Driving in France is an absolute pleasure Jim - do not be terrified by the prospect at all.
One thing I personally find really invaluable though is a little windscreen mounted compass. Some of the French ring roads can be a little disorientating. If you're travelling due south for instance, one of these little devices will tell you when you have gone too far either east or west on the ring road. The Nantes Ring Road is one which seems to trip everyone up that I have spoken to........
Vic
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The Nantes ring road fooled us in the early hours of the morning - the centre of that is such a pretty place - and the castle is lit beautifully. We really appreciated it at 2 in the morning - towing, plus leading another group of people! I know why it fools folk - The route south is signposted Bordeaux rather than the next large town. I'm hoping our Christmas present to us is as useful over there as it is in this country - we bought Sat Nav with street level Europe!
My OH prefers to drive in France to driving in this country. The level of traffic on their roads takes you back decades. The autoroutes are a joy!
Quote: Originally posted by Pennine Plodder on 15/2/2006
Hey Vic!
The Nantes ring road fooled us in the early hours of the morning - the centre of that is such a pretty place - and the castle is lit beautifully. We really appreciated it at 2 in the morning - towing, plus leading another group of people! I know why it fools folk - The route south is signposted Bordeaux rather than the next large town. I'm hoping our Christmas present to us is as useful over there as it is in this country - we bought Sat Nav with street level Europe!
My OH prefers to drive in France to driving in this country. The level of traffic on their roads takes you back decades. The autoroutes are a joy!
Yup I wound up in the middle of an industrial estate on a Saturday afternoon complete with caravan, having left the ring road in an attempt to about turn. This was before the ring road was completed and the locals viewing my antics must have thought I was yet another eccentric Englishman.
I eventually got back on track but I felt a real prat in the meantime..........
All this talk about Nantes sure scares the sh*t out of me! I am taking my van for the 1st time this year (last 6 took our own tent) and have never liked driving along this part of the route, I am going Dover/Calais (£124 with CC) and will take the A28 now that it has been completed, if anybody has any advice on heading to Royan (St.Palais-sur-mer), then please feel free to comment befor 30th July,
thanks in advance and best regards, Martin
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Quote: Originally posted by Martin Lapham on 15/2/2006
All this talk about Nantes sure scares the sh*t out of me! I am taking my van for the 1st time this year (last 6 took our own tent) and have never liked driving along this part of the route, I am going Dover/Calais (£124 with CC) and will take the A28 now that it has been completed, if anybody has any advice on heading to Royan (St.Palais-sur-mer), then please feel free to comment befor 30th July,
thanks in advance and best regards, Martin
The Nantes Ring Road is fine now that it's complete. My story relates to how it was at least 10 years or more ago.
Make sure you know your route and your exit numbers ahead of joining it and you will not go wrong - trust me!
Can I ask you why you are travelling to Royan from Calais via Nantes? Surely picking up the A10 to the south west of Paris and travelling via Orleans and Poitiers is more direct.........?
Vic
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I am going from Calais to Rouen (overnight stop) then onto to Royan, and travelling along the A28, as this way was recommended by both Michelin and Mappy.
This ones for Pennine Plodder,
I know and I apologise, but somehow we went off along the way and it was much easier than starting a new thread,
Thanks for looking out for me, after your first reply, I thought you were holding something against me for intruding on your thread, as for the driving costs/distance ie.Tolls/Time/Petrol This hopefully will be offset by the cost of the return ferry, £124 as regards to around the £500 mark, also as my eldest (13) gets seasick, then we are always dictated by the shortest possible crossing. I do not mind the extra Toll costs, as this will be the first time I have taken the Van abroad and have not yet had much towing experience (got the van in November), as the autoroutes are quieter, it will hopefully be less stressful, other wise it will be a choice of caffene or cocaine, to help me relax,
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Brittany Ferry Costs
