first time in france advice (1 Viewer)

[Lozsing]

we getting the tunnel over Thursday night and are away till the following Saturday. 9 nights. Looking at the weather its a bit hit and miss. I thought of driving straight down to La Rochelle over a couple of days and then spending the rest of our time coming back along the coast.
what do you people think
I am open to any ideas

 

[BreweryDave]

France is just somewhere to pass through to get to cheaper countries.......imho

 

[Lozsing]

i don't have the time to go further south this time going to for 3 weeks in september

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[BreweryDave]

Germany?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Just go, if the weather is bad in La Rochelle, move inland , lots of aires and places to visit, just enjoy.

 

[DavidG58]

France is just somewhere to pass through to get to cheaper countries.......imho

or to buy MH's or get gainful employment

and Germany instead of France??

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[adonisito]

Just head to the Loire then come back . 9 days is just about enough for that. La Rochelle would be too far for me.

 

[WillH]

Buy a paper with the tourist weather forecast then plan your destination. The Auchan at Coquelles is where we go to fuel, store and buy the paper.

 

[Chris]

France is just somewhere to pass through to get to cheaper countries.......imho

A man after my own heart.

If they made a bigger effort to speak English I might change my mind.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nirvanauk]

Just head to the Loire then come back . 9 days is just about enough for that. La Rochelle would be too far for me.

This sounds a good idea. France is great.

 

[Allanm]

You could get to La Rochelle in a couple of days taking it relatively easy and travel back up the coast towards St Nazaire. Or, if you don’t want to go that far, the south Brittany coast is nice to visit with some stunning beaches although I don’t know what the weather will be like. We live in the middle of Brittany and have had temperatures of up to 27 degrees in the last week.

 

[BreweryDave]

or to buy MH's or get gainful employment

and Germany instead of France??

Means to an end dear boy, means to an end With sufficient ‘perks’ to make it worthwhile Looking forward to seeing you both there

And yes, I’d take Germany over France every day, nicer, cleaner, friendlier, cheaper, and the only country I’ve ever visited where the bar staff give you a large beer every time without asking what size you want

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Clarky]

If you haven’t already done it download a couple of weather apps plus CamperContact.
Let the weather be your guide and use CamperContact to find where to stop.
Loads of lovely places to find inland as well as on the coast.

Just shout if you want advice on places.

Richard.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Looking at Ventusky.com, I would stay east and not worth long journeys south when there is so much to see.
Try Arras, a lovely town square and if wet, you could visit the Wellington Caves, tunnelled out by New Zealander’s, it provided a hiding place for 20,000 troops before a big push to move the Germans back. Very moving as ultimately no ground made.
Then there is Rheims and the Champagne trail.
There are some aires around Lac du Der if you want cycling and walking.
Ventusky.com allows you to track the weather for about 10 day’s selecting precipitation or temperature etc.

 

[suavecarve]

If you head west then ensure you have a plan for getting round/through Rouen.
I thought we had it sussed after a few atempts but got taken through Rouen to the other side of the rocade. Probably cost me an hour and the only stress on this journey. Going round Paris from now on as same stress only quicker.
Alsace and champagne regions are excellent alternatives to la rochelle etc. A dam site more to see. The sea is still only for the brave or wetsuited up atm near Charente-Maritime so interesting stuff would be my plan with 9 days and you can pop over germany and pick up cheap diesel in luxembourg. Enjoy

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[dalspa]

Why not drive down to the Loire around Saumur and then head west to St. Nazaire and then down southwards down the coast. If the weather is good on the Loire (often warmer there than coast) then you will likely want to stay longer than planned. Lots to do and see along the Loire and not so far.
As others have said, follow the weather. We tend to have an idea of which direction we are going to turn when we get off the ferry, but often change our destination/itinerary when we get over there. Enjoy the near empty roads. Loads of Aires and campsites.

 

[Clarky]

I have an excellent plan for getting safely round Rouen.
We make a long diversion to the west via La Mailleraye-sur-Seine where we stop on the excellent Aire for a day or three.
Absolutely no stress or agro.

Richard.
PS. On our way there in the next hour or so, after breakfast.

 

[Jim]

Looking at Ventusky.com

I have that App, its excellent.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Four of us]

I have that App, its excellent.

