France in May, what should I be applying for/arranging now?

[Changebagsandgladrags]

Two adults, two DCs

1. All have valid passports
2. Three of us have European health card things, other one is on order.

3.Travel insurance done

1. DH is sorting car insurance & breakdown

That's it isn't it? Just maps, car kit with vests & headlamp converters to bring.

I just get this nagging feeling I've forgotten to apply for something.

euros?

Book tunnel or ferry.

Must admit I don't bother with travel insurance in Europe unless skiing.

a credit card that won't charge over the odds for currency conversion/withdrawals.
european roaming on your mobile phone
satnav maps upgrade

Did you remember to book the holiday?

Different credit card, yes will look into the options, thanks.

Ferry done, as it holiday.

We decided the sat-nav maps are too expensive so will use real paper maps instead.

I think I have roaming already.

You could order a Liber-T Peage card, so no queues at the motoroway tolls.

Peage cards are brilliant!

we didn't bother with the headlamp converters last time we went (late May-early June) because we didn't intend to drive at night - it gets dark much later over there because of their extra hour. Mind you we had to one night after we'd had a breakdown but it didn't seem to matter.

Have you got spare set of light bulbs? Warning triangle? Spare specs if driver wears them?

I think satnav is well worth the cost - would you need an upgrade? How old is yours? It's just that junctions over there are so different from ours, & the satnav always made sure we were in the right lane on motorway exits etc

Ours was about 2 years out of date I think, & once on a new road it said we were driving through a field & was very confused, but otherwise it was fine.

Do you need a reflective vest thing in case of breakdown in France? Also, possibly a first aid kit.

and I've just found out we need a fire extinguisher in the car in Belgium.

Yes you do need the reflective jackets and they must be available in the body of the car and must be put on prior to getting out of the car on a motorway. We carry them trucker style on the backs of all the car seats.

You need at least one triangle possibly 2?

Check list for France here.

Is the air freshener compulsory?

We have never, in almost 20 years of driving a German/Swiss car in UK ever fitted headlight things. Never been asked about them.

Yes, peage scan thing a very good idea. Saves loads of time at toll booths.

Ponders - we drove over the Millau Bridge with the satnav screaming 'We're all going to die!!'

I think the St George air freshener is compulsory, yes.

And i think we have to drive over the Millau bridge this year. The thought of it makes me feel ill! Mind you it can't possibly be as bad as the "pass" over the mountains in Switzerland last year. There was a glacier at the top, and nothing but widely spaced little rocks between the car and almost certain death!

Mme Lindt - you may not have been asked about having your lights dipping the wrong way, but if you've been driving at night you've probably been dazzling the hell out of oncoming traffic and leaving a trail of destruction as they lose control of cars having been momentarily blinded.... Well ok, probably not - but just in case could you not just stick on a few bits of packing/insulation tape to avoid that scenario?

Portofino, the bridge isn't nearly as scary as you'd think when you approach it on the autoroute - you don't get the impact of the height, just see the elegance of the pylons.

Apparently you "appreciate" the height better from Millau itself, in the valley, but we've always been in too much of a hurry to make the diversion

changebags, you don't need the GB sticker if your car has a numberplate with the blue & yellow EU badge on one end

\link{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_car_number_plates#European_flag\top plate here}

Dilbertina
I really don't think that it makes that much a difference. We adjust the lamps so that they are lower. Most of our friends do the same.

Gendarmes round here have been known to stop and fine tourists who don't have headlight converters.

I am shocked that anyone would holiday in Europe without insurance. Your health travel card will only cover you for the same things that a French (or Italian or spanish) resident would be covered for. So a stay in hospital could leave you several thousand out of pocket, not to mention the costs of repatriation if someone cannot come home in the car.

You are also obliged in France to have 3rd party liability insurance.

Frenchfancy - I think it is absolutely vital to have both EHIC and insurance as they often dont cover the same things. EHIC will cover horribly expensive emergency treatment and then as you say the insurance covers the other stuff.

I agree!

Insurance would also cover you for repatriation by air ambulance if necessary, in the event of a bad road (or other) accident, or serious illness - you wouldn't want to have to pay that yourself! But believe it or not there are people who say "I never have accidents"

Not to mention the contents of your car if it gets broken into en route, or loss or theft of any other possessions.

Remember that woman who broke her neck in Greece by drunkenly falling off her balcony. She was treated in hospital - very well iirc - but was up shit creek as she had no insurance and could not afford the repatriation costs.