Quote: Originally posted by jaymac on 12/8/2011
We used the toll road to cross the border with the van but went the free route back...big mistake. Trying to drive through La Perthus(is it? )with the van on the back was not easy as there were cars and coaches parked on both sides of the road and shoppers dashing from one side to the other. Next time I'd definitely use the toll roqd for that bit.
We did that free route back last September and whilst it was fairly busy we did not find it a problem. We went on a weekday and hit it mid morning, perhaps it depends on what day/time you hit that area.
It was a first time for us, and we'd also heard plenty about being stopped and robbed in that area, so were on our guard, but it was all plain sailing. Found it quite entertaining really to see all the shops etc.
------------- Ina
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Quote: Originally posted by lizzie on 14/8/2011
I have just put into via michelin the route to aix-en-provence. 9 hours something with tolls and 16 without tolls! Would it really take 16 without?
If it takes you on some of the minor roads our TomTom took us in May, then yes, easily. We saw some great stuff, but a single track bridge with traffic lights on a 5 minute change cycle was typical of what we encountered. Compare that to cruising along the autoroute. I guess it's pace of life and what your personal preference is at the end of the day.
Possibly yes - depending on the route it plots for you - but most of us who avoid tolls plot our own routes, and take our time in getting anywhere. Non-toll routes are not really about speed, or getting somewhere quickly, they are about avoiding costs, and seeing more of France - certainly for us.
Being realistic there's no way we'd do a 9 hour drive, anyway, in one day - so we'd stop somewhere after about six hours. That would mean an overnight stop - and then the remainder of the drive the following day.
We do a minimal set up when overnighting, just connect the electric hook-up and use the site facilities, so we can be up and off early. We usually stay about half-way down France - Nevers/Moulins/ area. We've done the Mediterranean several times toll-free - usually arriving south of Montpellier by late afternoon on our second day (ie still just the one overnight stop). Aix would take another couple of hours so you'd certainly get there well before most campsites shut their receptions.
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Interesting - I looked at this because I'd never compared the cost of fuel because we always buy supermarket fuel anyway, which is about 15 - 20 cents a litre less than autoroute prices.
Viamichelin costs the diesel for non-toll to Montpellier at €99.58 (at 1.30 a litre - supermarket price) and €113.10 for toll route (at 1.45 a litre - autoroute price)! The toll with a caravan would be €92.90 one way. So a one way journey using the autoroute would cost us €206.00, instead of £99.58. The saving on a two-way journey pays for the campsite fees for most of our three week holidays!
With a caravan using the N roads, if you can, really makes sense.
Wow, that is quite a saving. As we use a tent it wouldn't be of such benefit but I do like the idea of wandering through towns and villages instead of just speeding past. As we now have a month or so at our disposal it will still be worth considering using non tolls in some places at least.
------------- lizzie
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Yes, it really will take 16 hours to get to Aix-en-Provence. We just came back from near Avignon and it took 16 driving hours, but 21 hours with stops. Last year we did completely toll-free, but from Calais. This year, we came from Dunkirk, but have decided that we will never do that again as it seems to take much longer. We also paid the toll around Clermont-Ferrand (1.20 euros) and around Rouen (2.00 euros or maybe the other way around). On the way back, we also paid the toll from Abbeville to Calais as we needed to get to Dunkirk pretty quickly. That bit cost 7.50 euros. It's still a big saving from about 100 euros, but it does take time. OH and I share the driving, so it's not all one person.
Like ValA, we have decided we'd rather spend the money on something else rather than on tolls. Also, the fuel price difference was something else. We paid 1.25.4 euros for the cheapest diesel in a supermarket (Carrefour) and I think the most we saw was 1.51. That's a big difference.
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Topic: Crossing France without the tolls
