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Splitpin
Member Since: 30 Dec 2010
Location: At the toolbox
Posts: 535
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I'm hoping some of you more traveled than myself can help!
Swmbo has sorted a nice villa in the south of France for a couple of weeks and I'm wondering what sort of drive it is going to be!
I not towing and just wondered with those roads and traffic if it's easier to fly?
Cheers
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 18th Jul 2011 8:17 am |
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NJSS
Member Since: 06 May 2009
Location: Catherington, Hampshire.
Posts: 10486
  
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How many of you travelling - any children ?
Where in the South of France ?
NJSS Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
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| 18th Jul 2011 9:10 am |
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Bodsy
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Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
 
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Take an extra day & stop off on the way. If you want a scenic drive, then set the satnav to stay off the motorways and toll roads, there's some lovely villages on the way. 
Also depends on if yoiu want to get out and about whilst your at the villa. Personally, I prefer driving to destinations in France. (but also have three kids & the wife!) Bodsys Brake Bible
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| 18th Jul 2011 9:14 am |
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Splitpin
Member Since: 30 Dec 2010
Location: At the toolbox
Posts: 535
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I would love to roam my way down but with 3 children and the mother in law and the wife in the car fully packed I don't think it's an option!
Somewhere near Nice.
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| 18th Jul 2011 9:28 am |
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DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
 
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you can get down to the south in a day if you leave early - however, its a long continous drive stopping only for fuel.
we found it better to take a couple of days and make it part of the holiday. After all, if yiou are just going to drive solidly for 12 hours and see anything except Motorway tarmac, you may as well fly. Duncan
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| 18th Jul 2011 9:29 am |
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Moo
D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13882
 
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I have a house near Sarlat in the Dordogne and it takes me 12 hours door to door from Bath via the Channel Tunnel. We always travel with a roof box and 4 bikes and the car just purrs along. ITouches or IPads were designed for stress free journeys with kids and their powers for happy journeys should not be underestimated!
Driving in France is really easy, particularly on the weekend when most trucks are off the road. I use a mix of motorway and A roads, although watch out for speed traps. Supermarkets off the motorway are cheapest for fuel.
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| 18th Jul 2011 9:40 am |
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NJSS
Member Since: 06 May 2009
Location: Catherington, Hampshire.
Posts: 10486
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Moo I agree about 12 hours to Satlat, but Nice is a lot further.
I would defiantly drive with 6 up, but realistically take an extra couple of days away and stay overnight on the way there and back.
To keep costs down use the Dover to Calais ferries, and stop somewhere South of Paris in an inexpensive chain hotel like this:-
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-2466-f...ndex.shtml
not definitely there of course but it's an example.
Take maps if you are relying on the LR Sat Nav.
Good luck
NJSS Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
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| 18th Jul 2011 9:59 am |
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choppa60
Member Since: 16 Oct 2009
Location: chelsea tractor land ....london
Posts: 904
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Its effortless , we drive to st Raphael ,30 mms from nice , and it's the most pleasant drive you will ever exp , in a d3 of course , there is no other way , we drive early from calais ,
and stop off early evening , anywhere en route , any hotel that looks good we stay at , and by lunch time your in the south of France ,
And boy you feel the heat , it gets progressively hotter as you near the south , we always drive toll roads , it's easy and worth it , a doodle , you'll wonder why you didn't drive before , 2008 ,hse, it does what it says .
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| 18th Jul 2011 10:47 am |
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Splitpin
Member Since: 30 Dec 2010
Location: At the toolbox
Posts: 535
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Our booking fell through  but we are now off the Brittany which is an easy drive 
Cheers for your help, I'm going to plan the full road trip for next year via the alps
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| 18th Jul 2011 12:00 pm |
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DigitalJunior
Member Since: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 4398
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How are you getting across ? Is it cheapest by ferry or tunnel for a D3 ?
We are looking at the same region at the end of August and like you have never done France before so any tips gratefully recieved. SOLD - 23my Range Rover Sport D300 Dynamic SE
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| 18th Jul 2011 12:24 pm |
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heapster
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Sussex
Posts: 257
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If you're going to Brittany during the summer holidays then get yourself a Telepeage tag - mine was from Sanef. Deposit is €30 plus €2 per month you use it - but you can blast past everyone else in the Telepeage lanes. Last time we drove to Brittany I guess it probably saved us well over an hour as the queues at the tolls were huge at some of the pinch points.
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| 18th Jul 2011 12:38 pm |
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TwelveSticks
Member Since: 16 Jan 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 798
 
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Quote:If you're going to Brittany during the summer holidays then get yourself a Telepeage tag
Though its worth pointing out that this is only for the journey TO Brittany, so only applies if you are sailing to, say, Calais and driving across. Brittany doesn't have toll roads (something to do with an ancient edict made by some Breton Queen), and neither are there any between the Normandy ports and Brittany... 2001 D2 GS (I must be mad!)
2005 D3 S 10-12 (gone and missed)
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| 18th Jul 2011 12:51 pm |
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al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10296
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we alawys use the Portsmoth Caen crossing when heading for Brittany or the west coast. For me thats partly 'cause Portsmouth is easy to get to. I can have a snooze/decent meal on the crossing, and its a lot closer for western france (but St Malo/Cherbourg are even closer). Down side is Brittany Ferries on the western crossings are 3 to 4 times more expensive than chunnel/dover crossings.
A bit like your journey south question. I take the 6hr crossing as prt of my hol, not part of the journey (if that makes sense)
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| 18th Jul 2011 2:03 pm |
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DiscoDad
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Beautiful Teesdale
Posts: 3003
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Pardon for slightly hi-jacking this thread but...
We are going to visit our friends in the Auvergne region next month travelling as we normally do from Zeebrugge.
The route takes us through Paris and I find it completely ruins the drive for me as the traffic is fecking horrendous and takes over an hour to negotiate.
Anyone got a better route that does not add to much time (or miles)!
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| 19th Jul 2011 11:43 am |
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NJSS
Member Since: 06 May 2009
Location: Catherington, Hampshire.
Posts: 10486
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Consider going on the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham), you will totally avoid Paris, driving South via Le Mans & Tours.
It's virtually the same distance, you would need to check, but i wouldn't think there's more than 10 miles in it.
You will save on autoroute tolls as well.
NJSS Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
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| 19th Jul 2011 12:08 pm |
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