... to Dijon/Bourgogne region, stay overnight, then the next day do Dijon-Calais for a Sunday 7pm-ish ferry. Sound OK, any thoughts?
Watch out for that first roundabout :)
Both real map and sat nav. Use your sat nav in the cities and the real map everywhere else as you will have a navigator. You might need the sat nav to find the Novotel in Troyes as its a bugger to find. It's on the edge of a small airfield well out of town. It's quite nice though once you find it :)
Paris - avoid in the car.
Sat Nav - TomTom One Europe is good value and easy to use.Seem to go fro £140 ish - quite pricey, but perhaps is a good 'investment'.
I've booked the P&O ferry...I bet Norfolk Line would have been cheaper, and they are very efficient at the embarkation/disembarkation thing.
I think you're right - if I'd have booked 5 months ago... When I checked them all recently NL was about the same price as P&O for our dates. Live & learn I suppose, next time we'll be able to book much earlier and get cheap deals.I've booked the P&O ferry...I bet Norfolk Line would have been cheaper, and they are very efficient at the embarkation/disembarkation thing.
I wouldn't venture into a large city on the Continent without satnav. We went unintentionally into Brussels a couple of years ago after taking one wrong turn (Continental road signing is rubbish compared with British), and were spat out about an hour later on the same side we'd gone in!I'm coming around to the idea that we'll probably give Paris a wide berth.
Paris - avoid in the car.
I suppose the parking is pretty dire. Many yrs ago, when I lived in London, I went to Paris with friends by car and it wasn't too bad - even went around the Arc de T; but then I wasn't driving...
Thanks.Paris - avoid in the car.
I suppose the parking is pretty dire. Many yrs ago, when I lived in London, I went to Paris with friends by car and it wasn't too bad - even went around the Arc de T; but then I wasn't driving...QuoteSat Nav - TomTom One Europe is good value and easy to use.Seem to go fro £140 ish - quite pricey, but perhaps is a good 'investment'.
My tip is to use Eurotunnel instead (but we shop with Tesco so it's "free" with clubcard vouchers).Thanks. Perhaps we should start using the Tesco credit card to boost our available tokens. ;)
Eurotunnel deposits you right on a lovely Autoroute out of town. The whole thing has been very slick for me in the past.
Euro Map SatNav was great last year. Road signs are fine on Autoroutes but, until you get used to it, their "A & B" roads can get messy (they can have 2 numbering schemes overlayed on same stretch of road).
Also the Michelin Maps, for me, have way too much information on them for clarity (I really don't need them to label the distances between every village, that's what the map scale is for)
Satnav every time now (whilst keeping an eye on the signs, for the occasional dubious Satnav decision, of course)
Sometimes yiou can get a refurbed one. I have a "one" at home, but can remember if it's got european mapping on it. I'll check and if it has I can loan it to you.
& comparable to the ferry. Quicker too I guess.
Sometimes yiou can get a refurbed one. I have a "one" at home, but can remember if it's got european mapping on it. I'll check and if it has I can loan it to you.
OK cheers raf.
QuoteSat Nav - TomTom One Europe is good value and easy to use.Seem to go fro £140 ish - quite pricey, but perhaps is a good 'investment'.
...spot a local (i.e. Southend based) coach and follow it out of Paris ;D
Sometimes yiou can get a refurbed one. I have a "one" at home, but can remember if it's got european mapping on it. I'll check and if it has I can loan it to you.
OK cheers raf.
You're in luck, it does have the European mapping on it (though not updated for a couple of years, not that that means a great deal) so you're welcome to borrow it. Comes with windscreen sucker and ciggie lighter (sorry, accessory socket) power lead. One tip - NEVER leave the sucker on the screen when you leave the car parked up, and preferably make sure yiou use a duster to remove the tell tale circular marks from the screen too - scrotes look for these tell-tales and break in anyway just on spec! Let me have your address and I'll get it off to you so you can have a play before using it in anger.
Euro Map SatNav was great last year. Road signs are fine on Autoroutes but, until you get used to it, their "A & B" roads can get messy (they can have 2 numbering schemes overlayed on same stretch of road).Only time I've seen the 2 numbering schemes overlaid is on mainland EU equivalent of Motorways and A roads. The "E" routes can be handy. Some places tend to list both, others list one or the other. UK has the "E" routes allocated as well, but just chooses not to use them.
If two or more of you share the driving you can cover about 500 miles a day with no fuss. DVD players and Nintendo DSs keep small people so happy you'll forget they are in the car and they have a really nice time!
What do people think about going via Paris to take in the Eiffel tower (mini request) on the way back to Calais?
Paris - avoid in the car.
Sat Nav - TomTom One Europe is good value and easy to use.
Thanks all.yup that's right
On here autoroutes.fr ASFA (http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.php?id=583) (official site?) if you put in e.g. calais - chamonix, it shows toll tickets followed by toll payments points. So I'm guessing this means one takes a ticket and then presents it at the next booth?
I read somewhere that the machines have difficulty with UK credit cards - anyone had this?I had no problems
Some A roads are 110kph others 130kph...Generally, it's 130 in the sun and 110 in the rain.
