Advice on travelling through France please

[bridge too far]

We are thinking of booking a holiday in France during May 2014 half term. We've found a place we like a few kilometres south of Poitiers and we're now researching the best way to get there.

 

There will be 11 of us in 3 cars and our party will include two 1 year olds and two 5 year olds.

 

Bearing in mind that we are coming from Buckinghamshire, what would you travel worldly people suggest? We want to travel as cheaply as possible.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received - especially from those of you who live in France. Cheers x

[Window Cleaner]

We are thinking of booking a holiday in France during May 2014 half term. We've found a place we like a few kilometres south of Poitiers and we're now researching the best way to get there.

 

There will be 11 of us in 3 cars and our party will include two 1 year olds and two 5 year olds.

 

Bearing in mind that we are coming from Buckinghamshire, what would you travel worldly people suggest? We want to travel as cheaply as possible.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received - especially from those of you who live in France. Cheers x

 

 

Tunnel obviously, then the RN through Amiens to the northern suburbs of Paris, not a bad road, will save you tons in "peages"

although if you don't want to be bothered at that level the A16 will cost you about 25 euros for each vehicle and put you in the same spot about 90 minutes earlier. Round Paris by the A86(west),you'll just have to be patient though it's always choc a bloc. A10/A11 as far as Chartres and then you have the N10 directly to Poitiers, often dual carriageway. You can mappy it all though,it will tell you how much the peages are etc.

[Give it to Ron]

I had never driven abroad until a few years ago when we went to France - the toll roads are amazing you hardly see another car!

So easy to drive over there.

Its a balance - long ferry - seasick? or Dover- Calais but longer drive - factor in tolls and petrol costs.

[dubai_phil]

Take a Red Warning Triangle with you

 

Long time since I did France but the number of people who told me that every 10 minutes before I went and doh I forgot.

 

Did similar (Samur, Tours, Blois) about 20 years ago & further south about 4 times in last 10

 

Found it so much easier 20 years ago to take the ferry from Skatesmuff & then amble gently (ish) down across country depends what deal you can get in reality. Have done it from St Malo (nice place) Cherbourg & Le Havre but a long long time ago.

 

More recently (Just an idea) I have done driving holidays by getting very early Ryanair/Squeezyjet 1.99 tickets careful packing and buy some stuff locally and getting a deal on a local rental car. It REALLY depends on the flight deals (may not work now with the new taxes) but at HT the ferry costs may be high

 

IF you do this REALLY shop around on the rental deals though Argus, Vroom Vroom Vroom Car Hire 2000 all vary price searches on an hourly basis and are way better than the airline rip off deals

 

Probably WAY out of date for you

[Window Cleaner]

Take a Red Warning Triangle with you

 

Long time since I did France but the number of people who told me that every 10 minutes before I went and doh I forgot.

 

Did similar (Samur, Tours, Blois) about 20 years ago & further south about 4 times in last 10

 

Found it so much easier 20 years ago to take the ferry from Skatesmuff & then amble gently (ish) down across country depends what deal you can get in reality. Have done it from St Malo (nice place) Cherbourg & Le Havre but a long long time ago.

 

More recently (Just an idea) I have done driving holidays by getting very early Ryanair/Squeezyjet 1.99 tickets careful packing and buy some stuff locally and getting a deal on a local rental car. It REALLY depends on the flight deals (may not work now with the new taxes) but at HT the ferry costs may be high

 

IF you do this REALLY shop around on the rental deals though Argus, Vroom Vroom Vroom Car Hire 2000 all vary price searches on an hourly basis and are way better than the airline rip off deals

 

Probably WAY out of date for you

 

big party+ small children =no ambling and no low cost+ hire car because you need a shedload of stuff that hire cars cannot provide and that you can't take with you.. Long ferries= giant cost, the days of the 10£ return ticket financed by the average brit's expenditure on fags and booze are long gone. Tunnel is the way to go,especially with small kids. On the money front Tunnel A/R May 14 = approx 120£, Portsmouth-Le Havre with a car and 4 people, way in excess of 300£ unless there are special offers.

