France by Car

Procrastastudy

Sorry if this has been asked before;

Thinking of heading to France for a couple of weeks with the car and a tent and driving around the wine areas and south coast. We're expecting to cover about 2,000km and wondered if anyone had any advice on where to go / avoid? We where maybe thinking of starting off in Calais heading toward Marseille via Geneva and back up though Bordeaux etc. What are the parks like down in the south?

Any advice to the effect we're bonkers trying to do that in two weeks is appreciated

On some other notes - driving in France;

Breathalyser, vest, triangle thingy - do we need anything else?
Cheeky I know; but would we get away with me doing some of the driving on my learners permit?

zagmund

Bonkers.

In my opinion.

Driving is fun, but unless you really like driving you probably don't want to spend your holidays doing it. Drive a bit, lay up for a few days, drive a bit, lay up for a few days, etc . . .

z

Berty

Have done this many years to France but never a big round trip. Fuel is expensive in france even by our standards.

I always go down the South West, as far as La Rochelle really. That is where the popular places are for Irish, British and French.

Try the Royan/Les Mathes region or a little north by Les Sables. Numerous camping companies are around there so you can find information about the parks.

My most recent trip, which I won't be doing again for tiredness reasons, was Limerick-Dublin-Holyhead-Folkestone(Train)-Calais-La Palymre and back in more or less the same direction except I came back through Pembroke.

Brittany Ferries from Cork or Irish Ferries from Rosslare definately the next for me.

gandalf

Currently staying near Saint Emilion at the moment. We took our time coming down. Stayed a couple of nights with relatives in Caen and then came down via Nantes (stayed in a B&B) via Mirambeau (in a luxury hotel for a couple of nights) and then down to the Gite here via Bordeaux. Fuel prices here are cheaper than in Ireland around 1.55 per litre compared to the 1.65 just outside Rosslare. Driving on the French roads is fine once you remember to move out of the overtaking lane when faster cars are behind you.

France is a great country to drive around especially when you have your own car rather than a hire car. Plan out what you want to do, see and where you want to stay.

Marcusm

Calais to Marseilles via Geneva would not be a direct route; do you want to go to Geneva? Calais then Reims, Lyon, Aix en Provence before Marseilles then return via Millau viaduct and Bordeaux then Angers would get you Champagne, Burgundy, Cote du Rhone, Languedoc Rousillon, Bordeaux and Loire valley if you're that interested in wine. Minimum 1 month trip, I would think.

Procrastastudy

We can avoid going to Geneva. It's just we want to go the South of France and not come back up the way we went. We'd like one or two wine stops but there doesn't need to be that many. We can also stretch the trip to 17 days. We're thinking a max of 3 days stopped in Marseille - one or two nights anywhere else.

EDIT: Does anyone know if its possible to get insurance for this - We have 3rd party but wanted fully comp and the insurance don't sell any sort of upgrade. First time I've ever heard of an insurance company turning down more money.

EDIT: I know it was a cheeky question to begin with but do you think I might get away with doing some of the driving on a provisional. Will the French police look for a licence off an Irish Driver if I 'forget' to bring it? It's our own car on Irish plates.

schemingbohemia

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

We can avoid going to Geneva. It's just we want to go the South of France and not come back up the way we went. We'd like one or two wine stops but there doesn't need to be that many. We can also stretch the trip to 17 days. We're thinking a max of 3 days stopped in Marseille - one or two nights anywhere else.

EDIT: Does anyone know if its possible to get insurance for this - We have 3rd party but wanted fully comp and the insurance don't sell any sort of upgrade. First time I've ever heard of an insurance company turning down more money.

EDIT: I know it was a cheeky question to begin with but do you think I might get away with doing some of the driving on a provisional. Will the French police look for a licence off an Irish Driver if I 'forget' to bring it? It's our own car on Irish plates.

You post regularly on the legal forum thread, how would you answer this question if it was posted there? The French police don't take any rubbish so no, you won't get away with forgetting your licence.