If you have been tanking it down a nice empty motorway and speeding then consider planning your rest stop before the next toll booths rather than after as occasionally the police like to look at the time you went through the last toll booth (its on the ticket) and the time you have arrived at this one and if they can compute an average speed higher than 130kmh then you are nicked.
...Do make sure you take the kids on the Summer Luge. :)
... Sensors on the machine clocked the bikes on the roof, thought we were a truck and spat the ticket out of the lorry driver slot! This happened a few times, the passenger just opened their door, stood on the door sill and grabbed the ticket. It's all part of the fun ;D...
... Sensors on the machine clocked the bikes on the roof, thought we were a truck and spat the ticket out of the lorry driver slot! This happened a few times, the passenger just opened their door, stood on the door sill and grabbed the ticket. It's all part of the fun ;D...
Did they charge you for Lorry or Car though? (is there a difference?)
Hope you enjoy Chamonix. Do make sure you take the kids on the Summer Luge. :)
Hope you enjoy Chamonix. Do make sure you take the kids on the Summer Luge. :)
Oh yes, great fun - but do remember that "Freinez!" is French for "Brake!" not "Duck!" - unlike my mate Ben when we were there many years ago. The braking mechanism is operated by pulling back on the lever. Pushing forward, as you do when you duck, just makes you go faster...
On the positive side, Ben learnt several new French curse words from the person on the luge in front of him.
Annecy is also well worth a visit while you're in the area - in fact, Annecy-Chamonix is an outstandingly beautiful cycling route (including the Col de la Croix Fry - a challenge but not one of the tougher Alpine passes - not to be confused with the evil Croix de Fer).
Apart from that, I second the recommendation for the toll-roads. They all have perfect surfaces and are well worth a few extra quid.
I know it's too late this time, but I would definitely recommend the tunnel next time. It's not just the crossing itself where you save time (30 minutes compared to over an hour [IIRC] on the ferry) but there are trains every 15 minutes, which means turnover is much higher, you can check in later, queues are fewer and shorter, boarding and disembarkation are much quicker (not least because unlike the ferry you stay in your vehicle once you have boarded) and the whole experience is generally much more pleasant. Having used the tunnel a few times, I don't think I could ever go back to the ferry - the only thing I miss about the ferry is standing on the deck and feeling the sea spray on my face.
Yes, the tunnel occasionally closes due to fires and whatnot, but the ferry also occasionally closes due to French farmers and whatnot.
d.
We're hoping to do the Mont Blanc tunnel for a day jaunt into Italy.
We're hoping to do the Mont Blanc tunnel for a day jaunt into Italy.
We prefer the ferry as it gives a sensible break in the journey and a time to rest (or wake up ;D) before starting the European leg of the trip.We're hoping to do the Mont Blanc tunnel for a day jaunt into Italy.
From memory there's a warehouse style booze store just over the border in Courmayeur. A lot cheaper than the rest of the shops in that village. We normally stock up there.
I suppose the ferry is part of a first big boat experience for the minis really. We're hoping to do the Mont Blanc tunnel for a day jaunt into Italy.
I wonder what a round trip, around Mont Blanc via Grand Saint Bernhard pass/Matigny would be like?
I wonder what a round trip, around Mont Blanc via Grand Saint Bernhard pass/Matigny would be like?
I think I've done that :)
Quite pleasant.
And although you pop through Switzerland for that you don't need a vignette :)
And although you pop through Switzerland for that you don't need a vignette :)
Huh? Olive oil mixed with white wine vinegar?
the only thing I miss about the ferry is standing on the deck and feeling the sea spray on my face.
I wonder what a round trip, around Mont Blanc via Grand Saint Bernhard pass/Matigny would be like?
And although you pop through Switzerland for that you don't need a vignette :)
Huh? Olive oil mixed with white wine vinegar?
And although you pop through Switzerland for that you don't need a vignette :)
And although you pop through Switzerland for that you don't need a vignette :)
Nutty, I was looking at the swiss m'way pass thread. How is that one avoids the vignette/vinegarette/vinaigrette/vienetta* in this case?
*del as appropr.
At the border when they check your passport (don't forget to take them ;)) they ask where you're going, so just tell them Italy.I *believe* Switzerland is Schengen now (also Liechtenstein later this year), so probably no border check, but still advise taking passports anyway.
... One other point on SatNav on mainland Europe - if travelling in France or Switzerland, make sure there's no Speed Camera POIs installed, unless you want a fine and the device confiscated.
... One other point on SatNav on mainland Europe - if travelling in France or Switzerland, make sure there's no Speed Camera POIs installed, unless you want a fine and the device confiscated.
Was just wondering if this is ever acted on at all by the authorities, because presumably all UK sold Sat Nav systems have camera locations installed in the software?
Whether the Swiss police will actually check your GPS probably depends on how petty or bored they are
Speed camera POIs are also illegal in France.
Would be a bit daft having such things in your SatNav when there's no reciprocal agreement with UK to forward speeding tickets, but then getting an on the spot fine ;)
Of course, I'm sure nobody here would speed anyway :)
Get the locations of speed cameras, be aware of what awaits you! ... This clever service that allows you to receive the locations of speed cameras, including those reported by other users, helps you stay relaxed, adopt safer driving and pay less for tickets.