Edited 27 August, 2013 by Window Cleaner

[Spudders]

Tunnel is smooth as well, no rocking about like trains around the uk, you can hardly tell you're moving.

 

Toll roads in France are smooth and in good condition as well.

[bridge too far]

big party+ small children =no ambling and no low cost+ hire car because you need a shedload of stuff that hire cars cannot provide and that you can't take with you.. Long ferries= giant cost, the days of the 10£ return ticket financed by the average brit's expenditure on fags and booze are long gone. Tunnel is the way to go,especially with small kids.

 

Thanks WC - I'm more and more coming round to the idea of the tunnel. Flying definitely a no-no, as you say. Not with babies - they need soooooo much stuff. If it was just Mr TF and me, we'd overnight it on the ferry and pootle down. However, the idea of getting babies to sleep overnight in a cabin is one stage removed from hell

[View From The Top]

We spent 2 weeks South of Poitiers 2 summers ago and this place http://www.lepetitmoulin79.com/ and head over to France most years.

 

If you want speed then you use the toll roads if you don't want the expense then you follow WC's advice.

 

For speed you use the tunnel if you want a longer rest the ferry. We've binned the ferries as the tunnel often works out cheaper and no puking by my kids!

 

If you are going Sat/Sat then get up early, get through that tunnel and around Paris before it gets busy or go the Le Man route. Either way, it feels like a long drive.

Edited 27 August, 2013 by View From The Top

[andysstuff]

If you're going via the tunnel, you can save a few quid by using Tescos vouchers to pay for some or all of the tickets. Like other users sat, driving over there is a doddle. Just beware if boredom from the kids if you're driving through the day. Portable DVD players help!

[buctootim]

Tunnel is good. However LD lines from Newhaven to Dieppe is much cheaper than other lines and you end up further south, so cutting the journey. Travel time is four hours, but actually by the time you've eaten a meal and kids have watched a dvd its over.

 

Am staying at this place right now with son and daughter. The site is perfect for young children and the Dordogne is perfect for adults.

http://www.peneyrals.com/

Edited 27 August, 2013 by buctootim

[bridge too far]

Tunnel is good. However LD lines from Newhaven to Dieppe is much cheaper than other lines and you end up further south, so cutting the journey. Travel time is four hours, but actually by the time you've eaten a meal and kids have watched a dvd its over.

 

Am staying at this place right now with son and daughter. The site is perfect for young children and the Dordogne is perfect for adults.

http://www.peneyrals.com/

 

Thanks Tim - we did look at LD lines but the number of ferries is limited and I think we'd pushed for a very early start with so many children to get ready lol. But we haven't ruled it out.

 

Cheers people for all your replies - extremely helpful x

[Tony F]

Its not just a red triangle you need in France.

 

I recall you need a first aid kit (proper modern one with rubber gloves and mouth-to-mough adapter thingy - not something your mum gave you in 1989) spare headlight bulbs (bit of a joke as often impossible to change them yourself anyway), headlamp beam adjusters should be fitted to the car; plus you must carry a hi vis vest (which you must put on BEFORE you get out of the car on the hard shoulder,so it must be stored near your seat). If the coppers stop you for any reason this is only the start of a list of 1001 things they'll be checking.

 

Check AA website.

[Window Cleaner]

Its not just a red triangle you need in France.

 

I recall you need a first aid kit (proper modern one with rubber gloves and mouth-to-mough adapter thingy - not something your mum gave you in 1989) spare headlight bulbs (bit of a joke as often impossible to change them yourself anyway), headlamp beam adjusters should be fitted to the car; plus you must carry a hi vis vest (which you must put on BEFORE you get out of the car on the hard shoulder,so it must be stored near your seat). If the coppers stop you for any reason this is only the start of a list of 1001 things they'll be checking.

 

Check AA website.

 

 

don't need a first aid kit...I haven't got one. In theory you need an alcohol test but non possession of one isn't punished for the time being. You need a red triangle and a flourescent yellow vest plus the aforementioned alcohol test if you want to be totally

kosher.

[swannymere]

I thought you needed a hi-viz for every person in the car?