It seems fairly idiotic to me to go on a huge long driving holiday with only 1 driver, it's unfair on them and dangerous. You'll need to take breaks every 3 or 4 hours and given the amount of driving you're proposing you really should just concentrate on heading down the west coast towards bordeaux/sainte emilion and you know relaxing and enjoying yourselves instead of driving non-stop everywhere.

Procrastastudy

Thanks for your input. I would answer it based on my knowledge of local laws. My knowledge of French Law and how the local police operate is zero.

We're only planning on 3 hours or so per day and have done driving holidays before in Canada and Scotland so know our limits. That said we knew the roads in a bit better. While it may seen unfair on the driver she gets me back when I end up helming for 6 hours sailing. It may seem 'idiotic' to you but we enjoy being on the move. That said looks like we might take you advice and head down the west coast and see how far we get before we need to head back.

Any suggestions for this area and the south west?

hdowney

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Sorry if this has been asked before;

Thinking of heading to France for a couple of weeks with the car and a tent and driving around the wine areas and south coast. We're expecting to cover about 2,000km and wondered if anyone had any advice on where to go / avoid? We where maybe thinking of starting off in Calais heading toward Marseille via Geneva and back up though Bordeaux etc. What are the parks like down in the south?

Any advice to the effect we're bonkers trying to do that in two weeks is appreciated

On some other notes - driving in France;

Breathalyser, vest, triangle thingy - do we need anything else?
Cheeky I know; but would we get away with me doing some of the driving on my learners permit?

Yea it seems a lot of driving for 2 weeks to be honest, especially if it turns out only the one of you can drive. Next year we are going all over - France, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy and Switzerland then back through France to get home. We are going to take two months to do it. But we may yet condence it down if it feels too much on the two of us.

Also what the heck do you mean by breathalyser??

Procrastastudy

hdowney wrote: »

Also what the heck do you mean by breathalyser??

You are required to carry one in your car in France I believe. :eek:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9095573/Motorists-will-have-to-carry-portable-breathalyser-in-France.html

hdowney

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

You are required to carry one in your car in France I believe. :eek:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9095573/Motorists-will-have-to-carry-portable-breathalyser-in-France.html

ah crap

Procrastastudy

They're only €3 or something.

650Ginge

Driving with no license or insurance in France we result in jail time. If you injure someone in an accident to time can be lengthy.

Google French jails, make mount joy seem tame. Really not worth it.

hdowney

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

They're only €3 or something.

yea that's not too bad. it is more that;s ANOTHER thing i gotta remember!

Procrastastudy

On insurance we have 3rd party - does anyone know of any companies that offer fully comp for full licence holders travelling to France?

Also maybe road side assistance.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Barnacle123

We've done a good bit of driving in France, but we cheat and fly there, hiring a left hand drive car which makes the driving much easier and safer!

Anyway, you could head south along the West coast as recommended by earlier posters and then from Biarritz towards Perpignan, taking in the Languedoc region, then onto Montpellier and north to Lyon, taking in the Rhone area, and then cut across to the Ferry. Alot to do in two weeks, but managable if you drive every two days or so.

Best of luck!:)

Sky King

Did the south west coast with a van and a tent, went to beautiful Blaye in the Bordeaux wine reigion, also La Rochelle among some other places, Celtic Link ferries from Rosslare - I wish I was going again now

I had such a lovely time!

Plan your route carefully, don't "play it by ear" because if you do, you'll spend a lot more time driving than seeing the sights.

Municipal campsites are the cheapest - looking at about a fiver a night and the facilities are basic but usually clean and functional. The one in Blaye is in the middle of a giant fort - it's unreal!

make sure you have all your camping gear for the comfort you need!

Bicycle

To get to Calais, you are going to have to drive via the UK (minimum 24 hours). Petrol Prices are pretty high there - basically the same in STG as in Euros. i.e. if it costs €80 to fill your tank here then it will cost £80 to fill your tank in the UK.

