Driving from Belgium

[cookie334]

Ok following my last post, I've been looking at the ferry. My SIL works for the ferry company so sure we could get a bit off the cost, but it's £100 cheaper than flying to go from Rosyth (5 minutes drive from where we are) to Zeebrugge. Plus we'd be saving around £100 for not needing to get the VEA to and from the airport.

Has anyone ever driven from Belgium? I'm trying to figure out if it is worth it or if there will be any hidden costs, so if someone could let me know if there are tolls? How long it takes (google maps say 3.5 hours)? What the roads are like? I'm a nervous driver, so I wouldn't drive, but even OH has been put off driving in France after our taxi drivers the last time. Is petrol cheaper/more expensive in France? Any info much appreciated.

[SandraVB79]

I'm from Belgium, and the last 1.5 years, I have driven about 10 times to Disney (or the Paris area).
IMO, the drive is quite pleasant, especially from the moment you're on the peage => road is very good, and there are 3 lanes, which means the French have two lanes to double you ;)

While the French have a special driving style, as long as you are on the freeways, you shouldn't have too much to worry about (unless you drive at a 100 km/h on the left lane, but then even I will flash my lights to get you moving ;) )

From Zeebrugge, you should take the road to Lille, from Lille the one that goes to the A1 to Paris. You pay at the péage in Senlis (coming from Brussels, I pay 12.60 eur, no idea how much it is when coming from Lille, but it should be in the same range). After the tunnels of the CDG airport, you have to exit the A1 to get on the Francilienne (just keep following the marne-la-vallée signs!). ONce on the Francilienne, you have to drive for 20 or so km, and then get on the A4, NOT the direction of Paris, but the other (Metz, Nancy, I think, it says peage), couple of exits further, you have Mickey's exit :)

From Brussels, I need 3.5-4 hours to get there, depending on the peage and how many stops my mom needs :rolleyes: , it should be about the same from Zeebrugge, I think.

I hope this helps.

[Cyrano]

We travelled on the Superfast a few years ago. Apart from realising that our French road map was no use for the return trip :rolleyes1 We had no difficulties with driving from Zeebrugge.

[cookie334]

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it.

We did, however, decide just to pay the money for the flights (which went up in price AGAIN) but we know what we're doing with that and having looked at Superfast, you can only book 2 months in advance. I certainly wouldn't want to leave it that long in case something went wrong or prices weren't what I thought as the flights prices would be through the roof by then.

Cyrano - I would imagine it was quite relaxing? It is something I do really fancy doing sometime though, maybe next time ;) Where about are you from that you used the Superfast, if you don't mind me asking?