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Quote: Originally posted by mzzy on 24/2/2010

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We have been on 3 holidays to France now, and tried not to use tolls (to keep cost down) Its been a big mistake!

Taken us hours and hours to get A to B, some bits are free motorway, which is great, but last year we went to Dordogne, last bit of road to Sarlat didn't look far, I didn't realise it was going right over a blooming mountain!!! o.k slight exaggeration, but it took us hours (with a caravan, lol)

This year we are happy to pay them, you learn by your mistakes!

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The last bit of road to Sarlat is winding, whichever way you approach it - but I know what you mean, about the end of a long journey - we discovered that on our first ever French camping trip in 1981!  The tolls to Sarlat, with a caravan, would be 50.50 euros in 2010.  However, if you're going to Spain (for instance) and use toll roads then it would cost you 123.10 euros on the Viamichelin recommended route.

The tolls can add significantly to the cost of your holiday, especially if you're going all the way south, and are on a limited budget.  Dunkerque to Montpellier, a route we use often, would cost us 85.00 euros extra if we used the toll roads - thats 8 nights campsite fees, or a probably three meals out with wine.  I know which I'd rather spend my money on - but as I said previously, we're not in a hurry to get anywhere.

To us that's a lot of spending money, and as I said, if you're meandering without a particular destination in mind, then driving through beautiful French countryside is part of our holiday - and along the way we've found some fantastic places, and lovely campsites which have now become favourites, not just for an overnight stop.

Hi, we go to France regularly and because we are going to the South west of France we use the toll roads. It's a lot quicker..........plus I can't get lost as easy reading the map

When we used to go to the Loire Valley we didn't really bother with toll roads.

The toll roads are good if you are going a long way as you know there are aires every 20 kilometres. One a big one with all facilities the next one a sort of picnic area with loos etc.

We've been to France lots of times now but haven't plucked up the courage to drive around Paris yet. It's Rouen every time for us

I've got to agree with ValA on this one, I think it depends on where you are going and how quick you want to get there etc  plus balanced out with campsite fees if you aren't in a rush I would save the money

Where ever you go and whichever way you decide to go have a great time

We are going to the Loire this year so will be giving the N roads a try as we only have 190 miles to do after our hotel in Rouen and it will help us avoid the Rouen-Le Mans stretch of toll road which is expensive for the distance. When we go further south we use the toll roads though as we are limited to 2 weeks with a stopover either end.

Even if we had the time I am not sure we would want to do long distances on N roads. I am one who likes to get where I'm going and for the life of me I cant see the journey as part of the holiday. The cost of the tolls is just something we have to take into account.

Carol

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  Having had a look at the AA website and the cost of French road tolls - it makes me realise what a great deal we get on our roads

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 just where abouts on the aa website is the toll charge info... i cant find it on the route planner , i would like to compare it with via michelin for my drive to spain, which appears to be about £43.

cheers stu

 ahh,, sorry  just found it.

under the european driving, toll charges bit......... where else

stu

Quote: Originally posted by Lakeotter on 24/2/2010

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Can one use other roads and miss the tolls or does one grit your teeth and just cough up? They seem to have picked the best routes to make toll roads - wonder what the French feel about it?

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Well we feel fine about it, but then that is all most French people have ever known..

I have been living in the UK for 13+ years now, and the road quality in France is much better. I commute/drive 120 miles a day and all I see is road works..when one finish, another lot starts somewhere else. And the protion of road I use is actually quite good. But the motorways are nowhere near as good, espcially when it comes to long distance travel. Which means that when I do go back to France I do not mind paying for the quality and facilities..

Ref. "they have picked the best routes to make toll roads": most motorway were not really built on top of existing roads. They were designed from scratch hence why their location might seem "better", i.e. they cut through the countryside, allowing wider/straighter roads... The down side is the effect on such contryside sometimes.

At the end of day you have the choice:

- Use motorways and you pay for the privilege of good straight roads, getting you from A to B very easily and with plenty of facilities.

- Use N roads if time isn't an issue and you want to enjoy the scenic routes. A lovely way to see France and national routes are still good quality. But you'll get caught in local traffic and at busy times the cost on fuel might not be negligible..

each to their own, the choice is yours...