Take a look at the routefinder on the AA website and look at www.viamichelin.com

I understand that you want to drive down to the South but its a LOT of driving. Also remember that you will need some form of motorway permit to drive in Switzerland. And there are tolls on many of the roads (viamichelin will give you details of same).

The Loire Valley has some fabulous wines and shouldn't be written off. Its also a lovely area in terms of scenery.

Also perhaps consider a trip to the Hennessy Distillery in Cognac if you were coming back up the West Coast. Definately worth a visit.

For what its worth, my suggestions would be in this:

Drive through the UK. Dover-Calais (or Folkestone-Frethun if you'd like to take the train which is fun!!). There is an excellent Carrefour in Cite Europe in Calais and this is where you will get a lot of French wine that is good value.

Drive down to Epernay. Do the Mercier Champagne house tour (a train through the cellars - great fun). The Champagne region is fascinating. Particularly if you bear in mind that all the champagne in the world is coming from this little spot.

Then head down towards Alsace. Some more wines there.

Cut off across the Massif Central. Head over to Millau. Drive the bridge there (The World's highest bridge - great fun. Visit the visitor's centre). Then over towards Carcassonne. You are now in the Corbieres region and will be on the West Coast.

Heading north you are going towards the Dordogne, Bordeaux and Armagnac regions. Do a bit of googling and you should find a couple of houses to visit. Then above that the Cognac Region. Visit Hennessy - it involves a river trip to the warehouses - the smell is DIVINE!!

Then head towards the Loire Region. A lot of small houses. Some interesting wines. The town of Chinon is lovely.

At that stage you could either head back towards Normandy - visit one of the Calvados producers and some of the cider producers (there is a cider trail) then back to the UK via Caen and Portsmouth. And back home.

Or else head back via Calais.

There will be a lot of driving and your petrol or diesel bill will go through the roof but in terms of a booze tour, it will cover a number of areas.

In addition to the brethalyzer you must also have reflective jackets, a triangle and a fire extinguisher. Also there is a samaritan law in effect whereby you must stop at the scene of an accident and offer help if you can (within reason, don't do something you are not trained in).

The Blood-Alcohol Level in France is similar to the current one in Ireland and there are lots of gendarmes about!!

hdowney

Bicycle wrote: »

To get to Calais, you are going to have to drive via the UK (minimum 24 hours). Petrol Prices are pretty high there - basically the same in STG as in Euros. i.e. if it costs €80 to fill your tank here then it will cost £80 to fill your tank in the UK.

Take a look at the routefinder on the AA website and look at www.viamichelin.com

I understand that you want to drive down to the South but its a LOT of driving. Also remember that you will need some form of motorway permit to drive in Switzerland. And there are tolls on many of the roads (viamichelin will give you details of same).

The Loire Valley has some fabulous wines and shouldn't be written off. Its also a lovely area in terms of scenery.

Also perhaps consider a trip to the Hennessy Distillery in Cognac if you were coming back up the West Coast. Definately worth a visit.

For what its worth, my suggestions would be in this:

Drive through the UK. Dover-Calais (or Folkestone-Frethun if you'd like to take the train which is fun!!). There is an excellent Carrefour in Cite Europe in Calais and this is where you will get a lot of French wine that is good value.

Drive down to Epernay. Do the Mercier Champagne house tour (a train through the cellars - great fun). The Champagne region is fascinating. Particularly if you bear in mind that all the champagne in the world is coming from this little spot.

Then head down towards Alsace. Some more wines there.

Cut off across the Massif Central. Head over to Millau. Drive the bridge there (The World's highest bridge - great fun. Visit the visitor's centre). Then over towards Carcassonne. You are now in the Corbieres region and will be on the West Coast.

Heading north you are going towards the Dordogne, Bordeaux and Armagnac regions. Do a bit of googling and you should find a couple of houses to visit. Then above that the Cognac Region. Visit Hennessy - it involves a river trip to the warehouses - the smell is DIVINE!!

