Quote: Originally posted by ben9 on 26/9/2010
I and people with far greater knowledge on this subject than myself are all of the thinking that gassing is about as real as the tooth fairy, easter bunny et al.
I do not doubt that these people may have been robbed overnight, but many will say that just to make an insurance claim.
------------- Click on My Homepage for Blog
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I used to live in France and would drive back to the UK a couple of times a year. I always drove through the night. The autoroutes are empty and even though they might not be well lit there is very little traffic. I could drive for hours without passing or being passed by another vehicle or even seeing another vehicle. Avoid Paris even at night and if you want to take non autoroute option you will still find roads fairly empty and a pleasure to drive on.
You will have to remember that driving non autoroute through the night that petrol stations will be closed, although large supermarkets do have 24h services but only using credit cards since the stations are unmanned.
When driving in France make sure you take high visibility jackets, it's French law and if stopped you will be fined. You also need the usual safety stuff like a warning triangle.
If you can drive on the congested roads in the uk you will find it easy to drive in France.
On our first trip 3 years ago we did the ferry Dover to Calais then travelled all the way to the Vendee region.
Roads are a doddle and i prefer to ride on the right hand side of the road its easier.
Only thing we learnt was not to travel the whole journey to the west or south of france in one trip ,you can do it but it is really is a long drive.Do the euortunnel instead its more expensive but quicker and you have direct access onto the motorways.We always travel at night,nothing on the road and gets you to your destination quicker.
If your going to south of france stop off in the loire valley then make the rest of the journey the following day.Dont go to the west of france you dont always get the hot weather every day, travel south its hotter and sunnier.
We seem to drive back at night on alternative years.its a bit like childbirth we seem to forget how freaky we find it.and tiring we find it.
We found it very dark due to no road lights, but very easy to do route as the roads are clear.
One year we found it 'tres freaky' when we had to drive back during the most scarey storm. We stopped for a wee stop in what we called jokingly the eye of the storm to find that really was the case and we still had to drive out the other side.
We have now settled for day driving with an overnight stop.