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It's very likely that NitNat will be limited to 55 mph (90 kph) too, as that's a big caravan, and to tow it you'd need a biggish car, with a consequent speed restriction.  Viamichelin calculates speeds at maximum allowed speed and takes no account of reductions for combinations with a gross train mass of more than 3500 kgs.

NitNat haveyou taken into account the reduced speed limits for a large caravan/car combination in your calculations? 

'Knowledge' only comes from years of experience, and I must admit even in our 'with children' days we never booked anywhere on return journeys because we always found our journey times to be so variable.  Some days we seemed to have really good runs, and got more miles under our belts, other days we got less.  However, I do understand why you need to book. 

I would decide (absolutely) on which route you're going to take, then calculate likely best and worst distances and pick somewhere in the middle of that area then I'm sure someone will know of a site to suit you and your requirements.

I must admit, if I were in your shoes, with a deadline of a ferry, then I would pay the tolls and use the Rhone Valley route.  The A75/A71/Rouen route always seems to take longer coming back than going down (anyone else thought the same thing?)

Quote: Originally posted by nitnat on 13/3/2013

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Thanks Val we are using tolls, always prefer the easy option! We are on the tunnel so do have some flexibility time wise, and always book a later one than we would actually want too, to help time wise.

So would you suggest the Rouen (depending upon how you find it with the road closures etc when you go!) going down(I trust there are tolls that route too?) and then Rhone valley route coming home from Perpignan? Does that take us nearer Paris? Not that it should be a problem, and surely the tolls bypass it all anyway?

Going to get the big map out when I get chance to study and familiarise myself with regions etc!

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I think I would do Rouen/Chartres downwards, and then the Rhone Valley back, yes, because you've go deadlines to keep to and it's more straightforward and motorway all the way.

Using the Rhone Valley route you can head up towards Paris from Dijon, but then use the E104 (Francilienne) to avoid Paris itself.  This is less busy than the M25.  Or you could go via Reims, as I mentioned above, and keep well away from Paris.

The toll roads usually bypass cities - but in Paris most SatNavs try to direct you on to the Peripherique which is the inner ring road, and that can be very hairy indeed at times, and sometimes very congested, so personally I would avoid that.  The E104 is much further out and easier to negotiate.

It's quite a while since we went that way - we prefer non-toll routes these days, but I'm sure there'll be other suggestions of places to stay en-route.  We've stayed at the municipal site in Troyes, which is on your route - and I think that's fine for bigger caravans, and they take bookings - but perhaps someone can confirm that?

We've stayed at Salbris before and it's a good little overnight stop - close to the autoroute and dh loved the fishing for mirror carp in the lake on site.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7702 I think my review from a couple of years ago is here.

I prefer to book overnighters as well, even if we get to somewhere earlier it's nice to have a wander round and a small glass of something cold before sleep - I tend to be fairly conservative with daily travel times - my dd's are a bit like dogs in that they need a run round a field every so often :)

hth