Driving to Marseille - any tips

[AsifG]

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

[VW BUSH]

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 
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
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....

[Kushner]

Did you get safety instructions for traveling?

[Misterp]

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.

[dubber36]

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.

[Waspy]

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.

[VW BUSH]

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.....

[Misterp]

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

[Misterp]

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.

[VW BUSH]

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


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
Glad you enjoyed it