As suggested by Alsacienne previously, try 'viamichelin'.

An example Calais to Florence (one way) produced the following results :-

Time: 13h08 including 12h44 on motorways

Distance: 886mi including 880mi on motorways

Costs
- Toll costs: 41.76 GBP
- Petrol costs: 126.41 GBP
- Road tax cost: 18.24 GBP
Total costs: 186.41 GBP

This was based on a small car, obviously a larger car would have higher petrol costs.

Happy Motoring

Hi
This is the first time we have driven in France, going August 2007. We are going from Cherburg to Perros-Guirec..
We are already getting nervous about it..
Will there be any tolls on this route? How do we get out of Cherberg..
Best maps to get? or is it better just to print off route on the net?
Our children are ages 12 & 13..

Thanks to anyone who can help us..

Hi,

First of all, don't panic!!

We have a bit about driving in France HERE, and there's this interesting site - http://www.selfdrivecamping.co.uk/

See also THIS

For reliable up to date advice regarding driving in France, you can't beat the AA and RAC websites.

Notwithstanding being on the 'wrong' side of the road, I think it's far easier driving there than over here!

Peter

We have always found the route finder on the AA website to be very good. We holiday in France with Eurocamp and their directions in the past were always based on the AA ones and in fact now they don't send out directions but simply direct customers to the AA website. The AA directions have all the tolls marked (but not the amount payable). We sailed into Cherbourg several years ago and like all the ports there are clear directions as you exit the port for various destinations.
Driving in France is far more civilised than driving in Britain as the motorways are quieter and newer.

Get yourself a good book of maps as well. We use an AA one although we used to have a Michelin. Check out what you need to carry as well. If I recall correctly you need:

Fire Extinguisher
1st Aid Kit
Warning triangle
GB sticker or plate
Hi Vis jackets or tabards for all passengers and driver
Spare set of bulbs
Headlight beam deflectors or black tape to block dipped beam

You also need to have your documants such as licences and insurance docs handy. Check that your insurance in valid and fully comp over there.

You might want to have recovery or roadside assistance when over there as well.

For routes, try http://www.viamichelin.fr.

If you are driving on motorways or dual carriageways, remember to concentrate when you leave them and go onto single carriageways, as i feel that is the time you are most likely to forget you are on the wrong side

I've driven through Brittany several times on mostly single carriageways, and loved it .... no hassle at all .... so don't get nervous - even my dad who is now 68 and not always open to change, enjoyed it!!!

Good luck with those light deflector thingies .... always feels to me like you need a few masters degrees from Oxford to fit them!! How come i never see any foreign cars using them when they are over here ... people coming to the UK get away with murder!!

If your headlight lens has deflectors built in it is easy to see where they fit. If however your car, like mine has plain lenses then you ned to consult your dealer about where to fit the masks. Don't let them fob you off with selling you a set of beam deflectors (the ones for my car cost £45!).

Driving in France is so much more civilised than here, you will be fine. Just make sure you have all the 'legal' bits for your car before you get to the ferry terminal. We didn't realise that fire extinguishers had become a requirement since our previous trip and ended up paying an arm and a leg for one. As far as the deflector thingys go, we've taken a chance in the summer months when only travelling during the day and have had them but not fitted them.

My french geography isn't great, so I don't know where your route takes you, but avoid the peripherique around Paris. When going to Eurodisney, we now cut off before it and take the back roads- always virtually empty and it avoids ending up in the middle of Paris, when confused by road works, as we did on our first trip!! Just make sure you have an upto date French road map and you will be fine (alternatively beg borrow or steal a Tom Tom with European mapping!!)

Pam

The requirement for high visibility jackets is an EU requirement. However not all member countries have got around to incorporating it into local law yet, but it will come.

DAK if they are present in hire cars in countries that require them or do you have to take your own?

