HI, I'm hoping someone can put my mind at rest.
My son has to fly out to Paris on Monday (as part of his job) to collect a car from a factory in Paris and drive it back to the U.k via the tunnel. I'm rather concerned as although he's been driving for 4 years (clean licence) he's never driven in particularly busy towns and never abroad. He doesn't seem to be too worried about it ( I'm doing enough worrying for us both). Can anyone tell me how long a drive it is. He will be staying overnight at an hotel (not sure where yet). My main concern are the roads out of Paris, have heard they're a nightmare. Also, once out of Paris is it mostly motorway all the way to Calais. Roughly, how many tolls will he have to pay and how much are they? Just so that he takes enough euros as he hasn't got a credit card only a debit card. Hope someone can give me some answers. My son's in work at the moment and will hopefully have all the answers himself when he gets home, but you know what us mothers can be like.
Thanks,
Shirley
OOh, he can't speak French either!
Hi Shirley! I'm a maman poule (mother hen) too, so I understand your thoughts!
I would suggest that he looks up his route on http://www.viamichelin.fr which can be read in English too, and it will give him good routes, approximate times and also toll charges. He will definitely need to bring Euros for the toll booths, and for the odd coffee and sandwich en route!
All things being equal, once he gets out of Paris (and that depends of course on where he has to pick up the car from) he should be able to make Calais about 3 hours or so later using the motorways.
Should he need to fill up en route, I would recommend finding a supermarket petrol station as petrol is cheaper there. Not having a credit card, he would need to pay in cash.
All the very best, and happy motoring!
I would suggest that he looks up his route on http://www.viamichelin.fr which can be read in English too, and it will give him good routes, approximate times and also toll charges. He will definitely need to bring Euros for the toll booths, and for the odd coffee and sandwich en route!
All things being equal, once he gets out of Paris (and that depends of course on where he has to pick up the car from) he should be able to make Calais about 3 hours or so later using the motorways.
Should he need to fill up en route, I would recommend finding a supermarket petrol station as petrol is cheaper there. Not having a credit card, he would need to pay in cash.
All the very best, and happy motoring!
HI.
Thanks for the prompt reply. He has to pick up the car from rue Louis Armand Paris and has been told he won't be able to avoid that nightmare road (not sure what it's called). He will be driving a left-hand drive car (not sure whether that makes matters worse as it's a first for him). He's been asked to get receipts for diesel, food, taxi cab from airport etc. I wonder if you know what the french word for these kind of receipts are because the dictionary comes up with 3 or 4 options. Also what's "diesel" in french. Don't want him putting in petrol by mistake. The journey's been postponed until Tuesday morning so it gives me a couple extra days to worry. Are the roads in France well signposted. He'll be given a sat nav already programmed for the journey so he'll be relying mostly on that.
Thanks for your advice. I'll tell him to take a look on the website you recommended.
Thanks for the prompt reply. He has to pick up the car from rue Louis Armand Paris and has been told he won't be able to avoid that nightmare road (not sure what it's called). He will be driving a left-hand drive car (not sure whether that makes matters worse as it's a first for him). He's been asked to get receipts for diesel, food, taxi cab from airport etc. I wonder if you know what the french word for these kind of receipts are because the dictionary comes up with 3 or 4 options. Also what's "diesel" in french. Don't want him putting in petrol by mistake. The journey's been postponed until Tuesday morning so it gives me a couple extra days to worry. Are the roads in France well signposted. He'll be given a sat nav already programmed for the journey so he'll be relying mostly on that.
Thanks for your advice. I'll tell him to take a look on the website you recommended.
HI, can anyone please tell me what are the speed limits on the roads in France e.g motorways, built up areas and the peripheral ring road around Paris? Also, are there roadsigns stating the limit at regular intervals. Thank You
50 kph in built up areas, between 70 and 90 in the countryside and up to 130 on the motorways .. reduced to 110 if wet. Radar controls are very frequent on motorways, but there is a sign beforehand to warn you! Some of the motorway websites show the positions of radar cameras!
The nightmare road is the Peripherique (!) (ring road) and diesel is GASOIL! Don't hesitate to add any extra questions that spring to mind over the weekend! All good wishes, Alsa xxx
PS If he wants a receipt, he should ask for a FACTURE (pronounced fact-ewer) (not a reçu (pronounced resoo) because that's really just a till receipt and doesn't have details on it except for the price paid).
PS If he wants a receipt, he should ask for a FACTURE (pronounced fact-ewer) (not a reçu (pronounced resoo) because that's really just a till receipt and doesn't have details on it except for the price paid).
HI again,
Very many thanks to both Alsacienne and Peter of york for your help. I'm very pleased to say that my son has arrived back in work safely and in one piece after his "French adventure". I spoke to him after the French leg of the journey yesterday evening and he reported that the driving he did over there was 'a doddle'. The only place he got lost was in one of their hypermarkets. Couldn't find his way out of the store
I haven't had the details of the uk part of the journey yet as he hasn't come home from work but the main thing is that he's home safe.
Thanks again for your help and concern.
Shirley
Very many thanks to both Alsacienne and Peter of york for your help. I'm very pleased to say that my son has arrived back in work safely and in one piece after his "French adventure". I spoke to him after the French leg of the journey yesterday evening and he reported that the driving he did over there was 'a doddle'. The only place he got lost was in one of their hypermarkets. Couldn't find his way out of the store
I haven't had the details of the uk part of the journey yet as he hasn't come home from work but the main thing is that he's home safe.
Thanks again for your help and concern.
Shirley
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