I hadn't heard of Ventusky but downloaded it last night. It's great. Thanks riverbankannie

 

[Skyblue]

Is it the £3.99 one.
I love to find the sun but my oh does not.
Happy travels

 

[Lozsing]

I have an excellent plan for getting safely round Rouen.
We make a long diversion to the west via La Mailleraye-sur-Seine where we stop on the excellent Aire for a day or three.
Absolutely no stress or agro.

Richard.
PS. On our way there in the next hour or so, after breakfast.

If we arrived here at 8pm do you think we would get on at this time of year

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

Is it the £3.99 one.
I love to find the sun but my oh does not.
Happy travels

I just use the website in my browser.

 

[Clarky]

If we arrived here at 8pm do you think we would get on at this time of year

Sorry, just seen your post. Been too busy sitting in the sun.
There is loads of space here at the moment.
20 pitches free when we arrived at 2pm and about 8 have arrived since.
After they installed the credit card barriers there seem to be fewer vans on the aire. The French do like to be FLT's so having to pay €6 without being able to nip out when the man came round to collect the money doesn't seem to have gone down well.

Richard.

 

[Barclaybasher]

In Montmaralt, free aire, suns out, wine bottle open already - it'll be an early night


France is dearer than Spain though- by a lot!
Diesel 20 cents a litre more for starters

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Larby]

I have an excellent plan for getting safely round Rouen.
We make a long diversion to the west via La Mailleraye-sur-Seine where we stop on the excellent Aire for a day or three.
Absolutely no stress or agro.

Richard.
PS. On our way there in the next hour or so, after breakfast.

We do the same, also the Pont de Brotonne is FREE !
Easy parking for fuel and food at Intermarche Yvetot on the roundabout shortly before destination

 

[Lozsing]

Sorry, just seen your post. Been too busy sitting in the sun.
There is loads of space here at the moment.
20 pitches free when we arrived at 2pm and about 8 have arrived since.
After they installed the credit card barriers there seem to be fewer vans on the aire. The French do like to be FLT's so having to pay €6 without being able to nip out when the man came round to collect the money doesn't seem to have gone down well.

Richard.

Thanks for replying we have arrived at st valery sur Somme for the night. First night in France in mh. Just settling the nerves lol. What’s the French protocol for roundabout ‘s as if going for the third exit do you start in centre and come out or say in outside lane all the way round

 

[Barclaybasher]

Thanks for replying we have arrived at st valery sur Somme for the night. First night in France in mh. Just settling the nerves lol. What’s the French protocol for roundabout ‘s as if going for the third exit do you start in centre and come out or say in outside lane all the way round

French rules of the road......




There are no rules......



Expect the unexpected

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Shrimp]

I have an excellent plan for getting safely round Rouen.
We make a long diversion to the west via La Mailleraye-sur-Seine where we stop on the excellent Aire for a day or three.
Absolutely no stress or agro.

Richard.
PS. On our way there in the next hour or so, after breakfast.

Ditto!
Don’t know what your interests are but Concarneau is pleasant with it’s Close Ville, old buildings, restaurants and fort walls to walk along.
We found a 'pub' that served very nice Moules and lovely cold Guinness!

 

[Clarky]

Thanks for replying we have arrived at st valery sur Somme for the night. First night in France in mh. Just settling the nerves lol. What’s the French protocol for roundabout ‘s as if going for the third exit do you start in centre and come out or say in outside lane all the way round

In a large vehicle I always stay on the right all the way round keeping the indicators flashing to show that I’m going all the way round. The French boy racers will almost certainly belt round on your left and cut across your bows as they exit before you. Just watch your mirrors while watching the road ahead.............there are times when being cross eyed might be an advantage.
Also, don’t expect French drivers to indicate their intentions on roundabouts, it’s all part of the guessing game.
You will soon get used to French habits and within a couple of days you will feel as if you are an old hand.
Most importantly.................enjoy.

Richard.

 

[suavecarve]

Thanks for replying we have arrived at st valery sur Somme for the night. First night in France in mh. Just settling the nerves lol. What’s the French protocol for roundabout ‘s as if going for the third exit do you start in centre and come out or say in outside lane all the way round

Approach roundabout so cautiously that traffic behind you is nervous. Take up all available lanes and no indication until you have passed the penultimate junction. Use bot mirrors constantly.
Tactics differ if there is an impatient audio or BMW driver behind you. Just let them go as they will try anything to cut you up.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}