isvicthere?
a.k.a. floppybollocks
Any tips or suggestions?
driving calais to perpignan - best route?
- Thread starter isvicthere?
- Start date
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Yeah, fucking avoid Paris like the plague. That's all you need to know. Oh and French toll roads can be a tad expensive but ultimately worth it. I drove to northern Spain last summer and Paris was by far the biggest pain.
not-bono-ever
meh
even the routes that avoid central paris take you on the periphique - so time it right if you go down that route
have plenty of change for the tolls - and it will cost more than you think- but your cruise control will be used if you have one- the roads are smooth and empty
always pull off and find a Les Routiers rather than crisps and shit at a service station
have plenty of change for the tolls - and it will cost more than you think- but your cruise control will be used if you have one- the roads are smooth and empty
always pull off and find a Les Routiers rather than crisps and shit at a service station
bi0boy
Power User
Why not via Vladivostok?
wtfftw
melting like a toastie
If you like.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
The peripherique was what I meant - nightmare. Really don't go ANYWHERE near Paris, even if it means a 50 mile detour, which it probably will (at least).
On the motorways I loved the Aires. Always well signposted with labels to tell you what was available at each. Always took our own picnic (bread, cheese, wine/coffee) and found some really chilled spots to stay for half an hour.
bi0boy
Power User
Only 290 hours.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Coming back from northern Spain, and having had enough of tolls, we selected avoid tolls. Massive mistake as it took us anti-clockwise around Pamplona which involved about 180 roundabouts and 2 near smashes with dominating "this is my road" lorry drivers.
France is fucking huge. I'd rather pay the tolls than add hours to my journey if going all the way to the bottom.
hippogriff
Imposter
Another reason to avoid Paris..
The French government have launched a new scheme for all cars driving in Paris and other French cities (currently Lyon and Grenoble) which will include British registered cars.
From 31/03/2017 your car needs to display an emissions sticker showing the age and cleanliness of your vehicle.
If your vehicle does not display the sticker you could face hefty on the spot fines.
The anti-pollution sticker can only be ordered on-line from the official Crit’ Air website
Also if you are using the toll roads you can set up an account in the UK and get a tag to put in your windscreen so you don't have to stop and pay at every toll, you can use the télépéage
see ici
The French government have launched a new scheme for all cars driving in Paris and other French cities (currently Lyon and Grenoble) which will include British registered cars.
From 31/03/2017 your car needs to display an emissions sticker showing the age and cleanliness of your vehicle.
If your vehicle does not display the sticker you could face hefty on the spot fines.
The anti-pollution sticker can only be ordered on-line from the official Crit’ Air website
Also if you are using the toll roads you can set up an account in the UK and get a tag to put in your windscreen so you don't have to stop and pay at every toll, you can use the télépéage
see ici
souljacker
innit
If you use the toll roads, UK residents can get a liber-T card now. Annoyingly, I was rejected for one due to poor credit. Sacre bleu!
Avoid the M25, especially the bit between the M40 and M4
i dont know but have been to Perpignan....*stunning* place. Exactly what LA tries to be....and isnt....lol. Good luck getting there x
Wookey
Muppet is not a slur
I went to university in Perpignan for a year, it's a great area. I used to get the coach back and forth, from Victoria...interminably long treks, which always resulted in six of us strangers at the back if the coach ending up drunk?!
I would travel at night in the summer, because I don't like the heat see. Apart from that I can't offer much advice coz I don't drive, and that's the crux if your thread... But enjoy Perp.
I would travel at night in the summer, because I don't like the heat see. Apart from that I can't offer much advice coz I don't drive, and that's the crux if your thread... But enjoy Perp.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Wouldn't fret too much about the peripherique, outside of rush hours it's not too bad, no worse than the M25. Definitely use the télépéage, need to buy it a couple of weeks in advance though. And if you have cruise control play the 'how long can I go without touching the pedals' game - 96 miles is my record
dessiato
🇪🇸 my spirit is crying for leaving
Wherever possible avoid the toll roads. Last time I drove from S Sebastian to Dieppe I had all sorts of problems as most didn't have a pay by cash option, and no booths. I found that my Spanish and British cards were not accepted in the machines, and as a result was often blocking the toll booths until I could reverse to clear the road and then go off to find some way of paying. Reversing into oncoming traffic at a poll booth is not to be recommended unless you have a lot of clean underwear.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
I paid every single toll in France with cash.
And, BS, I hit the peripherique at 3pm. I don't consider that rush hour. But I was still on it in what I do consider rush hour 2 hours later.
And, BS, I hit the peripherique at 3pm. I don't consider that rush hour. But I was still on it in what I do consider rush hour 2 hours later.
You could go via Reims and Lyon and down to Montpellier, thereby avoiding Paris. I went from Calais to Uzes summer before last and that route was fine, although I would avoid that road last weekend of July/beginning of August.
Can recommend Reims and Troyes for a stop over which is what we did. Troyes is a lovely medieval town, well worth a quick look.
re: the toll roads, I always use them, it is just easier particularly if you are time limited.
Just got back from a week in Brittany and we drove from Calais to near Vannes and back and barely saw a traffic cone and only one brief traffic jam. My UK cards always work, although on the first trip I mentioned my Australian inlaws cards did not.
This site is really good at telling you what the tolls would be if you are a bit strapped
Michelin route planner and maps, traffic news, weather forecast, restaurants and hotel booking
eta - never knew that about the telepeage, will try to remember that in future! be well handy
Can recommend Reims and Troyes for a stop over which is what we did. Troyes is a lovely medieval town, well worth a quick look.
re: the toll roads, I always use them, it is just easier particularly if you are time limited.
Just got back from a week in Brittany and we drove from Calais to near Vannes and back and barely saw a traffic cone and only one brief traffic jam. My UK cards always work, although on the first trip I mentioned my Australian inlaws cards did not.
This site is really good at telling you what the tolls would be if you are a bit strapped
Michelin route planner and maps, traffic news, weather forecast, restaurants and hotel booking
eta - never knew that about the telepeage, will try to remember that in future! be well handy
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
^
Camped for a night just outside Reims on one trip, was nice. I'll add Orleans as a stylish City to spend a night too if avoiding Paris on the other side. Stunning Cathedral (obviously) and very swish centre. Their trams are gold. That's pretty cool.
Camped for a night just outside Reims on one trip, was nice. I'll add Orleans as a stylish City to spend a night too if avoiding Paris on the other side. Stunning Cathedral (obviously) and very swish centre. Their trams are gold. That's pretty cool.
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mauvais
on reddit or something
Decide whether you would rather be quick or have a good time. Autoroute vs D roads is so different that it might as well be two different countries. Autoroute is boring as shit, worse than UK motorways because there's less going on. But it is quick. Rural routes are far more engaging a drive, you can eat and drink at pretty places on the way, and you experience the country. But it probably adds at least a day to your trip. I much prefer the latter.