...You can use your subscription TomTom ['Safety cameras'] in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden and United Kingdom.
PRE-INSTALLED SAFETY
CAMERA LOCATIONS
Your device comes with fixed safety camera alerts pre-installed...
Nutty, when you say 'caught' - where you issued with fines?
Thanks for the info kathy. Camping sounds a good option. This time on way back we have a place in Troyes booked and I'm hoping to leave the roofbox behind, so camping gear might be a step too far for us - maybe next year. OOI how much was it?
I ordered the Lonely Planet phrase book seems quite good - have to see how much O-level french I can dredge up...
I was looking at a Michelin route map...can somone explain the relationship between the E and A routes. Some E routes just change number between towns almost at random.
PS Nutty, that gif is a bit disturbing... ;)
I was looking at a Michelin route map...can somone explain the relationship between the E and A routes. Some E routes just change number between towns almost at random.
PS Nutty, that gif is a bit disturbing... ;)
E routes are Euro Routes rather than national ones. The idea being that a road can have the same number as it traverses a border. So a road can be the A something and the E something as well. I think some of the UK motorways have E numbers but we never actually use them or put them on signs.
The Lonely Planet Cycling France book is *very useful*, as it has a glossary at the back with translations of useful phrases like "gear shifter", "brake cable", "flat tyre" and "wheel sucker". :)
Speed camera POIs are also illegal in France.
Would be a bit daft having such things in your SatNav when there's no reciprocal agreement with UK to forward speeding tickets, but then getting an on the spot fine ;)
Of course, I'm sure nobody here would speed anyway :)
andym are you sure it's not systems that actually detect speed camera in real time that are illegal? AFAIA all Sat Nav's display speed camera POIs(?), but presumably there is the option to turn them off in the preferences settings...
I need to get a French plug adapter. Are battery chargers etc compatible with Euro voltages?
Another random question - do people generally drink tap water in France?
I need to get a French plug adapter. Are battery chargers etc compatible with Euro voltages?
Another random question - do people generally drink tap water in France?
I need to get a French plug adapter. Are battery chargers etc compatible with Euro voltages?
Another random question - do people generally drink tap water in France?
I need to get a French plug adapter. Are battery chargers etc compatible with Euro voltages?
Another random question - do people generally drink tap water in France?
Rabies is rife on the continent - check for foaming at the mouth before patting any dogs or horses, etc. Also, if you are going as far south as the Dordogne, you'll need a course of antimalarial prophylactics - your doctor might also recommend jabs for hepititis-B and yellow fever.
Don't bother taking anything mains powered - although the voltage is nominally the same as the UK, it so poorly regulated it can easily destroy delicate electronics, and besides there are powercuts for most of the day outside the major conurbations.
As well as avoiding tap water, don't take ice in drinks or eat salads.
I need to get a French plug adapter. Are battery chargers etc compatible with Euro voltages?
Another random question - do people generally drink tap water in France?
French water has been safe for decades. I used to fill my bottles from the fountains that were marked "eau non potabile" that you found in town squares :)
sorry yes I was joking - as I thought andyoxon was when he asked if it was safe to drink the water!
I need to get a French plug adapter. Are battery chargers etc compatible with Euro voltages?
Another random question - do people generally drink tap water in France?
I always have unless there is a sign telling you not too. Its perfectly safe although Nutty will probably tell you different :)
I never found a fountain marked "non potabile"
I never found a fountain marked "non potabile"
... that would be very near the Italian border I guess ; -)
As a fairly recent development in France, over the last few years, the great majority of fountains are now marked 'Non Potable' (not drinkable) or sometimes 'Non Conseillee' (not recommended) but AFAIK that doesn't mean the water has suddenly become less safe, its just the risk-averse society kicking in.
That's true. Some people get a funny tummy of they drink water in different parts of the UK to where they live. Unless you stick to the same brand of bottled water every time though surely you run into the same problem.
Just got back from trip to Brittany and want to add a couple of things to this thread...
First, my already high opinion of crossing via Le Tunnel has only been heightened. Since the last time I went over, they have introduced automatic check-in - you just drive up to the barrier, they scan your numberplate and a message comes up on the screen, viz "Hello Mr Smutchin!" (or words to that effect) while your boarding pass is spat out of a slot.
Furthermore, if you turn up early and there are spaces on the earlier trains, a choice of trains comes up on the touch screen - you just tap the one you want to travel on. So today we rolled up two hours ahead of our allotted slot and as there was a train just about to start boarding with spaces on, we drove straight through and onto our train with just a few minutes of waiting. Could not be easier.
Petrol is bloomin' expensive in France at the moment though.
d.
Brill system - until it breaks down - then they run empty trains whilst everybody queues at the check-in untill they bring in enough operators to revert to manual system
Think you need to order some box/rfid transponder thingy for the telepeage.
Last 2 years or so they've had my boarding pass etc. ready by the time i've put the handbrake on, and just need passport.
You need a French billing address