[View From The Top]

I thought you needed a hi-viz for every person in the car?

 

Not as far as I'm aware. We just take two and they stay in the glove box.

 

I've a breath tester and 1st aid kit as well, thanks to my anal Doris & Poundland.

[Window Cleaner]

Not as far as I'm aware. We just take two and they stay in the glove box.

 

I've a breath tester and 1st aid kit as well, thanks to my anal Doris & Poundland.

 

no just for one person who's likely to have to get out in case of an emergency. Mine's under the seat, never been used but quite a few ploucs actually drive around with the vest permanently hung on the seat.

 

oh and by the way i wouldn't worry overmuch with the headlights, nobody else does. Truckers don't stick bits of plastic on their headlights when the cross the channel in either sense, neither do I.

Edited 27 August, 2013 by Window Cleaner

[Smirking_Saint]

no just for one person who's likely to have to get out in case of an emergency. Mine's under the seat, never been used but quite a few ploucs actually drive around with the vest permanently hung on the seat.

 

Yeah as far as Im aware over there if you get out of the car without one on they will fine you immediately, i.e dont put it in the boot !!

 

Also to add to the aforementioned ton of crap that you have been told already if they can prove that your Satnav system is warning you about speed cameras they will remove it from the car, whether it is integrated or not

[Window Cleaner]

Yeah as far as Im aware over there if you get out of the car without one on they will fine you immediately, i.e dont put it in the boot !!

 

Also to add to the aforementioned ton of crap that you have been told already if they can prove that your Satnav system is warning you about speed cameras they will remove it from the car, whether it is integrated or not

 

 

As per usual they have to catch you doing it first. It's all a job creation scheme in the provinces, the habitual alcotests are said to lose their efficiency if stored at above 30°C and thet's frequent anywhere south of Dunkirk in the summer. They're obligatory but non-possession isn't sanctioned for the time being. On the vest and the triangle it's 90euros per missing item. On the Satnav, no that's bollix radar early warning devices are in theory illegal but if the device is installed as a driver security aid it's acceptable.

You can find lists of the type of appliance accepted and not accepted but all those integrated originally usually pass muster.

Edited 27 August, 2013 by Window Cleaner

[FloridaMarlin]

I've you've got a SatNav, do you not have to disable the Speed Camera warning?

 

You do in Germany, and I've a feeling you might have to in France.

[Whitey Grandad]

We drive in France a lot, almost always from Portsmouth, with and without a caravan. It all depends how much driving you want to do. Calais to Paris alone is 3 hours (180 miles), what's Buckinghamshire to Dover? Morning ferries from Portsmouth at about 08:00 arrive around 15:00 local and you can be south of the Loire by 19:00. Poitiers is another hour or so further on. Overnight is ok but you won't get much sleep and the cabins are more expensive, ok if there are two drivers. My son is over there at the moment with his 4 kids and he chose Portsmouth-Cherbourg for the fast ferry but it's two hours just to the bottom of the Cotentin at Avranches. Whatever you choose it's a lot of driving but the roads are much emptier than the UK. Don't forget your car equipment:

 

Breathalyser - you must have one unused in the car which normally means a pack of 2 in case you need to use one. You can get these on the ferry, about £5.

Read warning triangle - most cars have these already.

Yellow hi-vis jackets - must be one for each occupant and they must be carried inside the car, not the boot. you must be able to put them on before getting out of the vehicle.

 

Don't ignore the speed limits. 50kph in towns which starts at the place name by the road and ends when the place name is crossed out by a red line. Motorways 110/130kph. The lower limit is for when it's raining which is defined by whether your wipers are moving or not. I have heard rumours that you can be timed between toll booths so be aware. Radar detectors are illegal as are satellite guides that list their locations (this point is debatable but best not to risk it).

[Window Cleaner]

I've you've got a SatNav, do you not have to disable the Speed Camera warning?

 

You do in Germany, and I've a feeling you might have to in France.

