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Looks like we will head for La Garangoire next year and  see there are two ways we could go. Quickest is Alencon, Le Mans, Angers or do we go Caen, Rennes, Nantes. Looks like its about 20 miles further the 2nd route, 45 mins longer but much less in tolls. We will be going on a Saturday at the end of May so not peak season.

What do you reckon. We have a MH so are charged Class 2 tolls and having travelled back from Saumur to Calais this year was shocked at the cost between Saumur and south of Rouen (nearly 50 euros).

May be we go Caen, Rennes, Nantes going and come back the quicker way as ferry leaves Le Havre at 5pm so we will have less time. This year we went non toll roads (a bit tedious) to our overnight north of Le Mans but saved enough in tolls that it paid for our meal out that night.

As it is out of high season I would go the Caen, Rennes, Nantes route. It is much cheaper and more scenic. The other route is boring and expensive but far quicker in high season when the Nantes ring road can get overloaded.

Susie

Quote: Originally posted by ArtJackson on 20/11/2009

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What I reckon is that non toll roads are interesting not tedious, If I was going in a motorhome I would just park in a town square for the night on't way down & find a reasonably priced resturant.

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Yes, I agree - I consider my holiday to start from the minute we leave our driveway. I love driving through France on the smaller roads - minimal traffic and it's so interesing to see the non-tourist part of a country.

However, I can understand that it takes a heck of a lot longer and I've never done it towing before - going in June and August next year, so will probably have to use some motorways then but will try to keep it to a minimum.

I was on a motorbike trip in France earlier this year and I was leading a small group down a very straight, main road. My sat-nav showed it going on for another 8 miles dead-straight (must have been an old Roman road)!! So I thought, sod this, and turned off at the next small road. We drove through some little lanes, past farms and a couple of tiny villages, turned a corner and we were in a little town with the most amazing town square, huge church and a couple of superb little cafe's and restaurants - best lunch we had all trip and best detour ever

...and I still have no idea where or what the town was called!

Nelmo - we've done just that, too - probably found the same little town!  We even do it with the caravan on the back.  We've also found lovely markets, craft fairs, picnic spots, and generally not had a problem parking the caravan at all.  Our holiday often has no real destination - which is different from Pager33 - we're just going 'somewhere' - we just never make our minds up until we get there!!!

We love the non-toll routes now - and the only time we tend to pay is to go around a city where the alternative is horrendous (Orleans springs to mind) and we pay for a stretch before we join the A75. 

Quote: Originally posted by pager33 on 20/11/2009

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Looks like we will head for La Garangoire next year and  see there are two ways we could go. Quickest is Alencon, Le Mans, Angers or do we go Caen, Rennes, Nantes. Looks like its about 20 miles further the 2nd route, 45 mins longer but much less in tolls. We will be going on a Saturday at the end of May so not peak season.

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The classic route is Le Havre, Lieurey, Bernay, Alencon,Le Mans, Angers. Used much by HGV's but not on Saturdays/Sundays.

Nice to pass by Falaise, and Sees, and the route is quite scenic in general.

FM

Quote: Originally posted by Wenpip on 20/11/2009

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out of interest.. whats the journey time? we are doing Le G from Le havre in the summer

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Depends on route, time of year, and day of week, and time of day, but roughly 4 to 5 hrs

FM

wenpip,

I see you have a tent so will be charged class 1 on the tolls, according to Michelin its 299 miles, taking 4hrs 25 mins costing £29.41 fuel and tolls £26.89 thats Alencon/Le mans/Angers.

Going the other route via Caen, Rennes and Nantes its 313 miles, taking 5hrs 5 mins costing £31.59 fuel and tolls £10.03. These prices are based on diesel as thats what we use.

For the MH or a car/caravan the costs are fuel £29.41 and tolls £43.18 taking 4hrs 54 mins. The Caen/Rennes/Nantes route is £31.59 fuel and alot better price on the tolls of £14.39 taking 5hrs 42mins.

Personally I think the fuel costs are very optimistic but the tolls are right. We would save just under £60 return in tolls going the slightly longer way.

Taking a car the longer way will only save £25 return so if it was me with just a car I'd go the Alencon, Le Mans, Angers route.

Hi all

We used the new A28 route to the Vendee this year (August) and it cost just over 40 euros with car and caravan, so yes its expensive.

The only problem we encountered was in Rouen where the sat nav said turn left but that was a no left turn, we ended up going back into Rouen, no fun with caravan, but we did manage to turn around, (policeman shaking head on corned ops a daisy).

We found on the return it was better taking the second exit into rouen, this was then a straight road through.

However if you use the old route, ie via caene etc, then you would not go near rouen.

We are swaying towards the old route for next yaer.

When we travel down to Logis (SW France) we always do Caen-Rennes-Nantes, as Vic said there are good stopping places (good aires) and we've always had a straightforward and successful journey (ie no hold-ups). However, we did get stuck once on the way home, Nantes peage Gare de Bignon on a Saturday at the beginning of August is no fun. But you'll be fine in May.