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General => General discussion => Topic started by: Misterp on 26 June 2015, 09:36
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Hi Guys,
I am due to drive from Birmingham to Marseille on 01 August. A last minute getaway for some sun and to visit the Mrs' Family ( :sick:).
Never driven on the continent before, any pitfalls or things that people think I should be aware of. I have been doing some research. also are there any must haves in the car to comply with French Law.
Thanks
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Light bulbs
triangle
hi viz vest
spare wheel
Breathalyser, you are meant to have 2, get 4 just in case you use one as you cant have an odd number. ...
European breakdown cover.
Money for toll roads
drive down half way and stop in b n b, much nicer and extra time allows you to avoid some tolls.
its 12 hours for me from london using the chunnel and that's a good run.
French drivers are generally rude amongst themselves, your plates will add to this.
Taking the piss is a requirement for a licence in france.
My wife was born in Marseille and grew up in Avignon, so I get only a little abuse until she pipes up.
next time go by eurostar direct, just book in advance
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Speeding is a no-no.
well not a no-no, but they don't take too kindly......
:smiley:
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I presume you are going in the the Mk7? If so, set your headlights to 'Travel Mode' in the DIS.
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drive on the wrong side of the road :laugh: :grin:
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drive on the wrong side of the road :laugh: :grin:
but just remember the wrong side is also the right side :grin:
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Last time I went I had drink with the local fuzz at lunchtime before they went out stopping dutch tourists in the ardeche......
The law is open to interpretation with the local gendarmerie in rural areas
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Thank you for your responses.
I am taking the MK7 looking forward to it to be honest. Never driven on the continent before. The Headlight travel mode change can be made from the settings right??
is there a good sight that anyone knows where I can pick up some of the items that VW bush has posted. Bulbs are a bit of a difficult one considering the car comes with Xenons as standard. I may get some indicator and reverse lights - good excuse as I have been looking for an excuse to purchase the LED bulbs a lot of the guys have installed.
the other stuff makes sense.
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Most motor factors will sell European travel packs with everything that you will need. They will include beam deflectors, but you won't use them due to being able to adjust your headlights in the Setting menu. As long as you have some sort of bulb set, it shows you have made the effort, even tho' you have xenons and LEDs.
Don't forget you'll need a high viz vest for every occupant and that they need to be accessible from where you are sat, so not stuffed in the boot.
Driving is pretty straight forward, just go steady to get accustomed to being on the other side. I find that I'm actually more aware of what's going on as I am thinking about what I am doing much more. It's easy to get caught out when you get back home. We once stayed at my inlaws just a few miles from the tunnel having being in France for 2 weeks. The next morning I pulled out of there drive onto the empty rural lane and drove at least half a mile on the right before I realised.
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I'm jealous. I'd love to be taking my VW to the Continent but it hasn't been built yet! Def doing it next year, all being well.
I've taken previous cars to France and further afield for the last fifteen years, on and off. A thoroughly enjoyable experience every time. You'll get used to driving on the right in no time, and strange as it may sound, when you come to your first roundabout it just feels natural.
French drivers (at least I've found) are actually very forgiving of UK plates. You'll find assholes in every country, but most of them will recognise you're on unfamiliar roads and will show you courtesy and give you a wide berth for fear you prang them.
Gendarmerie are quite keen; I've seen many more cops on the roads as each year passes. But on the autoroutes you will sail along at 130 "ish" :whistle: kph effortlessly in your motor without incident. It'll be a great long run on practically deserted stretches at a time. Just remember to slacken off somewhat if it's raining as the speed limit drops to 110, and watch for the speed cameras on the central reservations.
If you are planning on an overnight on your way to Marseille, you could do worse than stopping round about Dijon. Pick a Burgundian wine village and relax...
Hope you have a fab time and look forward to hearing all about it.
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My first proper post on the forum so hope it's useful!