 

no it's permitted providing it's not a stand alone radar early warning device, those are illegal.The GPS system has to be corrected (a ptch available from the makers) to signal radars in a zone and not in a specific location, mine shows up radars with about a 1500 metre radius or something like that. Back to the hi viz vests. No Whitey it's 1 per car, I think some unscrupulous purveyor of said vests has taken advantage of your good nature. Obviously if you've got one for everyone so much the better but legally it's one for the driver.

Edited 27 August, 2013 by Window Cleaner

[Whitey Grandad]

I've you've got a SatNav, do you not have to disable the Speed Camera warning?

 

You do in Germany, and I've a feeling you might have to in France.

 

There has been some debate on this. Radar detectors are illegal but you can have a road map that lists the locations of the cameras. Some have argued that a sat-nav is no different from this but I believe that these have now been specifically excluded.

[Wes Tender]

Use this Michelin site to plan the route:-

 

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Routes

 

There will be options to take several routes, depending on whether you want the fastest, shortest, avoid tolls, most scenic, etc. You could also put into it the routes from the various ferry landing destinations in France and that might also influence your choice of ferry or tunnel too. You can also work out fairly accurately where you might be when you need to stop for lunch/tea and also when you ought to arrive at your destination, as they put the probable arrival time at each major town.

 

For others who might use this route guide, the map can be magnified quite considerably and at the press of a button, will show most of the hotels along the route too. Then a click on any of them will bring up their booking details/website. Putting in the travelling dates will also tell you ahead whether they have rooms available. I well remember travelling extensively in Europe pre-internet by car when one just had to arrive early and keep ypur fingers crossed that you could find a hotel with rooms spare for that night. Now the problem is that people plan way ahead and book their rooms long before their journey.

[Window Cleaner]

There has been some debate on this. Radar detectors are illegal but you can have a road map that lists the locations of the cameras. Some have argued that a sat-nav is no different from this but I believe that these have now been specifically excluded.

 

signal zones and not points where there are radars both fixed and mobile. For instance that treacherous one at Blincourt on the road to Amiens from Paris, my GPS shows it up as being somewhere within the town (well it's a field with 2 barns really) but not at it's exact location which is about 20 metres before the town exit sign on a straight line with no houses or anything.

[Whitey Grandad]

no it's permitted providing it's not a stand alone radar early warning device, those are illegal.The GPS system has to be corrected (a ptch available from the makers) to signal radars in a zone and not in a specific location, mine shows up radars with about a 1500 metre radius or something like that. Back to the hi viz vests. No Whitey it's 1 per car, I think some unscrupulous purveyor of said vests has taken advantage of your good nature. Obviously if you've got one for everyone so much the better but legally it's one for the driver.

 

Ah, thanks. I like to carry a complete set for Europe and I know that some countries can vary. In some places you need two triangles. My Mercedes has a built-in satnav and they don't list POIs because in some countries they are not legal.

[buctootim]

I thought you needed a hi-viz for every person in the car?

 

Think that's Spain. You need one for every person who gets out of the car.

[Window Cleaner]

Ah, thanks. I like to carry a complete set for Europe and I know that some countries can vary. In some places you need two triangles. My Mercedes has a built-in satnav and they don't list POIs because in some countries they are not legal.

 

Mercedes have everything that you need apart from the illegal refrigerating gas in the Air Conditioning. I did hear tell that you couldn't register quite a few Mercedes models in France because of the said illegal gas, don't know where they are with that now.

[tony13579]

You don't need the alcohol test kit any more. They don't work unless stored under 30 degrees and it is alleged that sarkosies family make them and it was all a con.

 

Hi vis jackets are needed for all passengers too.

 

Translate any essential phrases via google translation then store them on the notes on your phone. Especially the medical notes of any of your party. Photograph the medical insurance too.

 

I got a cheap eu sat nav from china for about £45.

 

Breakdown cover is more for cars over 11 years old.

 

Take plenty of mains adapters and some uk 4 way extension sockets.

 

Remember to add +44 to phone numbers in place of the first zero if you want to phone or text each other

[Window Cleaner]

You don't need the alcohol test kit any more. They don't work unless stored under 30 degrees and it is alleged that sarkosies family make them and it was all a con.

