1st time doing Self drive to DLRP in March - Advice?

[disney_rocks_86]

Yep in March me and my family Will be setting off on our 2nd trip as a family to DLRP - but this is the 1st time we or I will be doing self drive.
I know we have to get certain things in the car but much advice is needed and appreciated.

Starting to get super excited!!!!

Thank you all

 

[tennisfan]

I nearly always drive, it so straight forward. A couple of useful threads below

here & here

If your car is diesel then fill up in France before coming back as its way cheaper there then in the UK

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

We're driving for the first time in March too! I think it seems pretty straightforward, just remember the equipment you need to carry with you and your not allowed to have your satnav set to detect speed cameras.

 

[disney_rocks_86]

Thanks everyone - I've managed to get a few bits together all ready - can anyone suggest a good set of French road maps?

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Just a reminder that you must cut speed from 130 to 110 in wet weather on auto-routes. Hopefully though you will have wall-to-wall sunshine on your trip!

 

[disney_rocks_86]

Just a reminder that you must cut speed from 130 to 110 in wet weather on auto-routes. Hopefully though you will have wall-to-wall sunshine on your trip!

Thank you I didn't know that at all?!!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Just a reminder that you must cut speed from 130 to 110 in wet weather on auto-routes. Hopefully though you will have wall-to-wall sunshine on your trip!

You also should drop from 90 to 70, 70 to 50 and 50 to 30 depending on wether you are on a National, Departmental or in town if the weather is bad

You will see however than most people don't bother and continue as before especially on auto routes as the speed cameras aren't automatically down graded, they stay at 130 or 110 depending on where they are

 

[disney_rocks_86]

You also should drop from 90 to 70, 70 to 50 and 50 to 30 depending on wether you are on a National, Departmental or in town if the weather is bad

You will see however than most people don't bother and continue as before especially on auto routes as the speed cameras aren't automatically down graded, they stay at 130 or 110 depending on where they are

Oh my thank you! where can I find out all this info? Looks like I need to do some swatting up!

 

[markpsych]

A sat nav is very handy, especially if you want to explore a bit. Also helps to find petrol stations which are much cheaper from somewhere like an Auchan supermarket garage, than the motorways service garages

Where are you staying?

 

[redsonja76]

You have to have the alcohol brethalyzer kit for your car now. Here in Germany they cost like 10 Euro. I'm sure you could buy them at the gas station right before you hit the border.

 

[moorhunhe]

Yeah, I believe you need 2 of those alcohol testers, but I have no idea where you can get them.
I've heard they are only about 3 €?

I still need to get those myself for our trip in February.

Also, you need fluorescent vests.

 

[MickeysFavouriteGirl]

You can get breathalyzers in amazon or halfords.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

I see you are driving down the day before us so if we see a family looking lost and as if they have been driving round in circles for 24 hours we'll direct you along! Seriously, you'll be fine - much nicer driving than on the British side.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I won't worry too much about the breathalyser kits as the enforcement period with the fine hasn't started yet - Atm it's now the 1st of March as it got put back from last November.

You can buy them in hypermarkets like Auchan and Carrefour.

The Hi-Vis is only required for the driver but if you want one for everyone it could be a good idea

 

[ManCityMickey]

We (I) drove for our first road trip to DLP last June. We drove to Ashford on the Saturday, stayed at the Travelodge, then set off for the Tunnel early on Sunday morning.

I was quite apprehensive about driving on the "wrong side of the road", but it turned out to be a doddle!

It took me about 80 kilometres to realise the "Aires" are rest areas along the Autoroutes - good for the emergency comfort break!!

I would suggest that you invest in a Sat-Nav, it helped us around the "tricky part" near CDG Airport, other than that it was quite easy.

If I can be any more help, just ask - as Carrie_Cat is on this thread, you will get some brilliant advice from her.

We also booked the Travelodge for our return journey. It was fab knowing we had i=until 6pm to play in the Parks, before heading back to Blighty.

 

[disney_rocks_86]

Thank you so much for everyone's help - we are staying over at the premier inn the night before the 25th for the crossing at 6am 26th, we're driving from East Yorkshire so really needed to break up the journey - haven't decided on the journey back crossing is at 8pm so have to figure out the journey back. we've tracked down breathalysers at Halfords, got to get stickers for the lights next :-s. I still prob will as much more advice on this thread too
Huge thanks again - and more advice welcome in spades

 

[moorhunhe]

At CDG the thing is, to just go straight ahead, underneath the landing-road/tunnel.

We made the mistake once to take a sidelane (which first said it was going straight ahead, but then turned to the right), and it went to the parking lot of the airport

 

[Jonjo]

Thank you so much for everyone's help - we are staying over at the premier inn the night before the 25th for the crossing at 6am 26th, we're driving from East Yorkshire so really needed to break up the journey - haven't decided on the journey back crossing is at 8pm so have to figure out the journey back. we've tracked down breathalysers at Halfords, got to get stickers for the lights next :-s. I still prob will as much more advice on this thread too
Huge thanks again - and more advice welcome in spades

Don't forget your high visibility vest for everyone in the car and keep them inside the car where you can reach them and not the boot. Plus switch off the speed camera mode on your sat nav and you will be fine.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Don't forget your high visibility vest for everyone in the car and keep them inside the car where you can reach them and not the boot. Plus switch off the speed camera mode on your sat nav and you will be fine.

As in my previous post the Hi-Vis vest is only obligatory by law for the driver in France (it is pp in Italy) so if you don't have several of them don't worry,and it should be kept inside the car as should more importantly the triangle which again is 1 only in France (and 2 in Spain)

 

[stargatebarbie]

hi i no nothing about driving but im just waving from east yorkshire (hull) xwe are going by overnight bus so someone else will be doing the driving