To cancel my half term driving holiday to France???!!!

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Omg. So been looking forward to this holiday.our plan was to drive quite far south😂 Reading reports of stranded Brits is making me scared. What would you do????

Related thread, in case you're interested:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/2643652-French-Fuel-Strike

We're having this same dilemma - this is our holiday this year as it's the only week dh and I can coordinate leave. We're meant to be driving all the way down to the med. Can't decide whether to risk it or not..

I had no idea about this. We aren't going until mid-July and are flying then hiring a car. I'm assuming we'll be OK and it may have gone back to normal by then? We are only driving 1hr 40 mins from the airport to our accommodation then probably won't use the car that much anyway.

Was in France last week and am very glad we left when we did. Husband struggled to get diesel in northern France on Sunday evening. Husband's firm deals with French couriers and suppliers and an email went round today warning of delays.

I'd be going elsewhere if you can afford it/ doesn't inconvenience you much.

We're off to Brittany on Friday.

I'm pretty certain we can get there on one tank, so we'll keep the car in eco mode and keep going. In theory, we can manage without a car if we hire bikes, but obviously need to get home again the week after.

Half of the UK seem to head to the Tunnel on the Friday of half term, so we'll all be in the same boat.

We're heading to the South but not until August. Fingers crossed everything is ok by then. Our alternative is to fly, but the idea of that with my kids (having flown with them all once before) means I would rather take a flight on my own and hire a chaperone to take them on a separate flight!

We've just decided not to go. Meant to be leaving on Friday. Can't get to destination on full tank, travelling with small DCs in worst affected areas and am heavily pregnant. For us just not worth the risk of getting stranded. Possibly over cautious but we have booked UK hol alternative. DCs were very excited about the ferry crossing but decided on balance we should cancel as we found something else. Hope it all blows over and this proves to be over cautious decision making but right choice for us.

Ironically only changed ferry booking last week when realised was too pregnant for BF route. Had we been on original route we would have been fine on a full tank.

OP think Jerry cans not an option if you are going by ferry as don't think they are permitted. We've decided to cancel and have booked something else UK based.

My relatives have just gone over and are regretting it already. Plan was to go to the very south but they have had to stop about a third of the way down to ensure they have enough fuel to get back.

They managed to top up the other day but nothing since. They drive regularly in France so know their way around, and said it is awful.

The news today said all 8 refineries are now blockaded and the nuclear workers are threatening strikes too, which will mean power cuts.

My mums in France for the next 8 weeks - managed to fill up today near Bayonne without too much trouble but you have to shop around

We had a few problems at the weekend, but supplies are getting through this week so no problems at the moment (South Vendee).

Interactive map www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2646024-To-cancel-my-half-term-driving-holiday-to-France?watched=1&msgid=61300641#61300641 showing which stations have fuel. It isn't complete - there are at least 5 local stations not showing - but it gives an idea as to which areas are worst affected.

Map if from the region west France paper so may not be at all accurate for the rest of the country.

Link fail www.ouest-france.fr/economie/transports/penurie-de-carburant/penurie-de-carburant-le-point-ce-mercredi-carte-interactive-4250821

We're west of Paris - we have limits of 20 or 30 euros at local petrol stations, some have no diesel, others have no 98 and you are not allowed to fill jerrycans.

I wouldn't go. I was caught up in the disruption last summer and it was a nightmare. It's not much of a holiday if you're worrying if you'll make it home or are stuck in sweltering heat.

It's likely to spread as well because the strikes are about general government policy rather than confined to a specific industry.

I just wouldn't chance it.

Just to point out, you've got a 60+ litre tank of fuel sitting a few inches off the ground outside of the car, plus the fact it's diesel which is a lot harder to ignite compared with petrol, a couple of jerry cans in the boot aren't going to spotaniously explode anytime soon.

it's getting better. Also the problem is as much the lack of fuel as customers buying fuel they don't need just in case.

www.linternaute.com/actualite/societe/1306008-penurie-d-essence-les-stations-service-reapprovisionnees-liste-des-stations-ouvertes-cartes-26052016/#carte-penurie-essence

Any ideas how long this will continue for? We're off to France in July and it's a long eight hour drive from Calais which won't be much fun if petrol stations are out of fuel!

It will be over by July, that's over 5 weeks away!

Things may get worse today as there are lots of demonstrations being organised for this afternoon, but my opinion is that things will probably ease over the weekend. They'll probably relax laws on deliveries at night/ weekends so that the tankers can get where they need to go.

We had deliveries here yesterday after all the local stations ran dry on Tuesday (rural area where a car is indispensable). I would guess that once most people have full or nearly full tanks, the pressure on supplies will ease a bit.

One of my colleagues is going this afternoon. Filling tank before she gets on the tunnel and taking the maximum allowed in cans (30 litres).

She's stressed but it's a huge family birthday thing she's been planning for months so she isn't going to cancel.

it'll be over by the 10th June when the European football championship starts, in France.

I'm in Brittany and am pretty relieved that things seem better here today. We've had closed fuel stations since last Friday, some were open yesterday with limited supplies and huge queues - and today - hurrah - all the ones I have past are open as normal, with not much queueing.

Business as normal here too. I've just filled up - no restrictions and no queues.

That sounds promising! Setting off straight from school tomorrow, so keeping a close eye on the SuperU in Carnac. Apparently had a delivery this morning. Amazing what you can find on the internet.

I know this is about driving and fuel but don't suppose any of you based in France have seen anything reported about a potential air traffic control strike 3 - 5 June?! We're due to fly back to UK from Dinard in Brittany on the 5th June and am slightly panicking that we are going to be stranded ....!