I'm usually of the view that the extra time taken by using non-tolls is pretty minimal and the monetary saving very worthwhile so we usually use non-paying motorways or local roads. However, we have an exception: this year we took the non-peage between Dijon and Lyon which took over six hours (although this included a lunch/petrol stop and a couple of places where we mislaid ourselves [seldom happens on a motrway]). There wasn't even much benefit in sightseeing opportunities. So for the return we gave in and did the easier thing .... shame it's so tricky getting on to the autoroute at Lyon Nord!
Lyon to Dijon in 6 hours are you sure you are not getting mixed up?????????
Autoroute would be 2 hours, non autorouth around 3.5 hours.
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Not getting mixed up at the moment but certainly did in Macon! Maybe it was just a bad day, perhaps because it was a Saturday but we seemed to be stopping every few kilometres: traffic lights in every town, minor jams, slow vehicles &c. - could have done some serious wine tasting as we passed through Chateauneuf du Pape, Gevrey-Chambertin and other wine villages! Got even slower by Villefranche ... The big problem is that the D974 and N6, by and large, go through the centre of every village and town (Beaune is an exception, perhaps); in great contrast to (for instance) the N73 &c going from Chalon-s-S to Besancon - the road passes outside almost every village/town.
Quote: Originally posted by ben9 on 24/8/2010
Quote: Originally posted by paul_M on 24/8/2010
I'm usually of the view that the extra time taken by using non-tolls is pretty minimal and the monetary saving very worthwhile so we usually use non-paying motorways or local roads. However, we have an exception: this year we took the non-peage between Dijon and Lyon which took over six hours (although this included a lunch/petrol stop and a couple of places where we mislaid ourselves [seldom happens on a motrway]). There wasn't even much benefit in sightseeing opportunities. So for the return we gave in and did the easier thing .... shame it's so tricky getting on to the autoroute at Lyon Nord!
Lyon to Dijon in 6 hours are you sure you are not getting mixed up?????????
Autoroute would be 2 hours, non autorouth around 3.5 hours.
I know where you mean, what I do at Macon sud - Lyon jump on autoroute for the the sake of around 3euro not worth the mental state of doing anything else.
The first time I 'did' France by brother said avoid the toll roads - so much money etc etc We drove right the way down to Perpignan on N roads - seemed to take an eternity.
I had the OH and two 15 year old foster daughters at the time and as we were setting off homeward bound my OH kept saying 'I wish Calais was closer'. I hit the motorways and toll roads - it was fab! Back to Calais in no time - and was pleasantly surprised at how little the roads cost compared to my expectation!!
Have always used the tolls ever since!!
Ruth
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Hmmmm, sodding toll roads. We camped in Britany for the first time this year and thought we'd use the toll roads. Had a hassle free trip down from Delft, stopping at Rennes for a night but on the return to Calais it was awful. Every toll plaza had big queues with the longest being at least 16km and then there were the queues at Rennes, Le Harve, and one other place that I forget the name of. All in all it added 3.5 hours to our journey so not only does that part of France look like Cornwall the traffic is similar as well! The daft thing was that once past the plazas the roads were empty and made for a nice drive but not worth the queuing to add 50% to the journey time.
The toll free sections of the 'route des anglais' are just round Reims and Lyon, presumably so that locals use the autoroute to bypass the city centres.
If we are 'sauntering', we alternate days, use the toll route to Reims, then the RN road the following day, and so on. Certain parts of the trip we choose RN roads because they are more interesting anyway, especially after Lyon when you can follow the Rhone down.
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This year, first time driving in France, we went from Calais to Dordogne on non toll roads and found driving through the long narrow street villages a trial. Took a wrong turn and drove through a village where I don't think they have ever had a caravan pass according to the gestures and shouts we got! Did autoroutes and tolls on return journey and found it so much easier and quicker. Also on the non toll route we felt that there were not many petrol stations and they were usually off the road we were on so having to take small detours, whereas on the autoroutes there were petrol stations and rest areas galore which to a worrier like me was a relief.
I'm sorry if I'm just re-writing anything that's already been said, but I haven't got time to read all 4 pages.
My recent budget France trip (check the blog) would not have been possible if I were using toll roads.
Toll roads are meant purely for convenience. A bit like people paying the extra to sail from Portsmouth to a more westerly port, yes it would work out cheaper to go Dover-Calais, but it wouldn't be as convenient.