 

Hi vis jackets are needed for all passengers too.

 

Translate any essential phrases via google translation then store them on the notes on your phone. Especially the medical notes of any of your party. Photograph the medical insurance too.

 

I got a cheap eu sat nav from china for about £45.

 

Breakdown cover is more for cars over 11 years old.

 

Take plenty of mains adapters and some uk 4 way extension sockets.

 

Remember to add +44 to phone numbers in place of the first zero if you want to phone or text each other

 

 

look I don't know why you are all arguing with me over these things, I've lived in France for nigh on 30 years and i know the law.

 

Alcotest are obligatory but their absence is not sanctioned for the time being, it's nothing to do with Sarkozy though it's to do with reliability; Sarkozy is a lawyer, his family are lawyers, they don't make alcotests.

Hi-viz vest 1 is obligatory for the driver, after that it's not obligatory for anyone who doesn't get out of the car in case of breakdown or whatever. You can get out of your car on a quiet country road for a slash and won't get sanctioned if you're not wearing your hi viz vest. It's more on the motorways and main through routes.

Edited 27 August, 2013 by Window Cleaner

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

We are thinking of booking a holiday in France during May 2014 half term. We've found a place we like a few kilometres south of Poitiers and we're now researching the best way to get there.

 

There will be 11 of us in 3 cars and our party will include two 1 year olds and two 5 year olds.

 

Bearing in mind that we are coming from Buckinghamshire, what would you travel worldly people suggest? We want to travel as cheaply as possible.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received - especially from those of you who live in France. Cheers x

 

Portable DVDs for the kids. This summer we did UK to Austria in one go and didn't have any tantrums from the kids. If you get them I'd also suggest headphones as listening to Peppa Pig whilst you're driving isn't fun.

[bridge too far]

Wow - you guys are a mine of information! Thank you all so much. I didn't know about the hi-viz malarky or about the alcohol test kit so I'm really glad I asked the question.

[angelman]

Tunnel isn't the best option IMO, not by a long shot.

 

From Bucks, if you can face getting to Skatesville, they have a decent service to get you out of that **** hole ASAP. Go from there to Caen, or if times are better, Le Havre. I just did the fast boat from there which left at 7am and took 3 hours (somewhat more peaceful than flogging your guts out to get to the Chunnel and then the extra 160 odd miles that you would incur from Calais (plus the extra 30 or so miles getting to Dover from Bucks rather than Calais, which is about 3 hours worth of driving - might as well let the fery take the strain IMO). 7am is not good if you are coming from Bucks, so you could take the slow boat that goes overnight and arrives early in the morning. From Caen it is 3.5 hours by autoroute (via Le Mans and Tours) to get to Poitieres. If ferries work better you can go from Poole as well, and also look at Cherbourg. It's an extra 60 miles of dual carriageway/autoroute from Cherbourg but then the ferry crossing is that much shorter and quicker.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Also it's best to avoid jokes about the roads being lined with trees to allow the German Army to march in the shade.

[Whitey Grandad]

look I don't know why you are all arguing with me over these things, I've lived in France for nigh on 30 years and i know the law.

 

Alcotest are obligatory but their absence is not sanctioned for the time being, it's nothing to do with Sarkozy though it's to do with reliability; Sarkozy is a lawyer, his family are lawyers, they don't make alcotests.

Hi-viz vest 1 is obligatory for the driver, after that it's not obligatory for anyone who doesn't get out of the car in case of breakdown or whatever. You can get out of your car on a quiet country road for a slash and won't get sanctioned if you're not wearing your hi viz vest. It's more on the motorways and main through routes.

 

Who's arguing? And we haven't even mentioned spare bulb kits yet. Hi-viz for all is required in Spain, as are two warning triangles. I like to carry a complete set or Europe. I stopped bothering with my headlamps over twenty years ago. As someone pointed out to me, the continentals don't bother when they come over here and all you get from them are blank looks if you even mention it. My BMWs had headlamp levers to switch and my present car can be set from the dashboard. A useful tip is that if your speedo shows both miles and kilometres then you can use it as a ready-reckoner to convert distances from one to the other.