless amount be increased at the track?
I'll bring as much food as I can, am staying offsite in Sainte (not camping) and going both days. Any other details - traffic, parking, drinks, car access, etc. - about the event would be appreciated!
it depends per race, some events i can enter with my backpack without any checks, other races i had them check and remove food/drinks.
As for cashless, i wouldnt count on that. France is more a cash then pin country and most of these races have awfull internet connections.
Work on your french a bit, it's crunch time
https://www.motoclub-angerien.com/mxgp-france-2024/
I'll let MotoGP regulars give you more details but I would say
- bringing outside drinks no,
- recharge cashless onsite yes (good idea to already have some before and usually better to recharge online, otherwise you would queue, then you can get reimbursed at the end of the event)
- public parking is free, follow the signs
- price of beer... you should allot a reasonable amount, and you'll probably drink less than you would have thought for this money
…there is a McDonalds in St. Jean that is just so good!
I never go there in the USA because the food quality is shit- but in southwest rural France the quality is so much better than America…
Beagle, oui je suis! 64 day streak on DuoLingo, although I still feel like I barely know a thing, I'm trying! A couple of the places I'm staying are parle non Anglais (?), so there will be no choice.
So far, sounds like [good] McDonalds and [overpriced] track beer. May need to get creative in addition to planning for a bunch of euros on biere.
LOL...Unadilla tried banning alcohol in the late 80s (camping was nuts), so we had to get creative with hiding it. We took off the inside panels of our van and loaded the sides up with a few cases. All warm, but we got them in. A couple of years later when they allowed it again, the guy at the gate checking our coolers for glass commented '...yeah, you don't have to hide beer in the panels of your cars anymore!'
Get creative, camelbak or little children compote pouches filled with spirits
I would not recommend to fill the CamelBak with beer, also if you do this you might be banned for life in some countries
As a chef in Europe this sentence hurts haha
On topic. Never attended at race there, but rode there a few times. Amazing track.
Dude there is just nothing easy or quick to eat in St Jean - as you know, it is as rural as it gets there, the McD's in the little town is a godsend.
There is a five star Michelin restaurant about 10KM from the track, but the food is very French and very pricey.
We ate there a couple times when we were there and the bill was 300e for each meal LOL
Pit Row
Last time we went , they will let you in with drink if it is open, but not closed, for beer anyway.
But there are loads of places and it isnt dear.
Like it was said before, definitely rent a car.
I never go in that aera without taking time to eat there... Love both the place and the food.
https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g580174-d2234084-Reviews-L…
Aren't step ups just the best?!
I was out in Orleans for a few weeks working at it’s a nice place. Plenty of restaurants and places to eat.
I stayed at the Hôtel Escale Oceania Orléans and I could not fault it. Good rooms and breakfast 👍🏻
Cool pic and that you rode there! I'm guessing the camera doesn't do justice to the hills...never seems to. Given the mud today in Portugal and all the rain the US SX season has seen - equalizer or not - I'm hoping for a dry weekend! Those hills in the slop?!
Car and rooms (Tours on drive down Friday, Saintes for weekend) done. I'm pretty cheap and not a fine diner - definitely some stops at McDs - but all the food talk has me wanting a good provincial meal or two somewhere on the journey.
If I were you, I'd get out of the A10 highway at exit 16 and go take a look at Chambord castle. It's REALLY something to be seen, even if you don't have time to visit. Then head to Tours following the river Loire on the north bank. The road is nice, you won't spend much more time and you'll get great views on Blois, Chaumont and Amboise castles, all spectacular pieces of Renaissance architecture...
Merci Racing! I see the castle and north bank road along the Loire (D952) on maps. I will go that way unless I run out of daylight!
...anywhere in that region is so amazing and beautiful. It is really unspoiled for the most part. Hopefully the Sunflowers are blooming when you go.
No industry besides farming and small towns that have been there 500 years.
People there are really nice and accommodating, but not a lot of English speakers.
make sure you put google translate on your phone or brush on on your French...
Thanks for the info in this thread folks, did a quick internet search and this thread came up. I’ll be a first timer at the St. Jean d’Angely race also, and it was helpful.
Chuck, if you want to meet up with a fellow American (and English speaker) let me know. Dropped a message in your inbox too.
Cool and thanks for reaching out! Got your message, too, and replied. It'd be great to meet up!
Role call...who else is going?!
Is there any Wi-Fi or cell service at the track? Or is finding people totally old-school...like pick a time and location at track to meet up?
I went there pre-internet but even if there is a cell there bandwidth will be stretched with all the fans so I wouldn't rely on it for making arrangements.
Have a great time and check back to tell us how it went.
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