[speedfreak-matty]

Hi Folks, thinking of going to france for a week soon and i was pricing flights and they are expensive!

So its works out alot cheaper to get the ferry over and bring the car with four people in it.. i think it would be a good road trip anyway and then you can drive wherever ya like

..

Just wondering has anybody on here done this?
do ya hafta set your lights differently?
Anything else i should know?!

The car has got Nct a few weeks back and fully serviced so should be fine mechanicaly.

Also if anyone has a roof rack and box for a seat toledo that i could buy or preferably hire for a week please let me know!

Any help appriceated,
thanks,
Matty

 

[GSBellew]

Off the top of my head you will need, a hi-viz vest, spare set of bulbs, registration book / proof of ownership of the car.
The headlamps should either have beam blockers / diverters fitted or be set to dip to the right if they are adjustable for R/H > L/H and vice versa, your tyres will also need to be pretty good as the legal limit for tyre wear is higher over there if I recall correctly.

Bring a good map too, sat navs are all well and good, but a map is better for planning a trip, seeing where you will be going near that you might want to stop off in etc.

 

[skodaphile]

French cops are very hot on speed & will escort you to an ATM to pay the fine

I hired a roofbox & bars from a crowd opposite Stillorgan SC-Motor Stop & Model Car Shop they're called IIRC. Be worth a call to see if they're still there!

 

[mentosean]

You can buy the lens diverters on the boat. If you stick to the limits you won't have any hassle, I saw 1 cop on the road the whole length of France. Tolls are nasty. Most drivers are crazy.

There's a book in Easons called Back Roads of France. It's good and worth a look.

You got breakdown cover? try ADAC

 

[KevC]

Get breakdown cover for the week to cover you for Europe!

 

[Dubturbo]

.

 

[colm61261]

QUOTE (GSBellew @ Apr 19 2011, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Off the top of my head you will need, a hi-viz vest, spare set of bulbs, registration book / proof of ownership of the car.
The headlamps should either have beam blockers / diverters fitted or be set to dip to the right if they are adjustable for R/H > L/H and vice versa, your tyres will also need to be pretty good as the legal limit for tyre wear is higher over there if I recall correctly.

Bring a good map too, sat navs are all well and good, but a map is better for planning a trip, seeing where you will be going near that you might want to stop off in etc.
the current requirments for driving in france are
hi vis vest , to be carried in the car with you not in the boot ,
fire extinguisher , torch , pen and paper , warning triangle( remember you cannot walk on a motorway in France so how can you place out the triangle on a motorway , Fishing rod ???) , first aid kit , all carried in the boot
the ligh diverters can be bought on the ferry
you also need to have your
drivers licence , log book and passport , you should also ask your insurance company for a "green card " insurance cert . this is normally used in spain but is very handy when travelling anywhere in europe , it will give the police all ure insurance details in the case of an accident and they will release your vehicle with this , if you dont have this they can hold you and your vehicle ,
the most important thing is to have breakdown cover , if u dont have it bring lots of cash

 

[Plane]

Above tread covers it all really. I brought copies of all the paperwork. Insurance, reg cert etc etc. I didnt bring any originals.
Sat nav with Europe maps and a good map.
Also notify your insurance your travelling. They dont charge any extra and I was advised to notify them.

It's a good holiday. I remember we used to drive down little lanes to beaches and to mad off the track places, get lost and then press home and back you go,. That was enjoyable.

****** depending on the part of France your in, lots of places close on a Sunday. Inc petrol stations. It can be a bastard to find one. I managed to find an automated on that took credit card. It wasn't manned. So always fill up on Saturday to be sure******

 

[colm61261]

QUOTE (Plane @ Apr 19 2011, 08:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Above tread covers it all really. I brought copies of all the paperwork. Insurance, reg cert etc etc. I didnt bring any originals.
Sat nav with Europe maps and a good map.
Also notify your insurance your travelling. They dont charge any extra and I was advised to notify them.

