France.

[Darrell]

We are off to France very late tonight.

We are visiting my mum who lives in L'Absie and we are staying in La Rochelle, Paris and one other unknown destination as well.

First time for this type of holiday so we are looking forward to it and it's our first holiday since 2007.

We couldn't get all our stuff in the Porsche plus my 11 year old daughter is now 5' 5 so the piddly rear seats would create problems so we are taking our old 52 plate Jaaag.

See you all in 2 weeks.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Sounds like a great adventure. Hope you all have a great time Darrell.

Safe trip mucca.

Ant.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

We are heading over the same time as you return, carefully planned so that all the children leave France the same weekend as we arrive, we are searching for vulgaria.

I hated France on my first visit at 15, I was driven through the country by my parents on our return from Marbella which had been paradise for the under-aged drinking, smoking and girl seeking me.

Away from Paris and the hotspots of the South coast France is generally pretty quiet and well behaved, it goes to bed early.

Driving is rather good, the Peage is relatively quiet and swift however it is disconcerting to note that the French stick religiously to the speed limit while the Belgians, Germans and those others from 'over there' drive as fast as their cars will allow. I personally don't worry at all about speed cameras, have set the place alight with camera flashes and heard nothing since but there are some who report that this happens, I suspect this only applies to hire car drivers.

The food can be as rubbish as it can be great, if you like shellfish then places like La Rochelle do great seafood platters Fruits De Mare, motorway services are generally pretty good for a pitstop and meal, it's not really worth pulling into a town to find a cafe if you are trying to make time.

The Jag should be brilliant for the job, large and relaxing for long distance, fuel is cheaper particularly off the motorway.

Assume that you are used to driving on the left?

 

[Darrell]

We lived in Skiathos for 8 years although there are no traffic lights, motorways or roundabouts.

I drove through France on my way to Greece in 2008. Still a bit nervous though!

 

[Druk]

Assume that you are used to driving on the left?

Ahem?

Isle de Re is worth a visit.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

We lived in Skiathos for 8 years although there are no traffic lights, motorways or roundabouts.

I drove through France on my way to Greece in 2008. Still a bit nervous though!

I'm sure that you are capable of finding your own mistakes to make but here are some of mine:

Driving the wrong way after turning around when lost.

Looking the wrong way at roundabouts, the French are weird here and tend to go all the way around in the outside lane.

Trying to go up the wrong way at big city centre junctions, seeing 2 lanes of traffic staring at you head to head is frankly embarrassing.

Thinking that the car sitting 1 inch from my bumper on the Peage is being aggressive, it's just the way that they drive.

Flashing slower cars on the Peage, they go mental!

Thinking that the lorry drivers inch over towards me when overtaking on purpose.

Finding a super smooth deserted roundabout on a wet early morning baguette run and thinking it looked ideal for some drifting. Actually that wasn't a mistake it was brilliant.

 

[Darrell]

Ahem? Isle de Re is worth a visit.

I have heard that but it's 16 Euro for the toll.

 

[zipdip]

Make sure your return through Calais is in the daylight or around 5/6 am if you want to avoid any problems,by about 5am the idiots have had enough and go to sleep do not get between two trucks on the run to the port,if you are using the train still be on your guard,I hope you enjoy the holiday,I have to admit I would not now use Calais to enter France.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Ahem?

Isle de Re is worth a visit.

:fail by me.

Ah, well, you see.

Not what I meant but factually correct.

Ile De Rey is definitely worth a visit, the harbour side restaurants of St Martin are a firm favourite as is the Hotel Le Clos.

 

[Darrell]

Make sure your return through Calais is in the daylight or around 5/6 am if you want to avoid any problems,by about 5am the idiots have had enough and go to sleep do not get between two trucks on the run to the port,if you are using the train still be on your guard,I hope you enjoy the holiday,I have to admit I would not now use Calais to enter France.

Thanks, this has been a concern.

 

[renault12ts]

Last Christmas...Euro400 fine arrived in the post. Speeding in Spain in June...in a hire car. Paid it quickly so it was halved and then halved again with the friend whose wife kept urging me to get there soon.

 

[kwk]

I'll be travelling south in two weeks. Was taking the w210 but, with my present health problems, I'll probably now take the ML.
Have a good holiday.

 

[renault12ts]

If you need fuel when you arrive in Calais...don't wait, get it in Calais.

There is no fuel station for many many kilometres once you have joined the motorway!!

 

[lisa110rry]

Back in...ooo...about 1990, we took the Reliant Scimitar GTE 6 to France, around the Pornic area. What a journey. Husband and I in front, Mum in law and eight year old son in back. We even took the lad's bike!

Got stopped both ways at the ports as the French had never seen a car like it, it would seem.

 

[flango]

Be careful of the immigrants its getting shocking out there now they really are vicious. If you stop for fuel be very very vigilant. I avoid it now and use Dunkerque or North sea ferries Hull Rotterdam.

 

[Darrell]

Be careful of the immigrants its getting shocking out there now they really are vicious. If you stop for fuel be very very vigilant. I avoid it now and use Dunkerque or North sea ferries Hull Rotterdam.

My sister has just got back from our mums and she said she didn't see the immigrants camp. Not sure where it is tbh.

 

[flango]

My sister has just got back from our mums and she said she didn't see the immigrants camp. Not sure where it is tbh.

Its not the camp they are on the roads from the ferryport. They throw blocks through windscreens smash side windows with iron bars and the French cops don't give a a sh*t even less so since Brexit. Just be very careful.

 

[Darrell]

Its not the camp they are on the roads from the ferryport. They throw blocks through windscreens smash side windows with iron bars and the French cops don't give a a sh*t even less so since Brexit. Just be very careful.

Cheers. We are Eurotunnel there and un-decided on return.

 

[flat6buster]

We eurotunnelled in late June and saw no immigrant activity at all.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Are you there yet?