It's been a comfortable night at Premier Inn and so it should be. They pride themselves on their Silentnight mattresses. So, today the grand international adventure begins with a ferry boarding for the 11.00 a departure for Le Havre. For breakfast there is plenty of food in the larder, but then we don't get a great start with having to retrieve the car and with so much kit to pack. Now the day becomes hard to plan for, without using onboard catering during the six-hour voyage across the English Channel. Ideally we need some provisions but we press on to the ferry port where everything seems to go smoothly including passing security. Yet after boarding there is a delay of some 45 minutes for final checkouts. I'm still regretting we didn't shop as it's hard to pay the onboard food prices.
Finally underway, we settle down to a rather boring journey but we do get an internet connection. As we approach Le Havre, there are a number of hoops to jump through in quick succession.
First I get a text confirming the start of 28 day free roaming. I can soon switch on the GPS. Then on embarkation, there is French Immigration which I thought might delay things with Katoon travelling on a Thai passport, but here there are no questions just a fingerprint required. Next of course, is my introduction to right-hand driving and even that goes smoothly and we locate Hôtel Première Classe within 15 minutes. It's now all down to the accommodation.
Regrettably at Hôtel Première Classe, the lack of forward planning reveals itself. The accommodation is budget and it shows. It seems good value but there are add-ons; car parking, tourist tax and nothing complimentary. Coffee and food vending are in reception. It's too late to do any shopping so muddling though tonight will have to do. Today has been sunny around 30 Celsius. As I close my notes I'm hoping the lack of air conditioning isn't too irritating. Thankfully, there are just 2 hours driving tomorrow so we can get better organised.

Source: Visit