You can get a European Driving Kit from Amazon, such as this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007G8EYCY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B007MPEMT6&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1TB6A2BGNAG3ZMNY981G
I go on road trips to France pretty regularly so have listed some quick info below:
- Make sure that you have Fully Comp Insurance cover in Europe. Check your policy docs as even though you may have cover in the EU, it's highly likely that it will be 3rd Party only
- Take your Insurance Docs & V5 with you
- If you have a passenger you may not need this, but I have one of these to speed up payment at the tolls: https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
- We normally drive to The Alps in 10+ sports cars (I also own an RS4) and we've not really had any problems with speeding. Just watch your return journey and stick to the speed limit an hour or so from Calais. We regularly see the French Police there catching people who are running late for their train/ferry home
- If you see a small silver box on the hard shoulder of the motorway, slow down! It's a mobile speed camera and will have a cable going up to Police Car parked in the adjoining field and they'll radio ahead to the next tolls (I speak from experience!)
- you need to have the Hi Vis vests in your car, not the boot. You also need one for each person in the car. If you need any more you can get them from Poundland
I find that drivers in France have better lane discipline than we do in the UK. When we're driving particularly fast on the motorways, the cars that we have to look out for the most are UK & Belgium plated cars as they have a tendency to either lane-hog, or pull out in front of you! Normally, if you want to make swift progress, just stick your indicator on even if you're in the outside lane and the locals will move out of the way.
I've driven over 7,000 miles in France over the last few years and have never had any issues. This gives you an idea of the roads we drive on (I'm in the car behind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4MOweyFlYc
Have fun and feel free to let me know if you need any more info
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My first proper post on the forum so hope it's useful!
You can get a European Driving Kit from Amazon, such as this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007G8EYCY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B007MPEMT6&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1TB6A2BGNAG3ZMNY981G
I go on road trips to France pretty regularly so have listed some quick info below:
- Make sure that you have Fully Comp Insurance cover in Europe. Check your policy docs as even though you may have cover in the EU, it's highly likely that it will be 3rd Party only
- Take your Insurance Docs & V5 with you
- If you have a passenger you may not need this, but I have one of these to speed up payment at the tolls: https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/
- We normally drive to The Alps in 10+ sports cars (I also own an RS4) and we've not really had any problems with speeding. Just watch your return journey and stick to the speed limit an hour or so from Calais. We regularly see the French Police there catching people who are running late for their train/ferry home
- If you see a small silver box on the hard shoulder of the motorway, slow down! It's a mobile speed camera and will have a cable going up to Police Car parked in the adjoining field and they'll radio ahead to the next tolls (I speak from experience!)
- you need to have the Hi Vis vests in your car, not the boot. You also need one for each person in the car. If you need any more you can get them from Poundland
I find that drivers in France have better lane discipline than we do in the UK. When we're driving particularly fast on the motorways, the cars that we have to look out for the most are UK & Belgium plated cars as they have a tendency to either lane-hog, or pull out in front of you! Normally, if you want to make swift progress, just stick your indicator on even if you're in the outside lane and the locals will move out of the way.
I've driven over 7,000 miles in France over the last few years and have never had any issues. This gives you an idea of the roads we drive on (I'm in the car behind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4MOweyFlYc
Have fun and feel free to let me know if you need any more info
With respect if you are driving a nice sports car in France then just like Italy it has it benefits with the fuzz and the locals :wink:
I find the locals attitude gets worse the further south you go Paris conurbation aside the north definitely has more road manners.
Fortunately my wife has taught me well in the French language so I can hold my own when it comes to it :grin:
Do find them very racist in Provence, if you don't understand they insult you direct to your face.
Again a well placed dressing down in there own tongue tends to sort that out....
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Did you get safety instructions for traveling?
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Thanks guys.
if any of you have a MK7 you will know that there is a gap in the boot that is for the Emergency triangle etc. Good time to fill it in. bulbs wise I should be ok.
good to know that you guys think it 'should' be an 'easy' transition to drive abroad.
to those that have driven, My wife and I are driving down with our 2YO daughter. Wife, conveniently does not drive so it will be me that is driving from Birmingham to Dover and then Calais to Marseilles (11th Province - i think). With it being a long drive I was thinking of driving from Brum to Dover 01/08 early morning and catching the ferry around 7am. stop overnight - somewhere like Dijon (nothing flash) and then Sunday morning make my way down to Marseille around 7am.
on the way back - I am looking to book the ferry back for Monday 10/08 at around 4pm. that would mean I would have to leave at 4am to take into account stoppages etc.
the alternative is leaving Marseilles around 7am driving to Calais and then spend the night there. Then get the Ferry early Tuesday morning around 8 and be back in brum for midday Tuesday.
