Stranded in France

[CasinoGirl22]

The car broke down on the French motorway yesterday as we were driving home via Calais. €260 to be rescued (because our AA membership which used to include European cover no longer does). Garages closed until tomorrow morning and then who knows how long to fix. Worried that they have us over a barrel and will bump up the price.

€132 for a 30 minute cab from the garage to the nearest city, Tours.

I think our travel insurance insurance will cover the extra nights and fortunately we were near Tours so we can explore today (not that I'm in the mood).

Eurotunnel can be moved but amendments only within 24 hours of the original booking so have to hold my nerve and wait to see what the garage says tomorrow.

And to add insult to injury, the recovery driver drove us under a low barrier and knocked my husband's bike off the top of the car! More costs!

Please can I have some tea and sympathy?

Tours is a beautiful town to be stranded in. Try and look on it as a bonus.

We’ve been there, thankfully we had breakdown insurance. I’d be going after the recovery driver for the bike costs if nothing else!

The French recovery people were rude but everyone else was super helpful and accommodating. Bear in mind that if you can’t get your car fixed in France and need to travel back separately from your car, your car is treated as an import (complete ballache post Brexit). It took us a month to get our car repatriated…

One day you will laugh about this.

Have a wonder, have a nice lunch, drink some wine and life will feel better.

Same thing happened to us and we had to spend an extra 5 days in France. Had to let work and school know we wouldn't be back as planned. Make the most of the extra time. 😊

OMG, what a nightmare.

I really hope it gets sorted quickly and cheaply.

I would definitely be looking at the recovery service’s insurance over any bike damage. (More admin)

Some good advice for the rest of us though: check up to date cover…. and this is terrible, I didn’t know this: Bear in mind that if you can’t get your car fixed in France and need to travel back separately from your car, your car is treated as an import (complete ballache post Brexit). It took us a month to get our car repatriated…

As someone who once fucked up in a similar way breakdown cover, our very good travel insurance didn’t cover us because if we had taken out breakdown cover we wouldn’t have been left stranded. So just a word of warning, that you may also sadly have the same issue.

Oh, that's hilarious. A car import! @shockeditellyou. The car is only worth about £2K so I think we would just scrap it.

Oh dear. Ah well, can't change things now.

I feel your pain. We have had one or two unplanned adventures with vehicles in France and it has been painful. We’ve always had breakdown cover but the hassle and cost of repairs is stressful. I hope that side of things gets sorted asap. I’m appalled that the breakdown guy trashed your OH’s bike! Bloody hell!!

Have you already missed your booked crossing with Eurotunnel?

Tours is an absolutely beautiful city and the weather forecast for the next few days is lovely. Try and enjoy that. Start in Place Jean Jarres with the Hotel de Ville and the fountains, stroll up Rue Nationale for some nice shopping, then head over towards Place Plumereau via the Rue des Bons Enfants and Place Chateauneuf. Check out St Martins Basilica and the old town.

Fingers crossed that it’s all quickly sorted and it doesn’t break the bank!

Just popping back to say a genuine thanks for the reassuring posts. They really helped us enjoy Tours. The Hotel de Ville was amazing @MamaBobo.

Currently 90 minutes from home after the garage fixed the car. We had it back by the end of the day on Monday and the price wasn't even too bad!

Moving the Eurotunnel was super easy so no issues there. Just need to see if we can get anything back from the insurers for the hotels.

Really pleased that it has all worked out so well. In our experience Eurotunnel are amazing in times of difficulty….glad that was your experience too. Tours is our “home” city in France and we love it. So glad that you had a little chance to enjoy it in among the stress. Safe travels the rest of the way!

Glad all is OK.