Driving to France with 3 kids: tips please?

[WilfSpell]

We are planning to drive after exploring all other options and ruling them out. Are thinking Eurotunnel, stay over somewhere on route south, next day drive to near Limoges (La Roche Canillac, nr Tulle to be precise)

WE have never done this before and with 3 wedged in the back and such a long trip, we are nervous.

Would be grateful for voices of experience on:

-what/how to pack!
-what you do to manage the practicalities: food, sleep, wees etc.
-advice re: autoroutes, getting past/through/round Paris
-any recommendations of where to stay would be excellent too

and all the things I haven't thought of

Thanks in advance!

the rest stops in france are fantastic and often - we took our dc (6, 3 and 4 months) this year. we just stopped often, always had water and toys in the car, and sweets for bribes!

dd was exc bf so very easy to sort out.

Thanks. By rest stops, you mean like service stations on the autoroutes?

Sooooooooooooooooo many questions (sorry)

How do you all find driving on the right in your own car? Difficult?

Is the Eurotunnel civilised?

Good places to stay?

Best routes south from Tunnel? One map directs me to the 'left' of Paris, one right through and one to the right. I am confused as usual.

And if we were to stopover at the Evil Empire Eurodisney on way back, what is the best way to book this?

I thank you.

LOL at is the Eurotunnel civilised? What on earth do you mean?

There are rest stops on the motorways where there is no service station. Just toilets and picnic benches and a bit of space for kids to run around on.

Service stations yes, but all are not manned with rereshments, some are, some aren't.

Remember that everything shuts at lunch times. inc supermarkets.

I dont drive; DH says its fine, he is a conident driver though....they do get very close up your arse whilst driving though.

Cant help with rest as we just follow sat nav directions and we stay in gites, have never done disney.

Don't go through Paris.

Have you thought about doing a longer ferry trip? We went over in half-term and took the Portsmouth-Caen ferry (6 hours) and the children loved it (4.7, 2.7 and 14 weeks). OK, maybe the 14 week-old didn't notice....
Anyway, we had a cabin booked so they had somewhere to rest/play/leave all their stuff and they also got to run round on deck, use the play area, there was a magic show etc. It is more expensive than Eurotunnel, but it saved us a lot of driving time (essebtial as DH does not drive and I have to do it all.

'essebtial'?? Essential! Sorry, typing while bfing

I agree with Scorpio about not going through Paris (DH typed in the wrong address in the sat nav and we had to go around the Arc d Triumph in his brank spanking new car, very nerve-wracking to say the least "at the next roundabout take the 5th exit" )

We are going again in the summer and taking the dog (I must be mad) so will be stopping at the numerous picnic areas to eat our picnic and stretch legs but the toilets are foul so will only stop at service stations for toilet stops (we found the food awful at the service stations)

Never been on the eurotunnel, we went on a fast ferry (paid for by Tesco vouchers) and found that great.

Camponiles are great for staying at to break the journey up.

The roads are brilliant although toll booths tend to get clogged at busy times but they do take credit cards, put in and spat back out at you so no faffing about there.

I have a pathological horror of ferries since I had the Ferry Trip from Hell some years back on P&O...

It involved the following:

New Year
Awful weather
an outward trip which was so rough even the cabin staff were sick and the decks were awash with vomit

a return trip that was fantastic: like a mill pond, calm, wonderful...

...er, until we left the harbour walls in Oostend. And then, somehow, it was WORSE than the trip out. We all thought we were going to die it was so rough and the boat seemed to be falling apart. Men were wondering up and down checking lifeboat and lifevest stations.

Finally - after an 8 hour trip which was supposed to have been 4 hours - we saw the bright lights of Dover.

The ferry entered the harbour and all was calm. We all got in our cars. All the foot passengers were let off the boat.

Some raddled Belgian ferrymen then started flapping their arms at us and the boat doors went back up.

