Ok madness is all around me I'm certain of it.

 

I'm off to France for a couple of weeks. I can ryanair it for 100 quid once airport parking / hassle / water taken into account. then get there, hire car for 2 weeks at whatever.

 

I've been thinking though, is there a better way.

 

So I've looked into trains, now seem to be pencil sharpening and thinking about driving it.

 

Anyone know of a cost calculator for driving in france, tollroads etc, just interested, forming a mini adventure.

 

Also toying with ferry to Santander, might be a funky route  HOW MUCH! 200 to 600 each way...

 

Might even use it as an excuse to swing by friends in Geneva and Nantes... ok Geneva maybe a little out of the way.

 

Right off to eat an icecream in the rain.

 

 

Just found viamichelin, cool!

 

http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes?strStartLocid=31NDFjMmkxMGNOVE11TXpnek1URT1jTFRFdU5EWTBOakU9&strDestLocid=31NDMyNTUxMGNORE11TlRneE56VT1jTXk0NU5UTXhNZz09&intItineraryType=1&caravaneHidden=false&vh=CAR&strVehicle=0&itineraryCarType=0&itineraryFuelType=0&isFavoriseAutoroute=false&isAvoidPeage=false&isAvoidVignette=false&isAvoidLNR=false&isAvoidFrontiers=false&dtmDeparture=04%2F10%2F2013&distance=mi&devise=1.0|EUR&indemnite=&carbCost=1.6&autoConso=6.8&villeConso=6&routeConso=5.6

1000 miles each way, so long as you like driving, it makes sense to me. It's only like driving to Glasgow and back twice

I found "viaMichelin" app on itunes (not sure if you have an iphone) which does calculate fuel, tolls etc. Not sure how accurate it is though as not made my way into Europe since putting it on me phone?!?!

I've driven to Skye for a weekend before...

 

It's been a very long time since I've driven in europe, I seem to recall it being easier.

 

14hours in a car or 3 hours ryanair'ing... not much in it at the moment.

1000 miles each way, so long as you like driving, it makes sense to me. It's only like driving to Glasgow and back twice

 

Erm, 2 Glasgow roundtrips would be 1000 miles total wouldn't it? Well it is from Manchester anyway

 

I make it just short of 1900 miles total from Sheff to Montpellier, and back. You're not too far from Geneva if you take the Lyon route either Col

 

If it's a one-off I'd certainly consider it, I find continental driving on the whole quite relaxing, better than airport security and a budget flight for sure! With the extra time involved I'd not make a habit of it, but would be good to do for the experience

The chances are if you fly with Ryanair you'll end up not getting there, due to a Mayday, due to a lack of fuel, you'll take off from Manchester and land at Luton.   :yes:

 

I'd drive

I refuse to use Ryanair, so yes I'm in the same 'boat'

I'm driving into Europe again in November, did a full Euro trip in September and it costs more than flying but is far more fun. Plus you don't get lumbered with a **** hire car. 

 

Toll roads are my biggest peeve in France, yes the roads are good but some sections you're paying 24 Euros to use! I nearly slapped the guy when he asked for that much! Depends on what route you take though as you can avoid them but it'll take longer. 

 

I just tend to go Dover - Calais, then get out of France as quick as possible. 

Not sure of the best route if I were to avoid france. I'm heading for the spanish borders really.

It's growing on me as a plan though, Im not time pressured

Stop off and see sister jcn2 @m1, next day should see me to a motel in france somewhere.

Trains from st Pancras via lille are 239 return 1st class. Bizarrely cheaper than std seats as I'm away over a saturday.

Just as I decided to go ryanair, the dam prices hiked. Icarus got to close to the sun, I got too close to departure date.

Have you looked at Seat61 for trains?

 

Or autotrain http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=1568

I drove from East London to Montpellier, or as good as, this summer with 2 kids and it was a breeze. Used about 3 tanks of diesel, including all the driving around while we were there, so about £180, ferry was £100 return to Calais, and about £40 each way for tolls. If you avoid Paris and go via Rouen you can avoid a big toll road and take the N154 from Rouen all the way to Orleans, which is single lane for bits but mainly 2 lanes and quick. I used this website, which takes a bit of navigating, but here's the page including routes that avoid toll roads:

 

http://about-france.com/tourism/routes-through-france.htm

 

We did have to stop over for one night en route because of the kids (6 and 2) so that added another £140. 

 

French motorways are brilliant - there's never anybody on them :lol:

 

So in total the journey came to £500 with hotel, there and back. Cheaper than flying and hiring a car for 2 weeks.

 

European breakdown cover is included in my breakdown insurance for about £50 a year.

 

Good luck, and have a nice trip :yes:

 

 

I crossed to Santander in September 2012, did San Sebastián etc. drove to Begur on the Med, came back up to Bilbao, all costed on via Michelin.

It was pretty accurate until Britanny Ferries closed down due to an industrial dispute causing us to make a mad 1000 mile dash to Calais and b#$^€ring up the costings. Do it!,

Four of us are off to San Sebastián in December, cheapest way will be the Superb via the Bilbao ferry believe it or not.

If anyone wants a discount on the ferry price then send me a pm, I will give you my membership number and you will get a 10% discount

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

Drive it Colin.

