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!

We have been many many times...and I would always go on the ferry with children. We used to live in Portsmouth and the ferry from there is fab if you want to be on that side - BUT it can be very expensive. We now go via Dover and have found that Speedferries works for us. Unless you are phobic about ferries, it has got to be better than the chunnel.

Depending on where you're coming from (and we're about 1.5 hours from Dover - used to be 2.5 hours when in Portsmouth), it is a fab opportunity for fresh air, a run around and possibly a drink / meal (although the food is usually pretty ropey so bring your own).

If you need to stop en route, we find B&Bs brilliant - but they vary.

Ah - I see why you don't like ferries. Wilfspell, I too have had dodgy trips, but in the summer you are unlikely to suffer as badly as you did at New Year. We must have been on about 20 return trips over the past few years and haven't come close to your ghastly experience - usually it is on (fiddle about for 15 mins) at sea for 45 mins and then off pdq at the other side.

Let me know if you are going near Avallon - best B&B ever - but might not suit geographically.

Aaah, have just returned to this thread and understand why you might find my idea less than appealing . BTW, it is now law in France that you must carry a high-visibility vest in the car for the driver (and it must be in the car, not in the boot) as well as having an hazard triangle. You'll get cheapy high-vis vests in Tesco. (the first time I typed that, it said high-vis vets - I can see one of those might be useful in certain circumstances but not as a driving requirement. Anyway, I digress...).

and take you insurance, licence etc with you, too.

I've just discovered the Ryanair flights have halved in price over the last week, making it much cheaper even with all the extras they charge...

might be better (if less green) to fly, perhaps...

Our solution:

I go by car with the aboslutely everything the kids could want (and a pair of socks for me) stuffed in the boot. I go to destination and unpack.

Family flies over with Ryanair, I go and get them at the airport.

Everybody wins, I have done the journey without the kids and am so much more relaxed when we arrive (and don't need two days to recover), family has everything they need at destination and it is unpacked. Kids have not been put through 12 hours journey from hell.

With some of the ferry trips Ryanair is cheaper than paying for the extra passengers. (obviously not so with the tunnel where the cost is per vehicle).

That's an interesting option, thanks. Will think about it though the thought of managing our three monsters boys on a plan without a spare pair of hands also fills me with horror.

planee

plane

WS

You are right. Motorail doesn't run in April.

You are probably better off flying.

For reference, or if you want to consider the train:

Cheapest train fare is £352 return for the 5 of you from London to Brive via Lille or £332 via Paris. The Lille route uses Eurostar to Lille and then the one daily TGV from Lille to Brive. Very easy to do (one chnage in Lille Europe, often the same platform! Snag is v late arrival in Brive (00:12). Could your mum and dad hire the car and pick you up? Paris has more choices, but you'll need to get from Gare du Nord to Gare D'Austerlitz. Suggest taxi with 3 kids (might need 2) Book the two legs separately , Eurostar on www.eurostar.co.uk and Lille>Brive on www.raileurope.co.uk. The ES fares are £200 return and the French Trains are special 'Prems' fares. Both are non exchangeable and non refundable. The main thing is to BOOK EARLY. These fares open 3/4months in advance (varies) and you'll need to be quick to grab those prices. Make your mind up and find out excatly when the window opens (again, RailEurope are best for advice.) If it's a peak holiday period they will go quickly....(or may not exist at all) so you might need to be flexible. Crucially, note that unlike Airfares the train fares will never go down from where they start, only UP (and often up quickly and steeply).

Car seats are a bit hit and miss when hiring (I'm CERTAIN that any car hire company advertising 'car seats all only used for 4 hires and then sold/trashed, we guarantee you'll get a decent, neiwsh seat with staff who know how it works' would clean up every familes booking, and could charge enough extra to easily cover seat cost. I've even had one well known CH company state that 'car seat availability can not be guaranteed' when booking . Gave them a lecture and canacelled booking! Sorry - rant) having said that they are USUALLY ok. Taking car seat on train easier than plane.

We've taken our youngest 1 to Switzerland and Avignon by rail, and we've taken both to DLParis. We reckon 10,4 & 1 would be OK, 2 babies/ toddlers is probably more tricky. In general though train is far less stressful than flying with kids - treat as an adventure. Again, the excellent www.seat61.com can't be recommended highly enough!

Good luck.

Antony & Amanda.