In praise of Autoroutes

[emjaiuk]

I know some people break out in a cold sweat at the price of a small baguette, but I'd just like to that French Autoroutes can be excellent value for money

We've just come back from a time constrained week or so in France, and made full use of toll roads. I firmly believe that apart from less strain and stress on the MH and driver our fuel consumption sailing along on cruise control is markedly better than on normal roads. you get what you pay for, with smooth and quiet road surfaces and traffic levels in the main that mean you hardly ever have to touch the brakes. Add in pleasant secure and frequent stopping areas and what's not to like.
The scenery is comparable to modern French dual carriageways as well. I've no objection to paying for quality or good service.

 

[Lenny HB]

Much nicer to travel via normal roads and pass through all the nice little villages and it keeps Mr. Wallet happy.

 

[emjaiuk]

If you've got the time Lenny, and my point is that all the extra wear and tear of roundabouts and traffic calming measures, to say nothing about the reintroduction of priorité a droite doesn't keep Mr Wallet happy long term

 

[Lenny HB]

My Motorhome only does 8000 - 10000 miles a year so a couple of thousand not on Autoroute is not going to make much odds. I don't really worry about fuel consumption but it goes up by nearly 10% on Autoroutes.
I do use the free ones occasionally but I won't pay for the privilege.

 

[Spriddler]

I know some people break out in a cold sweat at the price of a small baguette, but I'd just like to [say] that French Autoroutes can be excellent value for money

Maybe so, but I couldn't eat a whole one.

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[GAVLAD]

If you've got the time Lenny, and my point is that all the extra wear and tear of roundabouts and traffic calming measures, to say nothing about the reintroduction of priorité a droite doesn't keep Mr Wallet happy long term

It does if you drive a 5t tag axle that is charged as a class 4.
I worked it out that I couldn’t afford to go to Spain if I used the Autoroute all the way there and back

 

[emjaiuk]

I don't really worry about fuel consumption but it goes up by nearly 10% on Autoroutes.

That's weird, I find the exact opposite, and I usually travel at 90/100, albeit on cruise control. 3.5t exsis-i A class

 

[deleted79651]

This year will be the first trip with Brunhilde through France and Spain, although we have towed a Gobur Folding Caravan and then a 2 berth Swift Charisma Tourer. French autoroutes from our hovel in the Vendee, especially on the return trip, can often be eerily quiet, with 'spot the car' games, although the traffic does pick up around Angers.

Very relaxing drive, cruise control useful [but manual throttle is more economical], and the difference in fuel prices just about covers the toll fees. But we only have a small 3500kg Brunhilde, travelling Economy Class ... I was going to have a 'Tightwads Intend Touring Spain' logo emblazoned on the back of Brunhilde, until I thought about the acronym ... People who meet us reach that conclusion in 2 minutes anyway ...

Steve

 

[DangerMousy]

If you've got the time Lenny, and my point is that all the extra wear and tear of roundabouts and traffic calming measures, to say nothing about the reintroduction of priorité a droite doesn't keep Mr Wallet happy long term

Exactly yes - its all about time. I get the feeling a lot of people on here have forgotten what its like to only have 1 or 2 weeks available

We also use the toll roads extensively - not so much for the fuel efficiency but more because they're an easy way to cover long distances in a pretty much stress free way (even better on a Sunday when there are very few lorries on the roads!). We tend to stick the cruise control on at about 65 and sit back and relax. I usually use Google satellite/streetview to check out nice aires for a lunchtime picnic stop. If we didn't use toll roads we'd be pretty much limited to northern and western France so the toll cost is just one more element of our overall holiday cost, and one that we're happy to pay if it means we can travel further in the time we have.

 

[gpat]

I guess it depends a lot on time. If you are retired and love pottering to your destination then yes stay off the autoroutes.

However, if you have limited holidays then they are a godsend. If you are not careful you can use all your holidays 'pottering'. I have a colleague and he does Calais to Nice in a day. He reckons he loves the South and wants to get there ASAP.

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[Jim]

If I'm racing toward good weather in Spain, I'll use them. But with no time constraints, there is so much to see, do, eat and drink off of those arteries.