I would appreciate anyone who has made the journey with kids view on this.
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It would be a great road trip on your own or with the lads, but it's a hell of a lot of travelling for a relatively short length of time at your destination, especially for your wife and daughter.
Personally I'd be flying and hiring a car down there (if you need one). When you add up the price of fuel, tolls, overnight accommodation etc, there probably wouldn't be much in the cost. It would certainly be a much more relaxing holiday.
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It would be a great road trip on your own or with the lads, but it's a hell of a lot of travelling for a relatively short length of time at your destination, especially for your wife and daughter.
Personally I'd be flying and hiring a car down there (if you need one). When you add up the price of fuel, tolls, overnight accommodation etc, there probably wouldn't be much in the cost. It would certainly be a much more relaxing holiday.
Flights £250 x 2 (or 3?) (return)
900 miles in a mk7 must be what 150 quid each way? Spiltballing, no idea what they get fuel wise, plus accommodation, yeah, there probably isn't much in it.
I agree, 900 miles in 2 days with a 2y/o on board might get stressful.
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It's 12 hours london to Avignon non stop on a good run no issues.
I would stop over south of Paris a room can be had for 50 euros camping even cheaper.
For personal trips I use eurostar and hog the bar carriage but you have to book in advance to get it cheap, its cheaper to fly but I hate planes and airports I do enough of that for work.
They go direct from KCSP to Marseille these days daily.
First time is fun so do it.....
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Thought about plane etc but no direct flights from Brum via Amsterdam only which makes the journey more tedious for me. Tbh it's all very last minute my in laws convinced my mrs that it's a good idea so there are two cars driving down they are staying for 15 nights us 7. The in laws have done it often. I'll try if it goes tits up never again and I will put it down to a life lesson.
I will reassess the costs tonight properly and make a decision. Thank you all for the help though anything worthwhile doing whilst I am down there
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Posting my last night in the South of France whilst streaming MOTD. Will update properly when I get back but was an 'easy' drive down. Due to the ferry times the LO slept most of the way down. Leave Monday morning (2am) for ferry at 8pm from Dunkirk.
Avg 56MPG on the way down and diesel is cheap here on the continent. Absolute beautiful weather down here not really wanting to come back so early wouldn't mind another week.
Sat Nav really helped when it picked up traffic it re-routed me.
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Posting my last night in the South of France whilst streaming MOTD. Will update properly when I get back but was an 'easy' drive down. Due to the ferry times the LO slept most of the way down. Leave Monday morning (2am) for ferry at 8pm from Dunkirk.
Avg 56MPG on the way down and diesel is cheap here on the continent. Absolute beautiful weather down here not really wanting to come back so early wouldn't mind another week.
Sat Nav really helped when it picked up traffic it re-routed me.
Weather is awesome, I have been looking at buying a place out there over the next 6 months. (Pont Saint Esprit area)
I can almost retire or at least not work for 5 years or so :cool:
Just drove from Basel to Dusseldorf, then onto Eindhoven and back to Basel.
Only car I could get was a 1.4 Opel Astra, most hateful piece of crap ever.
Having a nice car to drive is a big part of long journeys :grin:
Glad you enjoyed it
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Glad you enjoyed it too MrP.
I'm sure it won't be your last - and it gets even easier the more often your do it.
Glad it all went well.
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Glad you enjoyed it too MrP.
I'm sure it won't be your last - and it gets even easier the more often your do it.
Glad it all went well.
Thanks. I would definitely do it again as the little one did v well. On the way back left at 2am with stoppages etc got to Dunkirk for about 3. Managed to get on the 6 o clock ferry eventhough I had booked a later on (flexi well worth it). was back in England for 8. Took nearly 3 hours to get to brum due to M1 traffic. Typical no traffic in France bumper to bumper on the m1 by MK.
Next time 14 days minimum 8 days went by too quickly.