It's a good holiday. I remember we used to drive down little lanes to beaches and to mad off the track places, get lost and then press home and back you go,. That was enjoyable.

****** depending on the part of France your in, lots of places close on a Sunday. Inc petrol stations. It can be a bastard to find one. I managed to find an automated on that took credit card. It wasn't manned. So always fill up on Saturday to be sure******
most police wont accept photo copies
photo copy all ure documents and scan them to your email address and keep them . if you loose the originans , you can print more and still get home .
i lost my documents in spain last year and i still got home with copies . even the ferry company accepted them
passports , ferry tickets , tax book , insurance , drivers licence coy everything

 

[louis]

Me and the girlfriend went over to roscoff and traveled down as far as la rochelle and a bit further a few years ago with a tent in the boot. Had a great time. The night ferry on the way over was great craic too. Heading over in a couple of weeks too in the camper again. If i were you id try to put a rough bit of a plan in place as to distance your going to do and where your going to stop. Its very easy to waste alot of the week driving around alot, getting lost(the bad kind of lost where you dont end up finding an amazing place), and ending up not seeing a whole lot. Enjoy the holiday.

 

[Shane]

HI viz vest for every occupant of the car.

Tolls are mental.

Speeding not as mental as people would have you believe,we drove pretty much the entire length at a fair rate of knots and never seen a cop or an ATM.

Oh bring Hang sangers as the food in the motorway service stations can leave a lot to be desired esp in the mid eastern areas!

 

[KevC]

QUOTE (Shane @ Apr 19 2011, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>HI viz vest for every occupant of the car.

Tolls are mental.

Speeding not as mental as people would have you believe,we drove pretty much the entire length at a fair rate of knots and never seen a cop or an ATM.

Oh bring Hang sangers as the food in the motorway service stations can leave a lot to be desired esp in the mid eastern areas!

If you do decide to stop though definatly give the Carpaccio a try!

 

[Shane]

QUOTE (KevC @ Apr 19 2011, 10:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If you do decide to stop though definatly give the Carpaccio a try!

yes it is delicious! wafer thin slices of raw beef covered in lemon juice with a hint of spinache!

 

[kadett 244]

QUOTE (Shane @ Apr 19 2011, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Oh bring Hang sangers as the food in the motorway service stations can leave a lot to be desired esp in the mid eastern areas!

Agree with you there!
We went by bus and the food in the petrol stations was horrible and stupidly expensive, can of coke?: 1.60!!!!

 

[draycottgirlz]

your title says visiting france so be prepared to pay a small fortune in tolls. If travelling further south I would say go through germany. Try to get the most of the day so if you have driving to do you want get stuck in traffic jams during the evening..
drivers aren't the worst but the closer you get to Paris it can he a bit hairy, also driving away from tolls where everyone is rushing into lanes

Anyone know a website to check the tolls in France, locations and prices?

 

[speedfreak-matty]

Thanks for all the advice guys! some very helpfull information!(espically to bring sandwiches

) i will be deciding what we are doing within the next few weeks, hopefully going, would be some road trip!

again if anybody wants or knows someone to lend me a roof box for the week. id pay a deposit and hire of it of coarse! Thanks,
Matty

 

[skodaphile]

QUOTE (speedfreak-matty @ Apr 20 2011, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>again if anybody wants or knows someone to lend me a roof box for the week. id pay a deposit and hire of it of coarse! Thanks,
Matty

QUOTE (skodaphile @ Apr 19 2011, 09:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I hired a roofbox & bars from a crowd opposite Stillorgan SC-Motor Stop & Model Car Shop they're called IIRC. Be worth a call to see if they're still there!

Another point-let your credit card provider know you're going away-I've had them freeze my card while away 'cos of foreign transactions with no warning...

 

[draycottgirlz]

I have a roofbox if you are stuck, would just need a bit of notice to get it at the back of the shed

 

[Zebby]

tolls dont accept laser, you need to have a visa or a mastercard or cash.

 

[Declan]

I have a roofbox - I keep it in Neils House