Convenience is fine, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it. It's your holiday, obviously, you do it your way.
The other comments on p.1 about petrol costs & the fact you're travelling faster, are also most valid in this case.
Whatever you do, enjoy. I wish I was still out there.
P.S. A budget trip wouldn't be a budget trip with toll roads & other such bourgeois luxuries. & the difference in fuel prices is MAJOR, you're talking about 20cents per litre, maybe more!
Well, I will answer and update my own original post!! I started off not using the tolls and the journey seemed to take ages - I JUST WANTED TO GET THERE - so ended up using the tolls and spent well over a 100 euros (probably much more not worked it out yet) but did get where I wanted in good time. I suppose it really is each to their own and depends on the individual's requirements/needs. I wish I werent so impatient then I could save a bit of money. Will try and make a better effort next year cos it really is a lot of money to spend on tolls. We did do 3300 miles (over 5300 kms) on our journey though.
Don't think paying 100 euros every 5300km is something that you need to try to improve on. 1 euro for 53km to make your journey easier is gd value. We went to dordogne this summer. It's a heck of a long way so didn't see the sense in making it more difficult for ourselves or kids by not using toll rds. Poster about paying for convenience put it well. Also think when you live in tent or caravan for 2 wks or so then you're doing certain amount of 'slumming' it anyway without cutting more corners. However like people have said before depends how quick you want to get there- with kids then answer is asap. We did try Rouen route back from dordogne though to avoid Paris for overnight stop. Never again though - give me la francilienne anytime rather than poor N roads, town speed limits and plenty of traffic lights, roundabouts and congested ring roads.
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We used the mainly non-toll route from Calais to the south via Rouen Chartres and Moulins then the A75 (free). On the way there the journey was fine. No problems with traffic and we felt like we were making good progress as well as seeing a bit of France on the way. It was a bit different on the way back! It took 9 hours to get from Millau to Chartres using this route. We had loads of delays. Either stuck behind lorries, diversions through towns, roadworks and we hit Orleans at rush hour. We've decided that since we travelled down on the 15th - 17th August , most of France must still have been on holiday, and they'd all retuned to work (including the roadworks) for our return journey. Next time we'll use tolls if it's during the week, and non-tolls at weekends, cos there's no lorries on the roads at weeekends!
I kept a note of Everything I spent so I can now compare year on year (sad, I know). Total distance travelled 5303 km (3300 miles). So, tolls came to 144 euros and fuel 393 euros plus £144. 20 nights site fees 351 euros plus £100 deposits. Ferry £150 and the only other essential 45 euros for vet. Not too bad I suppose for 3 weeks holiday. Plus the spending money.
We used the mainly non-toll route from Calais to the south via Rouen Chartres and Moulins then the A75 (free). On the way there the journey was fine. No problems with traffic and we felt like we were making good progress as well as seeing a bit of France on the way. It was a bit different on the way back! It took 9 hours to get from Millau to Chartres using this route. We had loads of delays. Either stuck behind lorries, diversions through towns, roadworks and we hit Orleans at rush hour. We've decided that since we travelled down on the 15th - 17th August , most of France must still have been on holiday, and they'd all retuned to work (including the roadworks) for our return journey. Next time we'll use tolls if it's during the week, and non-tolls at weekends, cos there's no lorries on the roads at weeekends!
Sally.
we also took this route down in early august. spending the night in Moulins before carrying on down to les peupliers the following morning. found the route straight forward and relaxing. our other two journeys on the trip were a little more demanding. went from millau to salernes (var region). according to michelin should of taken us 3 hrs 45 but infact took us more than double that. this included a few tolls. the traffic in the far south is heavy compared to elsewhere.especially on a saturday. on way home kept from the var to montelimar off toll which was fine then joined autoroute and again very heavy traffic virtually all the way to lyons. once past lyons good progress to st.quentin. 11.5 hrs for 600 miles and about £50 in tolls.
first camping trip to france and thoroughly enjoyed it. will definately be repeating our experience. hello to tracy & tony from les peupliers if you read this !!!
We mostly head for the Provence region so we go nowhere near Paris. Its hard to avoid all tolls without going up and down hill all the time with the affect that has on MPG.
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: tolls or not for economy?