 

[autorouter]

Much nicer to travel via normal roads and pass through all the nice little villages

Another consideration is that thousands of lorries/MHs/cars going through villages cause noise and pollution, and if I go on the Autoroute I can avoid contributing to that. How many of these French villages have happy people sitting in cafes by the roadside, with children playing? Have a look next time. But I suppose I'm lucky in that we can park up in a campsite and explore these villages at a sedate pace on scooters.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We never use tolls now and it adds 1 day to our trip to Benidorm. Our first ever trip usung tolls in 2014 was 3 days but it's 4 days now.

Fuel consumption average was about 31mpg on tolls and it's 34 now, the A roads are often empty on our route and cruising at 50mph is great, it can go up to 37mpg

As for pollution through the villages?.. Well that's caused by the high toll prices of course, if they were reasonable we'd use them. We used a toll in the south of France a few years ago, we were only on it 5 minutes, 14 euros!

 

[Lenny HB]

That's weird, I find the exact opposite, and I usually travel at 90/100, albeit on cruise control. 3.5t exsis-i A class

Lightweight, I'm 4½ tonne.

 

[Flairy]

I like to use them if in a hurry but 2 years ago using them from Germany to Altea then home 600euro!

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[SpeedyDux]

In pre-retirement days with holiday time constraints, I could drive from Caen Ouistreham at 6am off the ferry and be at my Gran's house near Cognac by lunchtime, all without using an Autoroute. Didn't have a satnav either.

Brittany Ferries are getting too expensive. Going via the Eurotunnel I would use a mix of free and Peage Autoroutes, and selected N roads, although that adds miles and stopovers but overall it's much cheaper. I have used the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry as well. Much of northern France is rather dull to drive through on ordinary roads. It gets better once you reach the Loire valley, if you like south western France as I do.

I rather enjoy driving on the smooth and uncongested Autoroutes that put our potholed and stressfully crowded motorways and shoddy service areas to shame. I so wish I was there today. Back there in 2022 with a bit of luck.

 

[Bognor Saint]

I remember when roundabouts were a rarity in France!

 

[deleted79651]

I remember when roundabouts were a rarity in France!

And inhabited by Florence, Zebedee, Brian & Dylan. They were magic ...

Steve

 

[Solwaybuggier]

In general I prefer to use main roads (retired, few time pressures) but I will always happily pay to use toll autoroutes round eg Poitiers, Tours. The traffic calming humps & roundabouts in lots of towns and villages on routes nationales are definitely changing the balance in favour of motorways as well.

 

[emjaiuk]

I remember when roundabouts were a rarity in France!

And when priorite a droite applied to roundabouts, that was fun.

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[Lenny HB]

I like to use them if in a hurry but 2 years ago using them from Germany to Altea then home 600euro!

OUCH!

 

[Lenny HB]

And when priorite a droite applied to roundabouts, that was fun.

That was a bit of a shock on our first trip to France in a car.

 

[The Lord Squid]

And when priorite a droite applied to roundabouts, that was fun.

It's still fun driving around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (unless things have changed since I was last there in February 2020).

 

[The Wino]

We usually use the peage if were in a hurry otherwise we put the sat nav on with and without tolls and see how we feel but are using them a lot less lately as we have more time.

 

[The Wino]

Does anyone know of a program that works out a route and looks at the time saving with and without or partial tolls and gives a balanced choice. It would be really useful. I wondered if via Michelin does.

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[Riverbankannie]

I’m on holiday loving my MH/Campervan whichever roads I use so it’s all about the most convenient road at the time.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Does anyone know of a program that works out a route and looks at the time saving with and without or partial tolls and gives a balanced choice. It would be really useful. I wondered if via Michelin does.

Via michelin does do that and you can put in your vehicle too, for a better estimate of fuel consumption.

 

[The Wino]

Via michelin does do that and you can put in your vehicle too, for a better estimate of fuel consumption.

I've actually just looked but I don't think it does quite what I want a list of say 5 routes with 5 different levels of tolls. It does suggest the 3 quickes alternatives and you can look at cheapest but not much in between

 

[Riverbankannie]

I've actually just looked but I don't think it does quite what I want a list of say 5 routes with 5 different levels of tolls. It does suggest the 3 quickes alternatives and you can look at cheapest but not much in between

I guess you might have to split the journey then to get cost variations for different sections.