 

It may take longer, but its simply less hassle. No baggage restrictions, no getting to the airport hours before the flight. I drive to the south of Spain via France regularly, it really is better. Plus with the car, you can bring back cheap wine and beer if you have any room after the luggage.

There some valid point here for driving it Colin. All I would say is that I'm convinced the costs are increasing doing it this way. This years drive to Tuscany definitely cost more than previous years! (Always ensure you take account of tolls on any planned route - viamichelin is usually spot on in this respect) We take the yeti to the Costa Blanca each year also (Altea, Calpe mainly) and its a pretty easy drive. Nice to stop and break when you want etc but I'd try to avoid the trip down and back up during the weekends.

As Mannyo says, it's also a great opportunity to take advantage of any spare cargo space on the return leg also. Italy usually provides us with at least 30 litres of very nice olive oil on each visit - far far cheaper than what it would cost here as an overpriced premium option in the uk for example!

Not sure of the best route if I were to avoid france. I'm heading for the spanish borders really.It's growing on me as a plan though, Im not time pressured :)Stop off and see sister jcn2 @m1, next day should see me to a motel in france somewhere.

If you are not time pressured, there are many routes in France that are toll free.

Colin we drove down to lattes about 3 miles from the airport about 6 weeks ago! Stayed at the Siblu site,

Took about 12 hours from Calais but we went down via Paris and the motorway down through Clermont Ferrand on the A75 which then goes down over the Milau viaduct, only about 20 miles longer.

We caught a 8pm euro tunnel, and then drove through the night with a few kips on route, that way you can get round Paris around 1am so no traffic,

The motorway south of Milau is great, more a 6 lane roller coaster.

Costs about €70 each way in toll and just over a tank of Diesel.

Best way to go,

Montpellier has a good network of trams to hop on and off.

driving to montpellier is not hard, the french motorways are an breeze imo, much easier than UK driving. Its a nice city too, a proper southern french city.

 

use this site to help work out tolls http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.htm?lang=en

 

To be fair i flew ryan air yesterday for the first time in about 7 years as i refused to fly them after regularly using them to go to italy and becoming infuriated with the whole affair. I flew to Limoges in the centre of france and it was very civilised compared to flying to any of the italian cities (which are chaos due to the italians/and english passengers going there refusal to queue or be half decent pasengers) The french are much more laid back in comparison...

I'd drive. We are planning a holiday next year or the year after and are going to drive. Initially it was thought up so we could bring the dog with us without putting him in a hold of a plane. I'm obviously a fan of driving too so i'm happy to do it. 

 

With the time thing, we left our house at 2 am and arrived at out Villa at 12 noon (driving to airport, parking, bus to terminal, check in, security, fly, land, collect luggage, get hire car, load it up, escape the airport mutil story car park, drive to villa) . 10 hours, we could drive it in a little more. Less hassle, no squeezing into seats on the plane with no leg room, I reckon it'll be much more enjoyable. 

I drove from East London to Montpellier, or as good as, this summer with 2 kids and it was a breeze. Used about 3 tanks of diesel, including all the driving around while we were there, so about £180, ferry was £100 return to Calais, and about £40 each way for tolls. If you avoid Paris and go via Rouen you can avoid a big toll road and take the N154 from Rouen all the way to Orleans, which is single lane for bits but mainly 2 lanes and quick. I used this website, which takes a bit of navigating, but here's the page including routes that avoid toll roads:

 

http://about-france.com/tourism/routes-through-france.htm

 

We did have to stop over for one night en route because of the kids (6 and 2) so that added another £140. 

 

French motorways are brilliant - there's never anybody on them :lol:

 

So in total the journey came to £500 with hotel, there and back. Cheaper than flying and hiring a car for 2 weeks.

 

European breakdown cover is included in my breakdown insurance for about £50 a year.

 

Good luck, and have a nice trip :yes:

 

We took this route earlier this year ' via Rouen you can avoid a big toll road and take the N154 from Rouen all the way to Orleans' when we wen't to visit my parents out near Chassignolles.

 

I haven't driven abroad for nearly 8years and it was such a pleasure, was such a shame we had to come back.

 

Drive it & make a road trip

If anyone wants a discount on the ferry price then send me a pm, I will give you my membership number and you will get a 10% discount

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

For which Ferry is that mate? Booking Dover - calais in the next week.

After your comment about eating ice cream in the rain Colin and then saying you found Viamichelin, I though you  have found a new ice cream flavour... (it sounded like a healthy lemonchello sort of flavour)..........Doh!!!!

Edited 8 October, 201312 yr by Lady Elanore

Ive been to Gen twice, enjoyed it both times, could even see Mont Blanc from the place I stayed in. Saw the waterspout thingy from 'The Champions', never saw Alexandra Bastido though :(

 

A good long drive sounds cool, you should do it

Just collected the citigo... I think I forgot to mentioon that... am i mad in a citigo I'm the only driver too, 2 up I reckon it would be cheaper than flying +more fun etc.

 

Although the spare boot space reasoning is shot to hell and back. Mind you the french do like making those 25cl bottles

 

Really am tempted to drive it to be flexible, go and look at milau viaduct too. Guess I'll figure it out today.