Calais to south of France (1 Viewer)

[simi]

Hi all just booked ferry for 4th September going to south of France for a month, can anyone recommend good campsite aires by the sea. Also couple of stops on the way, plan to go on motorway many thanks

 

[chatter]

happen i was you i would stick with 'N' roads. Most 'N' roads are duel carriageway and good yes motorways are quicker but a lot more expensive not only for tolls but for fuel as well, and you miss so much of France on them. Most aires, campsites etc are on or near 'N' roads and 'D' roads on your route down, there are lovely towns with aires as well

 

[B-well]

do not go motorway use route nationale you will see so much of country side, sunshine out nice village stop for x3 days and enjoy, why rush and try to keep speed of flow going on a motorway

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[hilldweller]

Hi all just booked ferry for 4th September going to south of France for a month, can anyone recommend good campsite aires by the sea. Also couple of stops on the way, plan to go on motorway many thanks

Go mad and buy the ACSI DVD and Discount book.

Then trust in Google Maps, it won't let you down.

 

[JOHNSTEY]

I wouldn't go on the peage. Why pay for motorway and miss all the scenery/nice towns/aires and good places to stop.France is for pootling through and you still get to where you want to go but feel happier and more relaxed when you get there!:thumb:

 

[callumwa]

As said.......

Stay off the motorwaysoh:......


enjoy the countryside, stop at your leisure, there are Aires and campsites EVERYWHERE in France.....

The journey is such a big part of the FUN.......:thumb:

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[yodeli]

[/FWhere in south France are you going to? You can stop at my place everything is free Wi-Fi but you've got to have a smiling face!!!ONT[SIZE="5"][/SIZ[This user does not have permission to use the HTML BB code.HTML][/HTML]E]]

Amicalement


Frankie

 

[simi]

Thanks,
On non motorway roads, going to the South of france, if I put the route in the sat nav it comes out with a route that takes 18hours? which is a lot more, any one got a good route to St Tropez using non motorway roads

 

[simi]

Johnstey

We have the same camper the Knaus 650 on a 06 plate how do you like it, any problems? Its our first Camper and we have it a year,

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[Barclaybasher]

Thanks,
On non motorway roads, going to the South of france, if I put the route in the sat nav it comes out with a route that takes 18hours? which is a lot more, any one got a good route to St Tropez using non motorway roads

Everyone will tell you to avoid the toll roads, because driving on the main roads is so much more relaxing in France, you will see a lot more and it's free.
I only use toll roads (or even dual carriageways) if I'm in a hurry.
If you take your time you might find the trip as enjoyable as the destination.

 

[veevee]

simi, it's horses for courses.

France is beautiful in most regions, the infrastructure in the main is very well cared for in the main with people being proud of their village/town/region, they try to look after it.

We drove around 750 km last Thursday, all N roads and D roads, it was beautiful indeed.

Chatter, out of the maybe 650 km of N roads only about 80 km was dual carriageway, the rest was what we would normally expect, ranging from wide and open to small and almost lane like (N7 - N151 - N77 and then back again). That is generally our experience in the main.

On another trip we will use only motorways, and if cost is not a factor they are unmatchable for simplicity, ease of use, rest facilities, sometimes scenery you can't get on N roads, and speed.

Some want to get to somewhere to enjoy their destination, the next want to take a week to get somewhere you can drive on an autoroute in a day, some want some of each.

There doesn't appear to be a balanced view regarding autoroutes, and some would have us believe they are inhabited by the devil. They serve a purpose and that purpose may or may not suit you.

Take all the info people on here are offering and make the choices that suit you.

 

[yodeli]

http://www.france-voyage.com/circuits/


Have a look at this site ... There is a little english flag to have it in your language. I did not try it , but may be it coud help you to make your own route???

Let us know what you think!


Amicalement

Frankie:Cool:

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[simi]

Thank You all so much for your valuable output, we will let you know what we decide. Love this site everyone is so helpful

 

[WynandJean]

(I am replying to this on the assumption that you are new to it so please don't take offence if I'm teaching you to suck eggs)

We've just returned from a similar trip taking five weeks in all. We live in the midlands and crossed to Calais (one way ticket to avoid being tied to a return date). We only paid one toll (by accident) apart from the one on the Pont De Normandie. We took about a week to get down and another to come back to Calais. Stayed alongside my brother's boat in South Of France when we got there.

Not sure whether you have been to France before but the first thing that we realised when we first travelled there was just how vast a country it is. It may not be apparent by looking at the map but there is an awful lot of it. Also it has to be said that, as others have mentioned, it really is worth taking time to see as much of it as you can unless there is a pressing need to career down motorways. I did do a trip once where I did neeed to go via motorway/autobahn and it was just tiring, nothing more.

Our recent trip consisted of driving in the general direction we needed to go then finding a nearby aire whenever we felt like it. It's a relaxing and interesting way to travel. During the five weeks we saw such a variety of places: Villages, towns, cities, beaches and plenty of countryside. We passed through the alps and pyrenes area and had weather with temperatures similar to britain in the north and HOT mediterranean temps in the south.

You may find this thread useful

Broken Link Removed

particularly my comments about gas.

Hope this is useful but if you have anything you're not sure about am very willing to share our experiences.

Wyn

 

[hilldweller]

it comes out with a route that takes 18hours?

One thing becomes obvious when you do it - France is quite a big country.

18 hours, say 3 x 6 hour days, sounds about right to me.

Sort of depends on if you "want to get there" ( that's me usually ) or "want to chill out and experience France".

I'd be thinking Calais, Trois, Grenoble, St Trop.

But since St Trop is a bit posh you'll not find a whole lot of camping and anything in that region will cost an arm and a leg.

The ACSI DVD shows 3 sites near Port Grimaud.

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