The tide had risen so much it was dangerous to let the cars off. In their wisdom, instead of letting us all off on foot until we could pick our cars up later, oh no, we had to stay on the boat. And guess what else? They had to take it back out of the harbour again until the tide dropped because it was too dangerous since there were so many boats sheltering...

And - I am absolutely NOT making this bit up - the kind customer service lady came on over the tannoy and invited us poor stranded passengers to enjoy 'a fried breakfast and a film showing of Exorcist 2...'

I will NEVER travel on a ferry again.

How old are your dcs?

We used to always have story tapes in the car, and once they had grown out of Postman bloody Pat and farking Fireman Sam it was really quite entertaining.

Harry Potter sets are mostly over 20 hours' worth so pretty good (although they are expensive). Artemis Fowl and the Antony Horowitz/Alex Rider ones were also great.

Don't go through Paris!

French road signs and motorways are generally pretty good once you get used to them. Plan your route beforehand so that you know which major cities are likely to be signposted. You don't get much warning before a motorway turnoff, so be careful there.

And yes, the French do drive up your backside, so you will just need to be aware of this. And don't speed. The French police will expect an immediate payment of the fine, and if you haven't got the cash will escort you to the nearest cashpoint!

Wilfspell, the tunnel is boring but the ride is very smooth. It's basically a car park on a wheels.
It takes 35 mins. There is nowhere to go other than the toilets (and only if you have to!) Children always get filthy clothes and hands because the carriages are a bit grimy.

Hello BIWI

They will be 10, 4 and 1 (erk, made it nice and easy for myself) I am thinking much use will be made of laptops converted into DVD players and the Nintendo DS.

The baby is a problem though. He frequently cries in the car on a trip to Tescos... Hates it.

What to do with him for a day's driving?

My only bit of advice,as we travel to Cornwall every year,nowhere near the distance I know,but we always get up and leave by 2.00am,then the bulk of our journey is spent with the children asleep.

Hmm. Not the best ages/age range, Wilf!

Does the baby sleep in the car at all? Neither of my dcs did, but some children do go to sleep with the motion of the car. If not, I would second what others have said and set off late, so that he will be tired/have more chance of going to sleep.

Individual DVDs and headphones are probably a very good idea for the other two.

DVD players are worth their weight in gold, plus headphones of course = bliss.

We flew to Florida when DD was 1 and DS 4 (I know mad, again) my kind GP gave me knock out drops for DD but they didn't work and we had a nightmare of a flight with her.

Sing-along tapes until lo sleeps? Plus stopping at the picnic areas to stretch legs, some have play areas.

Oh yes, speeding. They have signs telling you when you are entering a fixed speed trap(looks like a sound wave coming from a box thingie), DH zipped through a few before our French family who we travelled in convoy with informed us what they were.

Sorry x posted about the headphones and DVD

WS

Mand's OH & Mand here - joint effort!

We've done France many times, with kids as babies and now school age. First thoughts are: A long drive abroad with a 1 yr old who doesn't like cars -- are you really sure?? Why don't you wait a year and do something different next year?. Or think about the train www.seat61.com

If you're sure, our advice would be:

Food - pack snacky stuff that they like. Echo comment about France shutting at lunch 12-2 or 3) AND Sunday's etc. Even big supermarkets may be closed. However when open Supermarkets can have easy to use cafes etc. with high chairs. As far as proper meals are concerned the French all eat at 12-2 and 7:30 - 9. Be prepared. A good basic chain that will cope with kids is Buffalo Grill - MacDonalds crossed Steakhouses. www.buffalogrill.com

Wees - common sense, make them go when they can. Service Stations are fairly frequent and well signed, but having to come off a toll road in an emergency is a pain (and will cost you) so plan ahead!

M Way services can be good, but vary wildly from basic carparks to full facilities (better than ours). If you buy a Michelin Road Atlas the Blue Svc Areas are the ones with most facilities (the green ones are much more basic). About an hour south of the tunnel on the A16 the Aire Baie de la somme is execllent, with lakes, ducks, playground, picnic areas etc.