Hi all . Driving over to Normandy at half term .Getting the 8.30am Euro tunnel on Saturday morning and coming back tuesday night. We are staying in Bayeux and intend doing all the DD stuff. beaches etc. Gather its quite a drive from calais but how long ? and wondered if anyone has any tips on making life as pleasant as possible. We are quite happy not to make it to bayeux until around 5pm and the lady i work for has suggested we stop at hornfleur but does anyone have any other suggestions they might prefer which would include lunch ,maybe a DD site on the way through or something historical.

also have made a list of must takes/sort out. can anyone think of anything else
Warning Triangle
first aid kit
headlamp reflectors
Driving licence
log book
fire extinquisher ?
Insurance docs
breakdown cover
maps, sat nav
GB sticker

thank you france forum . We have never done this before

Hi Lyn

Caught up with you on this forum now!! You have a good list there- you do need the fire extinguisher. Worth trying places like Aldi and Lidl for one. Having spent about £30 on one at the port a couple of years back we got home to find we could have had one for a fiver!! Last we went you didn't need high visability jackets (not on your list)but just check as some EU countries do insist on it, so only a matter of time I guess before France do as well. Headlight deflectors you do need to have on you, but unless we are travelling after dark we tend to not put them on. Only other thing not on your list is a spare headlight bulb kit- the chances of you needing to use it are remote, so like the headlight deflectors etc you can keep them in your 'France kit' for next time.

Don't know much about Bayeux I'm afraid as we've always done Disney or the Vendee, but the Eurotunnel is great. Worth allowing yourself time before returning home to go to Cite Europe. It's literally minutes from the Eurotunnel and you can stock up at Tescos or Carrefour. Also a good place to have something to eat as there isn't a huge amount at the eurotunnel terminal.

Have fun- if you have a sat nav it will be invaluable, although their roads are much better than ours!

Pam

thanks for that Pam . will add the bulbs to the list and im sure hubby has some "building site " high vis jackets around . just in case . He does have a sat nav but need to get the French map for it . The list is growing .

We have done a little driving in france . my sister in law lives in the pyrenees but we always fly then rent a car and follow them everywhere so this is our first experience of going it alone .

lyn

For a definitive and up to date answer as to vehicle equipment requirements in Europe, see THIS document from the AA.

Hence, on our recent holiday in the Somme via the Hull - Zeebrugge ferry, it was compulsory to carry the following -

Belgium
GB sticker
Warning triangle
Reflective jacket
Headlamp adjustment

France
GB sticker
Headlamp adjustment

I also have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and spare bulb kit, but they are not a legal requirement in either country.

Headlamp adjustment by way of expensive beam deflector kits, or the just as good masking off with insulation tape, is a requirement at all times and not just when driving at night. Remember you may need to use your headlights in daylight conditions of rain and fog.

I believe that some sat navs incorporate radar detectors, in which case better left at home. The French and Belgium police will confiscate and fine heavily if you are caught with one.

Peter

Why is it that all these European countries have these rules but we don't. I can't recall ever seeing a foreign car with headlamp deflectors on our roads!

We don't have rules regarding fire extinguishers, jackets, triangles, first aid kits, and spare light bulbs, but do about headlamp adjustment.

In the UK, the driver of a left hand drive car with headlights set up for driving on the right, could be prosecuted for offences under the Construction and Use Regulations, or perhaps dangerous/ reckless/ inconsiderate driving under the Road Traffic Act.

Peter

Peter of York

We don't have rules regarding fire extinguishers, jackets, triangles, first aid kits, and spare light bulbs, but do about headlamp adjustment.

In the UK, the driver of a left hand drive car with headlights set up for driving on the right, could be prosecuted for offences under the Construction and Use Regulations, or perhaps dangerous/ reckless/ inconsiderate driving under the Road Traffic Act.

Peter yes but as long as they have a UK address if not then they get a warning only (not fair as if you are stopped in Franc eor Spain then you get an instant fine and if you don't have the money you get escorted to a cash machine to pay up )

Hello all

We are off to France for a fortnight in our car. I have never driven in France so am looking for tips/help.

We are going to Brittany, arriving St Malo by ferry then we have a "not very long" drive to our resort ...

http://www.french-freedom.co.uk/french-freedom/chateau-des-ormes.html

So .... what do I need (GB sticker, insurance, first aid kit, emergency red triangle etc.)? What advice/tips to you experienced overseas drivers have for this newbie?

I there a thread/topic on HT I should be looking at (I can't find one)?

Many thanks.

MM

Hi MM. there is a topic running http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3651&start=100

We are off to normandy on saturday with our car for the first time


Ive just ordered the european travel pack that the RAC do which includes the essentials . http://accessories.rac.co.uk/startOrder.aspx?cat=Car_Kits
bu t i didnt order it from the RAC . there is a guy selling them on ebay for around £20 + postage.

lyn