I am 20ish ha ha, female carer. I have just moved back home to the North after travelling around Eu...
I am 20ish ha ha, female carer. I have just moved back home to the North after travelling around Europe and living in Spain for a couple of years and no, I dont have a great tan!!!!!!
Member since:18.09.2002
Reviews:23
Members who trust:3
La Rochelle is a relatively big town in France on the East coast. I was told lots about La Rochelle, how it was really great and a must visit, but when i arrived i was slightly disappointed.
As with any place you visit, there is always places to see and things to do and explore, but the hype of La Rochelle gave me great expectations which it did not meet.
I stayed in La Rochelle for a week, as with everywhere i have visited, i camped. The site was pretty easy to find, but was located slightly out of the centre, but within walking distance, if you fancy putting your hiking boots on!
When I arrived it was explained that there was a 10 o'clock curfew for vehicles, something that I had not experienced before. Also I was given a leaflet explaining that the site was built near some sort of toxic factory, and if an alarm went off, i would have to evacuate immidiately and follow the signs to the designated 'safe' area. Quite scary actually but fortuanately i never had to evacuate.
The beaches here were pretty and clean situated at different points of the town. The main beach is next to the centre of the town and therefore quite busy for the whole day, this is where the tourists went to fry! I found a small beach which to locals used which was hidden by a big industial site which you have to drive through. Although the location wasn't brilliant the beach made up for it. It was a sand beach with a clean sea, quite small and not very busy.
The centre of La Rochelle was actually quite big with lots of shops, both touristy (souveniers) and local shops. You could pretty much buy everything you would need in the town, clothes, food etc.
Eating out in La Rochelle was relatively cheap, about 17 euros for a meal, £10-12. Drinking was extremely cheap if you buy it from the supermarket, £2 for 24 bottles of local lager, but if you go out and about it cost about 3-4euros, £2-2.50 for a pint, slight difference but compared with English prices still quite cheap.
There is an airport at La Rochelle which is small with a bar and nothing else. The departures lounge is the arrivals area and the waiting area, complete madness but organised.
Taxis in this area were expensive so i found myself using the public transport at night to return to the camp site.
I also visited Ile de Re' which is an island off La Rochelle which you can get to via an impressive bridge. It cost 16euros, £10 to cross to the island but it was definately worth it. The beaches were perfect and clean, the sea was warm and blue, just beautiful. I spent the day here and drove around the whole island. on the coast there are quite a few towns that were relatively busy and in land you can see the most beautiful little villages. Il de Re' is like a minature France.
I Love Ile De Re just across the bridge (and pretty isalnd preserved and catering for bikes.) I have just got back from a week there and its magical. You need a bike and /or car and camping is nicer there although a tad expensive. Most campsites and towns close the gates at either 9 or 10 pm. It's their way. I found the supermarkets cheap, and the markets cheaper, however the euro doesn't get much in France in general. Not like spain where it is really cheap. if you like cider go for bottle or pichets (pitchers) of cidre bouche brut and it's is dead cheap about 7 euros for a bottle. Depends on the beer you drink, blond is cheap export is very expensive. Nice op Jen :o)
baghera_snake 14.04.2004 19:43
I have to say, La Rochelle is really not a city to visit anymore (well, at least for a whole week, it must have been really long). If you have the occasion to come back in France (in the West Coast), in this area, I would advise you to go eather a bit north or a bit south. North you will find the area of Saint Jean de Monts which is really busy, but you will be able to fing lovely beaches around Notre Dame (small typical village). South, you will be in the Charentes Maritimes. Great area to drink Cognac, around Royan (well, just before this city actually), you got also nice areas to visit and discover. Anyway, really good description of La Rochelle. Thanks
mouette 14.10.2003 17:25
I was one of those that love La Rochelle - and think there is more to do and inspire than you show. If you go again, go in July or August and you can camp (not with a car) in the centre of town, 2 minutes walk away from the harbour
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