Driving in France

Information on Driving in France

Driving in France is easy most of the signs are the same as the UK.

The cost of fuel is about 10% cheaper than the UK but if you use the toll roads a lot then there is not much difference.

Before you go to France get a warning triangle, spare bulbs GB plate. Plus you need a disposable breathalyser twin pack at a cost of about 6 pounds.Make sure that it is legally compliant for use in France

Also you want the stick on headlight converters even if you are not driving in the dark.The French police were doing spot checks when we got off the ferry You could get an on the spot fine

The open road in France

The main things to watch about driving on the right is turning left and roundabouts.

You have to remember to look left instead of right like you do in the UK.

The roads in France are very straight and fairly quite by UK standards. The roads only gets busy in the main cities. If you are travelling long distances the toll roads are best but can work out expensive.

There are regular parking areas ever 10k where you can pull off with some facilities.

Every 25k there is fuel and full service facilities we found them better than UK motorway services.

Service Station

Something else I noticed this year is more speed cameras in rural areas, not on the scale of the UK.

The cameras have a clear warning sign before you reach them.

Most small towns and villages have free parking.

If not you seem to park on the pavement rather than the road.

Buying petrol or diesel in France is different than the uK they have very few roadside filling stations. Most fuel is sold at the large supermarkets 24 hours.

It is best to get your fuel before 7pm you can pay a cashier. After 7 you can pay by credit card not easy if you do not read French you could loose your card.Plus not all fuel pumps take UK cards.

Navigating in the rural area can be interesting you come to a crossroad.

It will have a good signpost showing four different villages none on your map.

One of the charms of driving in France is to get lost and find a hidden village or Chateau.

This year I got a sat nav which I use after I got lost trying to find our rented gite.Which was between two small villages on a unnamed road.it is much easier with the Sat Nav. The French post code areas are larger than in the UK so in remote areas you are on your own for the last half mile.If you are looking for your holiday gite on an unmarked road in the middle of nowhere.You are better using the Latitude and longitude this will get you to a few feet of your Gite.Google will convert any address for you.

One of the best things about driving in France is seeing the small villages and towns off the beaten track

The best reason to take the car to France.All the food and wine you can bring back.

Places to stay

Holiday Home 3 Bedrooms , 4 Bathrooms , Sleeps 6 Bligny-les-Beaune, Beaune, Cote d'Or

A former winemaker's property, the main 'maison de maitre' provides stylish and comfortable accommodation in a countryside setting just 5 minutes from Beaune, Pommard and Volnay.

The house is set well back from the road and provides off road parking and private outdoor spaces.

Each individually decorated bedroom has its own ensuite shower room with WC. The large bathroom also has a bath. There is an additional WC on the ground floor and the house has separate rooms for dining, kitchen, reading room and a TV room, allowing you to be together or apart if you want some space

We welcome pets and the courtyard can be completely closed off allowing you peace of mind that your dog can't run off. We have chickens but if their pen is fox proof it should be dog proof.

There is a selection of DVDs in the house, books, and games of draughts, backgammon, cards and Yahtsee.

Find your Holiday cottage here

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