South of France Route

[Howcoldmytoes]

We cannot agree on the best route to the South of France. Done it umpteen times. Always swear we won’t do it again. Then we do.

We are in Surrey. Going to Frejus.

what would you do, wise women? Chunnel? Portsmouth - Caen? Dover -Calais?

To add to the misery, we have to travel on a Saturday. I can hear the children squabbling already.

We are driving down to Antibes via a few places on the way and going through the Chunnel. Seems to be the easiest way to me.

Are you doing it in one day? If so I’d do Chunnel at 5.30 am and go for it. Hideous (I speak from experience!) but it’s only one day travelling. Or you could do overnight ferry from Portsmouth and feel marginally better when you arrive and drive all day. Bit more expensive.

if kids are young and won’t travel well,I’d get an early ferry and aim to stop half way. Certainly on the way back when you’ll be under pressure to get to channel in time.

We go to frejus every year. We do Dover-Calais. DH rests/sleeps during the day, then we set off at 16:30 to get to Dover at 8pm. Make the crossing, DH trying to sleep, then he drives through the night till about 5am when we stop for a sleep in the car. Kids might stay asleep. If not I get out with them and we sit outside having breakfast. DH is then refreshed enough to continue. Minimal awake time for the kids and lovely quiet motorways at that time, but I appreciate not everyone likes driving at night.

Summer holidays? I would consider Portsmouth - Caen, but only if you don’t mind ferries / don’t get sea sick.

any other time, almost certainly Chunnel. Especially if you’re willing to get there for the early hours. Might be okay even in summer holidays if you’re willing to get there early in the morning

Le tunnel, then to Arras, spend the night in Reims.

Then the next day drive to Fréjus via Troyes, Dijon, Mâcon, Lyon, Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence.

Don't do the route via Paris.

Good luck! Get your motorway toll "bip" sorted in advance.

Chunnel. Flexi pass. It’s super quick and means you can make a snap decision on the way back whether to do it in 1 or push through. DH’s justifies the cost by saying the kids take so much in their bag each from the free lounge buffet that we about make it even 🤣 Get the beep for the tolls. Don’t stop between for food or petrol between 12 and 2. You can do it in a day but if you want to break it up the Novotel in Beaune is right off the motorway, surprisingly nice for how cheap it is and has a playground, small playroom and swimming pool to blow off some energy. Load up the ipads, charging cables and headphones. Chuck biscuits back whenever you hear a whinge. We’ve done it first weekend of August for years and years because my ILs are French and that’s apparently the only weekend to go on holiday and it’s genuinely always been fine.

Agree, but I'd go further south than Reims. I'd aim for Dijon or Beaune at least if going to Frejus. Macon Nord would be better still. Languedoc is closer, but that bit where you need to turn left for the Riviera was much slower/longer than I anticipated. Definitely avoid Paris. I personally wouldn't do it one day, as I hate the long motorway drives. And yes, getting a toll dit dit is life changing.

We did that journey pretty much every year for a long time. I feel a bit nostalgic about it now. With Peppa Pig or such blaring in the back. Happy times.

Have you considered the Newhaven Dieppe crossing?
for us it’s our nearest UK port and puts you in a good spot for heading through central France- and is often cheaper than the other crossings.

Do NOT drive through Lyon. Plan at least 2 possible routes around it. Even if it add lots of miles to your route.

Waze, or whatever you use, should be able to direct you. I'd suggest coming off the A6 on to the A46 which should keep you well clear.

Bear in mind that the ferries are about 3 times the price of the tunnel.

As above. Stay the night near Troyes. 6 & 6 hours. Anything else is unsafe.

We've done this journey quite a few times. Love frejus!

We always did the early tunnel, so arriving in france around 8.30am, then about a 12 hour drive, taking it in turns.

Agree that Lyon is pretty horrible to drive to drive through.

We've also stayed in Dijon on the way down but tbh I prefer the straight through journey.

We’ve never diverted from Lyon. Sure the traffic is heavy and it’s annoying but we just follow Google Maps which never suggests an alternative route, presumably because there isn’t one that’s quicker and I’m all about just getting it done.

But definitely use Waze or Google so you know you’re on the quickest route and definitely anticipate it by stopping just before Lyon for petrol, snacks and drinks plus making sure everyone has been to the loo!

Just be careful with Troyes if it's during the JO period (this is why I suggested Reims, rather than Troyes or nearby Provins which is beautiful.)

We've always gone through Lyon without issue. Though agree be fully prepared not to need to stop. Biggest delays we ever had were on A7/8, mostly for the tolls. But you're nearly there then. The toll dit dit is well worth investing in.

Many thanks. Looks like the tunnel wins.
I love a ferry, but we’ve left it too late to get a cabin.
Will stop at a friend’s place o.n the way back for a couple of days, so at least that should be a more bearable drive.
need to look into getting the beepy till thing as have never bothered.