Taking a car to the South of France

[MUGGY]

Hopefully this is the correct part of the forums but if not apologies.

Have always done the package type holiday in the past and thinking about something a little different (for us anyway) this year.

I quite fancy renting a villa somewhere in the South of France and taking the car. I think my preference would be to take a ferry or train to get to the SoF but I'm not discounting actually driving.

I have been looking at both of the options above and it seems that you have to go into Paris to get your car, which is taken on a separate train, to the SoF or a ferry from Plymouth to Santander in Spain then drive into France.

All opinions and recommendations very much welcomed as I am a complete novice at this.

Many thanks in anticipation

Dave

 

[HotJambalaya]

I looked at those trains, they were crazy money, id probably just drive it. I think that ferry to Spain takes like 30 hours?

 

[davidjpowell]

Drive with an overnight stop in France is quite achievable. I guess the Plymouth - Santander route might make sense for you - but it does come at a cost.

 

[MUGGY]

Wow what quick responses - thanks guys.

I just costed out the ferry and with a cabin each way (swmbo would insist) not much change from £1k - makes driving look very cheap

 

[stevieb15]

Although I've never done it my finance manager who rents a villa there every year swears the train is the most cost and time effective way.
I did drive to Nice on business in a hurry 5 years ago and I can testify its a very long and arduous trip and I wouldn't want to do it with non driving passengers.

 

[gIzzE]

Calais to Dijon is around 5 hours, Calais to Lyon is around 6 hours or so.

Either of those places are nice to stay over.

 

[Troon]

Drive to Southampton, ferry to Ouistreham (Caen), go west of Paris via Le Mans, Tours, Vierzon, Clermont-Ferrand. Then you have lots of choices depending where in the south you're going.

Unless you're into lots of driving, you'll probably want to make an overnight stop somewhere.

 

[renault12ts]

We did the car/train about 12 years ago...it was horrible. But it doesn't run anymore. We have driven it since...it's easy (considering we had to come from
Stranraer to Dover first).

 

[st13phil]

Unless you're under time pressure, drive down and make the travel part of the holiday. Calais to the south coast is easy to drive in two days with one overnight stop, or you could spend a little longer and see a bit more of the country.

Dijon is a good stop-off point, and with a reasonable start the next day (say 9:30am) you could drive down the Autoroute to Valence, then take the D-roads through Privas (lunch stop?) to Aubenas and then through the Gorges de l'Ardeche back onto the Autoroute and still be on the south coast by late afternoon. Another option would be to push on to Grenoble for the night stop, and then spend a day driving the Route Napoleon (N85) down to the coast. And that's just two suggestions.

France is a big place, but most of it is worth exploring and by driving down you'll see places that you'll probably want to return to on another trip.

 

[MUGGY]

Appreciate all the suggestions. I like the idea of a leisurely drive down through France with maybe a couple of overnights. Need to get a map and start planning.

Will need careful planning as swmbo doesn't like the 'we'll wing it approach' that I'm more than comfortable with

 

[rf065]

If you are in Exeter, the Santander ferry from Plymouth is on your doorstep and is the most enjoyable way to get to France.

It is very expensive though, but when you take into account the fuel and tolls you would use driving along with any overnight accomadation, then it doesn't look so bad.

If you are looking at the Atlantic coast then France is only a short journey from landing in Spain, but if you are looking at the Med coast then you could still have a longish journey and feel that the ferry is not saving you much at all?

Russ

 

[st4]

Appreciate all the suggestions. I like the idea of a leisurely drive down through France with maybe a couple of overnights. Need to get a map and start planning.

Will need careful planning as swmbo doesn't like the 'we'll wing it approach' that I'm more than comfortable with

Winging it was ace. I ended up driving to Barcelona with a stay over in Nantes on the coasts. Getting off the ferry other than going south I had no clue what I'd be doing.

France is a fantastic country.

 

[MD5]

Britanny Ferries go from Plymouth to Roscoff, two weeks in July on a Thursday sailing for two in one car will cost £278 return without a cabin, £398 with. Poole/Cherbourg, Porstmouth/Le Havre are both possibilities. We've followed our noses before, and stayed in the volcanic region the first night, then whatever took our fancy on the way, but check out your ferry options and prices first. LD lines are usually cheaper.

