Driving in / holidaying in France - admin experts assemble and assist!

[rollonsweetsummertime]

I am just having a last minute flap as I'm driving to France with kids next week for the first time - i feel like we never really did this as a kid either, so I'm flapping slightly!

I have:
Insurance printed out
Driver kit with First Aid pack, bulbs, triangles, UK magnet AND sticker visors headline deflectors
ferry info
eurocamp info
travel insurance stuff
just applied for GHIC in a panic

Have:
spf
aftersun with insect repellent
All the usual clothes
books, entertainment
just ordered a travel plug

Give me your best advice! Drive on the right, anti-clockwise round roundabouts, buying all the cheese/wine/petit whatever shower stuff - all of this kind of info welcomed.

other french flappers welcomed too.

You need high viz vests as well.

1. in the car You definitely need a breathalyzer as well
2. there is rule where you are not supposed to use a sat nav that specifically alert you to speed caneras, but updated cars will have updated this, don’t stress about it
3. don’t forget the motorway tolls will be on the passenger side & they add up (in case you haven’t factored into budget)
4. food in big service stations is crap, slow, expensive and there will be no alternatives like non dairy/soya etc for coffee, French aren’t caught up to that yet

Otherwise enjoy!

You can't bring dairy or meat products home (or take them)
I drive to Disney regularly and it costs €24 each way in tolls
I absolutely love driving in France, the roads are smooth and everyone drives the same speed pretty much. Outside lane for overtaking only.
If you're travelling solo with kids make sure you have authorisation from anyone else with parental responsibility in form of letter or court order (this does not only apply to separated parents)
Allow a good couple of hours to get through passport control at the port/tunnel on the way home.

Get a clear sticker for the windshield showing road position, super helpful for roundabouts.

This is all super helpful, esp the tolls info, I definitely had not thought of that.

i had read the breathalyser requirements had gone which is why kits don’t have them - should I get some anyway?

should have said am coming from/to ireland - I’m okay for meat and cheese in that case, aren’t I?

Keep the advice coming! Thanks!

Where are you planning on going in France? In some of the bigger cities you have to have a 'Crit Air' (clean air) sticker for your car otherwise you might be fined. You have to have to order the sticker in advance - it can't be bought 'over the counter' anywhere.

There's some more info here - https://www.france.fr/en/article/crit-air-anti-pollution-vehicle-sticker/

Is this a thing you can buy or do I have to make it?!

@SaffyWall just to Normandy!

Also - you can buy an e-tag for the tolls so that you don't have to pay cash/card each time - the tag is linked to a credit card. It works brilliantly and means you can avoid a lot of the queue that can form at the tolls. I'm not sure if you'll have time to order one before you go, but if you do then I'd say it's definitely worth it.

https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/

I think you need a Crit-Air sticker for Rouen, but I can't remember if that's in Normandy 😁

You can bring cheese, meat, fish, eggs etc., back from France!!! As long as it’s for your own personal consumption. This is one of the reasons we go 5 times a year (and for the wine!!!)

Im in normandy at the moment. The weather is awful. Same as england. Wet and windy. A bit warmer when sun comes out, but that's all.
You dont need the breathalyser thingy anymore. The clean air sticker needs to be done online before you go.
You can also go online and set up an account so that you just get direct debited everytime you go through the peage. Means the passenger doesn't have to faff about with change everytime.

Sorry, just seen pp above

Amazon

Agree with SaffyWall. We have one called Bip & Go and it's great to just sail through the tolls. Too late for this trip but I'd definitely recommend one for your next trip. Also your Crit Aitr badge and you need to keep an eye on the changing restrictions.

Get the tag for the tolls, so much easier esp if you're the only one in the front. You don't have to have a breathalyser anymore. Have you got hi viz?

I agree with others about

• High Viz (one for everyone, must be kept in the car with you, not in the boot)
• Drive Right sticker (can buy in Halfords) - very useful at roundabouts!
• Emovis Tag for next time
• Crit Air sticker - we didn’t get one in time last year so had to check maps carefully to make sure we didn’t drive in restricted areas

I find driving in France so much more enjoyable, hope you have a great holiday!

I also thought the requirement for breathalysers had gone but not certain.

Also you need to take your original V5 registration form with you. We’ve been asked for this at police checks before

Amazing thank you!!!!!

Speed limits. France seems to have a lot of speed cameras. And it's 80 km / h on many main roads.

We always have our folder in the car - with key documents. Never taken breathalysers.

Agree about knowing the cities that have the clean air zones.

Love France Love French hypermarkets.

Presume you have car cover for breakdown abroad?

DS normally uses my debit card. He's very good at that!!

This was well timed thank you I've learnt loads! Hope you have a great time.

This is working out quite expensive - we are actually coming into Santander then driving to Biarritz so hardly on French roads at all - how awful would it be to suck it up and just queue? Do the tolls take cards do you know?

They take cards. We were in that part of Spain last year. It's no effort at all.

It didn't actually cost us that much in tolls.

DS was in the passenger seat and he "handled" the toll booths