Best route to Tulle in my view is A16 to A28 to Rouen, then N154 Evreux, Dreaux, Chartres and pick up the A10 N of Orleans. Then straight down A71/A10/A20. This is signed Orleans pretty much all the way from Roeun. The only dodgy bit is Rouen itself, it's M/Way D/c through but you need to keep your wits baout you (or a good satnav!)

Avoid Paris, unless you are very confident. Also beware Heavy Traffic days, as well as eating at the same time of day the French all go on Hols the same time of year. Website:
www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/diri/Accueil.do
explains it all.

Overnight stays - no specifics on that route, though Sawday's special places www.sawdays.co.uk/ or Logis de France www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/index.htm are good bets if you want individuality, any of the French Chain hotels if you want safe and chainy...www.accorhotels.com is a good place to start.

Don't forget some Euros for the MWay tolls (though they do take CCs), don't forget that the toll booths will be on the left. When you enter a toll mway you'll get an automatic ticket, don't lose it! When you pay avoid the lanes with a blue 'T', these are automatic lanes.

Tulle is hardly tourist central, but an interesting and beautiful area nonetheless!

Eurotunnel is easy, DVD players a godsend. Driving on the right, I find it easy, DW won't do it, each to their own I guess. Generally just stop and think, esp. when getting back in car, in cities or on very quiet country roads. MWays are easy.

Disney - book direct (or plenty of other threads to advise here and on other forums!!!).

Hope this is useful, any other specific questions post back and I'll try to help.

Mand's now gone to bed, can't advise (AT ALL) on packing - sorry

Mand and Antony

Have you looked at www.viamichelin.com for driving directions?

Gives rough toll prices/drive times etc. also links to hotels etc.

My advice is just do it! Children are very adaptable - I think we forget that in this day and age.

Driving on right in own car is fine. You'll have a bit of an issue with visibility pulling out to your left, so often best to get your passenger to help you check. IME French drivers do not believe in moving over to let other drivers join from a slip road, which can be a bit unnerving.

There isn't really anywhere to go away from your car on Eurotunnel (other than to the loo) but the crossing doesn't take long.

Don't go through Paris!

Sorry, forgot to add, one other option might be overnight Motorail to/from Brive. It's not cheap (£400-£600 ONE WAY vs maybe £250-£300 by car with o/night stop) but might be worth a look www.raileurope.co.uk

Brilliant advice all (esp Mand and Mr Mand) Thanks!

I would reconsider, except the parents are living down there this year and will not forgive us if we don't make at least one trip.

Had considered flying to Limoges and hiring a car; and indeed explored the train. Am very keen on the latter but the issues over equipment: we will need a car when we get there, and not confident about hiring carseats as well. We will want to hire an automatic also (I can't swop my left/right senses at all driving left hand drive, and DH is a relatively new driver...) and am not at all sure about lugging all the luggage and pushchair etc for all three kids on the train.

But if anyone has any great solutions or advice on this too?

I didn't know the motorail went to Brive: think it only runs in the summer though and we're planning a trip in April...

Thanks for all the good tips and keep em coming....

Good sum up from mand1963.

The only thing I would add is if you are driving make sure you are legal. And dont forget if your satnav has the radar detectors on it - don't take it and use a standard map instead.

www.rac.co.uk/web/know-how/going-on-a-journey/driving-abroad/countries/france.htm

Oh and another thing remember to drive on the right - tie a piece of ribbon on the drivers right wrist.
When you come across roundabouts it is the opposite way to the UK. It seems odd to turn right and then take the right hand side of the road but it does get easy.

Mind you saying that when we came back and I came across my first UK roundabout - I struggled to remember which way to go! Hair raising moment, I can tell you!

And just before I go and pick the kids up -

Learn the meaning of unfamiliar roadsigns that you will come across. I just found this site which may be of use -

www.central-france.com/central_france_driving.htm