France

[Enjibenji5]

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all ok?
We are driving to Spain just after Christmas and as it's our first time I have loads of questions.
I am just going through what documents we need and have seen that we might need a vignette. We want to get from Calais to Irun, will we need it to go this route also whats the best route to avoid tolls?
Thanks

 

[rb62]

Tonka's Western route to Spain

My often used, mostly toll free, route into Spain and to Benidorm in particular.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[cliffanger]

You need @Tonka’s Route to the Sun.

Tonka's Western route to Spain

My often used, mostly toll free, route into Spain and to Benidorm in particular.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

We’ve used it every time and it hasn’t failed us yet!

 

[cliffanger]

rb62 - so good, it was worth saying twice!

 

[Enjibenji5]

Oh thanks , that's very helpful.
I am taking Wolfie with me and have booked rabies jab, paperwork etc. What vets do you use near Calais for worm tablet to return to England.

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

 

[Enjibenji5]

I just printed it off, thanks.

 

[cliffanger]

Enjibenji5 - we can’t help with that, but you won’t have to wait long for someone to come along and answer the pet related question!

 

[Mikeco]

We will be doing the same run starting with an early tunnel trip on December 28, will probably use the A16, A28 to Rouen before using the non toll N154 and N10.

 

[cliffanger]

I just printed it off, thanks.

We’ve also stayed on all the aires Steve tonka lists, and they are all good.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Tonka's Western route to Spain

My often used, mostly toll free, route into Spain and to Benidorm in particular.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I assume its the same one I take.

But I cannot seem to download it? (Mac)

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

 

[Camdoon]

Rouen introduced their CritAir charge last September, you should be ok but be aware.

 

[Enjibenji5]

We are going early the 27th, have a lovely trip. How many stops do you do in France and are they at aires?

 

[Enjibenji5]

Rouen introduced their CritAir charge last September, you should be ok but be aware.

I will need to check that then thanks.

 

[rb62]

Oh thanks , that's very helpful.
I am taking Wolfie with me and have booked rabies jab, paperwork etc. What vets do you use near Calais for worm tablet to return to England.

Whatever you do don't use one near Calais! the closer you get to Calais the more expensive it gets,
plenty of info on MHF if you use the search function (top right) Also info on how to get your AHC for £99

 

[Camdoon]

Oh thanks , that's very helpful.
I am taking Wolfie with me and have booked rabies jab, paperwork etc. What vets do you use near Calais for worm tablet to return to England.

Spain if possible.

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

 

[brynric]

Last winter we stayed overnight at Le Crotoy, Lac de St Cyr (near Poitier) and Labenne. We avoid Rouen by taking the A29 to Yvetot then head S to meet up with the A28 again.
We use a mix of toll/non-toll. It’s a long way and it’s useful to put in long fast stretches at times. Some of the non-toll roads can be very stop-start.
Can’t help with dog as we are dogless at the moment and not familiar with current regs. In the past we’ve used a vet in Honfleur.

 

[royandsharont]

Just to answer you initial question you do not have a vignette in France for their toll motorways, it’s either pay at machine or have a tag system Enjoy

 

[steve69]

Tonka's Western route to Spain

My often used, mostly toll free, route into Spain and to Benidorm in particular.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Yes, Tonka's route to spain is excellent work. BUT please double check on your aires as some things have changed since Covid.
At least one Aire has closed (Mont-de-Marsan) and a new one opened a kilometre or 2 away.

 

[Enjibenji5]

Just to answer you initial question you do not have a vignette in France for their toll motorways, it’s either pay at machine or have a tag system Enjoy

So I can go straight through Rouen without a vignette if I use toll roads?

 

[rb62]

So I can go straight through Rouen without a vignette if I use toll roads?

Search 'route through Rouen'

No vignettes in France just clean air zones for which you need a 'crit d'air' if you intend to enter them,which is unlikely.

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

 

[Spriddler]

So I can go straight through Rouen without a vignette if I use toll roads?

Correct, if you stick to the through-traffic (Crit'air exempt) route which you can find as suggested by rb62 above.

 

[Boldly]

Critair sticker is less than a fiver and lasts the life of the vehicle. Worth getting one just in case you need it. You may fancy Paris or get lost somewhere for instance

 

[Enjibenji5]

Just got one £3.98 just to be on the safe side.

 

[Just smiffy]

Download park4night or searchforsites and they will give you all the aires you need, if your in no hurry to get there then go toll free it will take you through some lovely places…

 

[royandsharont]

Just got one £3.98 just to be on the safe side.

They seem to be taking some time to come, mine was ordered & confirmed by them on 5/10 but has not arrived as yet. I queried it with them earlier this week but no reply so far.

The German one came pretty quickly.

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

 

[Enjibenji5]

They seem to be taking some time to come, mine was ordered & confirmed by them on 5/10 but has not arrived as yet. I queried it with them earlier this week but no reply so far.

The German one came pretty quickly.

Would they be able to check electronically though?

 

[Just smiffy]

Would they be able to check electronically though?

Don’t worry about it, it won’t be a deal breaker… you probably won’t need it but it’ll be nice to have for that just in case, I’ve driven in cities over there without and it takes a copper to notice and they don’t seem bothered. If it comes stick it on if it don’t then don’t fret, it’s not like your driving into cities and hanging around in them for days, just enjoy your trip….

 

[Enjibenji5]

Thanks for all your help

 

[Offagain]

I echo the comments about not using a vet near Calais on your return trip.
We‘ve returned twice this year (had our pup since February). The first time we used a vet in Caudry, just south of Cambrai in the east of France, and recently one in Oradour-sur-Vayres.
You have 24-120 hours (that’s up to 5 days) after the time of worming to get back into the U.K. so if you already have a return ferry or tunnel booked you can easily work it back.
In my (limited) experience, you won’t need to book with the vet a long time in advance, for me it was just a couple of days each time. However, vets such as the one in La Mailleraye-sur-Seine which are popular with returning Brits, may need more advance planning.
If you do facebook there’s a page called Recommended Vets for Tapeworm Treatment which is really useful and there’s a map of vets that people have used in their files https://www.facebook.com/groups/247367519467456/?ref=share&fs=e&s=cl
There are also a couple of AHC groups which I found useful the first time we went. She’s now got a Greek passport so no more AHC’s for us!

 

[Enjibenji5]

I echo the comments about not using a vet near Calais on your return trip.
We‘ve returned twice this year (had our pup since February). The first time we used a vet in Caudry, just south of Cambrai in the east of France, and recently one in Oradour-sur-Vayres.
You have 24-120 hours (that’s up to 5 days) after the time of worming to get back into the U.K. so if you already have a return ferry or tunnel booked you can easily work it back.
In my (limited) experience, you won’t need to book with the vet a long time in advance, for me it was just a couple of days each time. However, vets such as the one in La Mailleraye-sur-Seine which are popular with returning Brits, may need more advance planning.
If you do facebook there’s a page called Recommended Vets for Tapeworm Treatment which is really useful and there’s a map of vets that people have used in their files https://www.facebook.com/groups/247367519467456/?ref=share&fs=e&s=cl
There are also a couple of AHC groups which I found useful the first time we went. She’s now got a Greek passport so no more AHC’s for us!

Thank you thats great