 

[Peter T]

We did Calais to Cote d'Azure a few time in the 80s.

Did the autoroute all the way, stopping around Lyon the first night, easily making it to the coast by the late afternoon of the second day.

Coming back we tended leave as late as possible and drive through the night; 22 hours including the ferry.

Don't know the cost of the autoroute tolls these days?

 

[ashadam]

We have done the drive far to many times and have a place in Puygiron, we always take eurostar to calais and drive from there. Usually takes about 7 - 10hrs dependant on stops which is a lot with 2 kids, only issue is drive back so knackering I still have not got use to it. If you have never done it before you will really enjoy and the toll roads are wonderful.

 

[jonthetourist]

Hopefully this is the correct part of the forums but if not apologies.

Have always done the package type holiday in the past and thinking about something a little different (for us anyway) this year.

I quite fancy renting a villa somewhere in the South of France and taking the car. I think my preference would be to take a ferry or train to get to the SoF but I'm not discounting actually driving.

I have been looking at both of the options above and it seems that you have to go into Paris to get your car, which is taken on a separate train, to the SoF or a ferry from Plymouth to Santander in Spain then drive into France.

All opinions and recommendations very much welcomed as I am a complete novice at this.

Many thanks in anticipation

Dave

Are there kids involved? We are talking about a lot of hours in the car.

One way to get a taste of this experience for less money and a lot less driving is to rent a place on the Atlantic coast - south Brittany, Vendee or even a bit further. Ferry Portsmouth to Caen and there in an easy day's drive.

Jon

 

[MUGGY]

Are there kids involved? We are talking about a lot of hours in the car.

One way to get a taste of this experience for less money and a lot less driving is to rent a place on the Atlantic coast - south Brittany, Vendee or even a bit further. Ferry Portsmouth to Caen and there in an easy day's drive.

Jon

Yes 2 kids - 17 & 11 so not too bad as passengers.

I was thinking about somewhere close to the Med coast but obviously the Atlantic coast is a bit more accessible. I just don't have a clue what it's like !

 

[mejermy]

Like Ashadam we do the run regularly, but from Yorkshire, although I suspect the run to Folkestone is similar in time to yours. The tunnel is by far the best bet. Break at Le Pot d'Etain near St Quentin - inexpensive, but very acceptable for overnight stop accomodation and retaurant, then around 6/7 hours left to Montpellier/Marseille, depending on whether you're going Eastish or Westish.

 

[jonthetourist]

Yes 2 kids - 17 & 11 so not too bad as passengers.

I was thinking about somewhere close to the Med coast but obviously the Atlantic coast is a bit more accessible. I just don't have a clue what it's like !

Because you are in the West in the UK the West of France makes a lot of sense. Brittany is like Cornwall, but with more sunshine. The Vendee is the next region, after the Loire. Great for sunshine, great for beaches, but relatively flat and featureless inland. Tends to get a lot of big chalet/fixed tent sites by the beaches. St Jean de Monts or les Sables D'Olonnes are the major resorts.

Further south la Rochelle is the biggest place of note, lots of history there. Isle de Re just off the coast is very trendy with Parisiens in August.

Probably less than half the driving time compared to the South of France, and a very similar experience.

Jon
(ex member, Association of British Tour Operators to France)

 

[Gollom]

Hopefully this is the correct part of the forums but if not apologies.

Have always done the package type holiday in the past and thinking about something a little different (for us anyway) this year.

I quite fancy renting a villa somewhere in the South of France and taking the car. I think my preference would be to take a ferry or train to get to the SoF but I'm not discounting actually driving.

I have been looking at both of the options above and it seems that you have to go into Paris to get your car, which is taken on a separate train, to the SoF or a ferry from Plymouth to Santander in Spain then drive into France.

All opinions and recommendations very much welcomed as I am a complete novice at this.

Many thanks in anticipation

Dave

Popular wisdom is to stay away from French roads in August! Well, it used to be - the whole population is En Vacance! Must say it makes Paris a whole lot less crowded though!