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TRAVELLING IN FRANCE The first thing you will notice when you arrive on the continent is that they drive on the other side of the road !!!! It is great, you feel different!!!! |
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It is illegal to drive with faulty lights. It is strongly advisable to have a complete spare bulb kit, nationality sticker and a first aid kit. A red warning triangle is compulsory but we advise 1 as breakdown may affect your electrics. Under 10s may not travel in the front unless the child is in a specially approuved fitted seat facing back. Do not forget to update your breakdown cover and an international insurance certificate (greencard). Your car registration document is essential. It is a legal requirement! Do not forget to buy 1 or 2 adaptors for your own electrical appliances. But driving in France is a pleasure. The roads are smooth & safe but be careful of the gendarmes who are on the look out for fast drivers. The speed limits are : If you are stopped for speeding, the nice "gendarmes" or policemen will issue you a fine of between £60 and £90 to be paid in Euros on the spot. I tried once with the Pounds I had but they took my passport and my car registration papers and I had to go to the nearest town to take some money!!! I lost 1 hour!!! Our advice : Above all, to be safe, drive safely, take your time (we will be waiting for you until 18.00) and if you are stopped, do not forget that policemen & gendarmes are nice people who are doing their job and most of them can speak english with a slight french accent!!! Our other tips : If cars coming from the other direction are flashing their lights, slow down, you can be sure the policemen or gendarmes are not far!!! And once you have passed them you can flash your lights as well to let the others drivers know!!! |
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CROSSING TO FRANCE For a good ferry discounted crossings, we recommands you to contact After living in England for 17 years, we have done most of the crossings!!! The best one we think is cruising on the outward journey by night and the inward by day, both with a cabin. By night, you have some time to sleep, unwind, eat, drink (not too much) and you will be well rested to drive. Usually, the boats arrive at around 6.00 a.m., you will have plenty of time to stop for your 1st french breakfast and your 1st french meal in a nice restaurant in a pretty town. Why stop in those services on the motorway!!!! Do not forget your mobil home will be ready from 14.00 to 18.00. |
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Concerning the return, you will leave your mobil home by 10.00. Why should you go back home in one go! Why not treat yourself to a B&B, gite or hotel and visit the chateau of the Loire Vallée with their numerous wine cellars where you can test before buying!!! A stop at Dinan, Saint Malo or at the Mont Saint Michel (even if you have visited the one in Cornwall) will be an experience. The advantage of taking a room in a hotel near the harbour and a day cabin on the boat is that you will spend your last night in France and all together it is cheaper than a cabin on a night crossing. Dover - Calais : It is a short crossing for the those who does not like the boat but you will have a long drive in france. All the way is by motorway and dual carriage way. It is boring and if you are tired it could be dangerous. In low season, you will not see many cars but in july & august and the french bank holidays, it is as busy as the M25 between Gatwick & Heathrow!!! The journey from Calais will be around 8 hours. Portsmouth - Cherbourg or Caen : 5 to 6 hours on the boat, you will have plenty of time to unwind, rest. Once in France, from Caen it is almost all the way on the motorway and it will take around 5 hours. But from Cherbourg the 1st 100 km are on a national road. It is nice when you travel toward us but the inward journey, you have to plan some extra hours not to miss your boat. Portsmouth - St Malo : The night crossing is only 10 hours!!! Same as the other long crossing, you will have plenty of time to eat, drink, sleep etc… dance, sing as there is a band and a karaoke… the driving in France is around 4 hours. DISTANCE FROM THE PORTS TO ST GILLES CROIX DE VIE : |
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