Then head towards the Loire Region. A lot of small houses. Some interesting wines. The town of Chinon is lovely.

At that stage you could either head back towards Normandy - visit one of the Calvados producers and some of the cider producers (there is a cider trail) then back to the UK via Caen and Portsmouth. And back home.

Or else head back via Calais.

There will be a lot of driving and your petrol or diesel bill will go through the roof but in terms of a booze tour, it will cover a number of areas.

In addition to the brethalyzer you must also have reflective jackets, a triangle and a fire extinguisher. Also there is a samaritan law in effect whereby you must stop at the scene of an accident and offer help if you can (within reason, don't do something you are not trained in).

The Blood-Alcohol Level in France is similar to the current one in Ireland and there are lots of gendarmes about!!

I forgot Cognac thanks for the reminder. Well going there. Fire extinguisher (nother thing to remember!!!) GAH :eek:

Would you not get the ferry from Rosslare? Rather than going through the UK which necessitates more driving and a currency exchange?

Procrastastudy

We're only (possibly) going though the UK because of our respective parents living there.

Any reason to go to Roscof over Cherbourg or vise versa?

Bicycle

If you can get the ferry to Cherbourg or Roscoff do, but it is more expensive than going via the UK. However you have less driving.

Cherbourg will give you access to Normandy. You could drive from Cherbourg to Paris via the Loire Valley then across to Champagne and follow the rest of the route I've suggested.

Work out your budget.

hdowney

Roscoff is dearer than Cherbourg with Irish Ferries anywho. I think we are going into Cherbourg. Not 100% yet if we are going to come back the same way or go Roscoff-Rosslare home

Procrastastudy

Incidentally we use the tesco club card points for the ferries - very nice savings!

hdowney

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Incidentally we use the tesco club card points for the ferries - very nice savings!

i just realised today that irish ferries was one of the places you could use the clubcard points on. shame we barely get any anymore as we just don't shop much in there lest we have to. i think we had €5 on our last mailing. and there'd be like 4 mailings between now and when we would be going so assuming a €5 amount on each mailing that is only €20 so whatever that converts to in sailing amount.

handy though if you get decent vouchers from tesco

roundymac

You are also supposed to carry spare bulbs, roadside assistance, AA 5 Star insurence or similer is a must, that will cover you if your car packs up, if it can't be repaired locally they will give you a hire car for the remainder of your trip and repatriate your own car to your own nominated garage. Had to avail of it once, timing belt went third day of the trip. Also get your car serviced about a month before you go, get your garage to check your tyres as well tell them what your doing, motorway tempetures in france get pretty high, any fault in your tyres could cause a high speed blowout.

danwill

just wondering if anyone on this thread has been camping in royan? i'm looking at camping clarefontaine? we're going in september, driving, bringing own tent, 2 kids under 3....just want a family friendly campsite with nearby beaches, cycling opportunities, nice walks, cafes, etc.... can anyone recommend campsites south of la rochelle?
thanks

Procrastastudy

In our experience they were all good - you get what you pay for obviously and they have a star rating like a hotel. You can also check trip advisor but really we didn't have any issues. The dodgy ones looked really dodgy and we just avoided them.

curiousb

danwill wrote: »

just wondering if anyone on this thread has been camping in royan? i'm looking at camping clarefontaine? we're going in september, driving, bringing own tent, 2 kids under 3....just want a family friendly campsite with nearby beaches, cycling opportunities, nice walks, cafes, etc.... can anyone recommend campsites south of la rochelle?
thanks

We stayed in a house in Pontaillac, which is a mile or two north of Royan and is a beautiful place. Lovely beach and loads of restaurants within walking distance. THere was a campsite behind the house we stayed in, which looked very good.

EDIT: Just checked it out on Google Maps and it is actually Clarefontaine I was talking about!

THere's also a great cycle lane from Royan up North through some other lovely areas.

So well recommended, but weather in Sept could be iffy...