france- 1st timers !

[cjdiamond]

We are off to Normandy next weekend and as this is our first time we are a little aprehensive about the journey from Calais to Honfleur.

Would you avoid toll roads ?

Any tips and advice would be gratefully received

 

[ValA.]

For such a short journey, no. I'd pay the toll and get to my destination. It's different if you've been to France before, and want to meander - without having a destination in mind. If it's your first time, then I'd get to site (hang the tolls) and establish myself on pitch - then find out whether you would prefer to go back on the toll free route.

Have a great holiday! Hope you enjoy France as much as we do.

 

[RayS]

Valerie has got it exactly right. When you get to a toll booth take your time. Your passenger can either take the ticket or pay the toll (depending whether you are entering or leaving the toll section). Look for the overhead sign of a man with a cap with his arm out - those with CB are for bank cards and those with orange symbols for electronic tags. As a general rule, the manual boots will be towards the right hand side as you approach.

A display- usually under the booth window will show the toll charged - a trailer van will usually be Classe 2. If you are entering and have to take a ticket, make sure not to loose it or you will have some trouble when you try to leave the peage (toll) section.

If you have Michelin maps - recommended - then the distances on the autoroute are shown in blue for toll free and red for toll sections.

Fuel on the autoroutes is more expensive than at supermarkets (as it is here) but not that much that I would worry about it for your first trip - fill up at a supermarket before you leave the site for the return. Most supermarket filling stations are not caravan friendly, with a pay kiosk beyond the pumps, often with narrow exit. Autoroute filling stations are like ours ( only better food).

Have a good trip which I'm sure will be the first of many.

 

[BarryP_5039912]

Hi

Good advice all round,toll roads are much quieter and in great condition for towing. At the toll stations just watch out for the ticket coming out at high level because the sensors sometimes thinks your a lorry cause of the height of the caravan.You will very much enjoy your first visit to France and it is much less daunting than you think. Have a great time and just watch leaving camp sites, petrol station and super markets as that is when you turn out and drive on the left,easily done!

Barry

 

[Moley1]

Hi Craig

You will find that the journey to Dover is more stressful than the journey from Calais to Normandy! The roads are so clear compared to the UK. Normandy was our first trip and found it easy. We are back there in August. I would agree with the others. Take the toll roads. One word of warning though. Make sure that you fill up whenever possible. There is a huge gap between services later in the drive. Also if you are travelling on a Sunday, fuel stations in towns are often shut.

Have a good holiday.

Cheers

Dave

 

[MrsMothy]

Hi All

We were first timers in France on the 4th of July. The trip to Portsmouth for the overnight ferry to St Malo was much more stressful than the two days down through France. There are hardly any trucks on French roads and 'house bricks' on wheels as our towing course instructor refered to them seemed to be nonexistent (are lanes on French moterways wider?). We didn't get bounced by overtaking vehicles being too close at all. We stayed on a Castels site for a couple of weeks in the Pyranees but used commercials booked through the caravan club for nights near La Rochelle on the way there and back. Our last night in France was on a municipal in St Malo. We used toll roads, non toll motorways, red roads, brown roads and yellow and white ones as well. We shared the driving between the two of us and each have a smattering of French from way back in grammar school days (enrolled for a French course starting on 17 Sept as we are keen to go to France again next year). We found French people terrifically helpful. Most speak more English than the English speak French. The peple in the toll booths on motor ways were very polite and patient and everywhere was service with a smile. The campsites were clean, and tidy, even the big commercials which is more than can be said for the site we stayed on before the 250 mile drive back home from Portsmouth. The main thing we noticed though was the absence of phantom cones that pounce into the road every few miles complete with reduced speed limit, and all the roads we used had proper surfaces. We should have gone to France three years ago when we got our very first caravan! Have a great time Craig!

Regards Denise

 

[ValA.]

Great to hear you had such a good time, Denise - the Pyrenees is a very ambitious trip for your first time!

It's good to hear that someone new to caravanning in France loves it as much as us 'old-timers'.

 

[cjdiamond]

Hi All

We were first timers in France on the 4th of July. The trip to Portsmouth for the overnight ferry to St Malo was much more stressful than the two days down through France. There are hardly any trucks on French roads and 'house bricks' on wheels as our towing course instructor refered to them seemed to be nonexistent (are lanes on French moterways wider?). We didn't get bounced by overtaking vehicles being too close at all. We stayed on a Castels site for a couple of weeks in the Pyranees but used commercials booked through the caravan club for nights near La Rochelle on the way there and back. Our last night in France was on a municipal in St Malo. We used toll roads, non toll motorways, red roads, brown roads and yellow and white ones as well. We shared the driving between the two of us and each have a smattering of French from way back in grammar school days (enrolled for a French course starting on 17 Sept as we are keen to go to France again next year). We found French people terrifically helpful. Most speak more English than the English speak French. The peple in the toll booths on motor ways were very polite and patient and everywhere was service with a smile. The campsites were clean, and tidy, even the big commercials which is more than can be said for the site we stayed on before the 250 mile drive back home from Portsmouth. The main thing we noticed though was the absence of phantom cones that pounce into the road every few miles complete with reduced speed limit, and all the roads we used had proper surfaces. We should have gone to France three years ago when we got our very first caravan! Have a great time Craig!

Regards Denise

Would like to say a big thankyou to all who have submitted advice to us. We are really looking forward to going this weekend. My apprehension has definately diminished after reading your comments.

Craig

 

[cjdiamond]

Would like to say a big thankyou to all who submitted advice to us. We are really looking forward to going this saturday. My apprehension has definately diminished after reading your comments.

Craig