Message Forums

Hey Vic! 

The Nantes ring road fooled us in the early hours of the morning - the centre of that is such a pretty place - and the castle is lit beautifully.  We really appreciated it at 2 in the morning - towing, plus leading another group of people!  I know why it fools folk - The route south is signposted Bordeaux rather than the next large town.  I'm hoping our Christmas present to us is as useful over there as it is in this country - we bought Sat Nav with street level Europe! 

My OH prefers to drive in France to driving in this country.  The level of traffic on their roads takes you back decades.  The autoroutes are a joy!

Quote: Originally posted by Pennine Plodder on 15/2/2006

---

Hey Vic! 

The Nantes ring road fooled us in the early hours of the morning - the centre of that is such a pretty place - and the castle is lit beautifully.  We really appreciated it at 2 in the morning - towing, plus leading another group of people!  I know why it fools folk - The route south is signposted Bordeaux rather than the next large town.  I'm hoping our Christmas present to us is as useful over there as it is in this country - we bought Sat Nav with street level Europe! 

My OH prefers to drive in France to driving in this country.  The level of traffic on their roads takes you back decades.  The autoroutes are a joy!

---

All this talk about Nantes sure scares the sh*t out of me!  I am taking my van for the 1st time this year (last 6 took our own tent) and have never liked driving along this part of the route, I am going Dover/Calais (£124 with CC) and will take the A28 now that it has been completed, if anybody has any advice on heading to Royan (St.Palais-sur-mer), then please feel free to comment befor 30th July,

thanks in advance and best regards, Martin 

Quote: Originally posted by Martin Lapham on 15/2/2006

---

All this talk about Nantes sure scares the sh*t out of me!  I am taking my van for the 1st time this year (last 6 took our own tent) and have never liked driving along this part of the route, I am going Dover/Calais (£124 with CC) and will take the A28 now that it has been completed, if anybody has any advice on heading to Royan (St.Palais-sur-mer), then please feel free to comment befor 30th July,

thanks in advance and best regards, Martin 

---

     Vic.......you are not the only one to end up in an industrial estate off the Nantes ring road.......   I found out how to get into IKEA .

This ones for Vic, 

 I am going from Calais to Rouen (overnight stop) then onto to Royan, and travelling along the A28, as this way was recommended by both Michelin and Mappy.

This ones for Pennine Plodder,

I know and I apologise, but somehow we went off along the way and it was much easier than starting a new thread,

best regards to all, Martin 

For Martin - on a purely economical note -

I checked out the traditional route (via Caen/Avranches/Nantes) and the toll cost without a caravan is 27.60euros - with one is 32.40euros. 

The Calais/Rouen/Royan route in tolls, without caravan is going to cost 47.90euros, with a caravan 75.60euros.

Bear in mind this is one way and therefore the cost will be doubled for your return journey.

The Calais/Rouen/Royan route will take 8and a half hours straight driving.

The Calais/Caen/Royan route will take 11 hours straight driving (according to Mappy) - We and other friends have made it in 9 and a half hours. 

Plus of course you did say you were stopping over part way down.....

For P.P.

Thanks for looking out for me, after your first reply, I thought you were holding something against me for intruding on your thread, as for the driving costs/distance ie.Tolls/Time/Petrol  This hopefully will be offset by the cost of the return ferry, £124 as regards to around the £500 mark, also as my eldest (13) gets seasick, then we are always dictated by the shortest possible crossing. I do not mind the extra Toll costs, as this will be the first time I have taken the Van abroad and have not yet had much towing experience (got the van in November), as the autoroutes are quieter, it will hopefully be less stressful, other wise it will be a choice of caffene or cocaine, to help me relax,

best regards, Martin