Towing to the South of France for the first time
Please help. My husband, two teenage children and myself have booked a camp site near Beziers in August for two weeks. We are planning to travel down with another family who have holidayed in France before be we have not. We are towing our twin axle, they are camping. Their plan is to catch the 6.20am Ferry on Friday morning and then drive down to Clermont-Ferrand for an overnight stop approx 7pm. Do you think this is too far to tow in a day? If so, what would you recommend?
Also we were thinking we could pull up on a 'site' overnight but not unhook, sleep in our van and then just set off the next day - is this something that would be available and a good idea?
On some discussion sites people say its not necessary to book up Municipal sites, anyone have any experience of this or views?
Are Aires as bad as they're made out to be?
We have been looking on-line and are now totally confused.
Many thanks in anticipation.
Nicky and Andy
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MOD should this be in the Overseas Section?
Nicky, to answer your questions. It is 440 miles Calais to Clermont so that is about 8 hours continuous driving towing a large caravan so realistically about 10 - 11 hours total journey. Too far for me. I have done that journey many times as I used to live near Beziers and even solo we would break the journey between Orleans and Clermont. Arriving at an overnight stop in Aug on a Friday at 7pm would probably result in not being able to find one as most of N Europe will be doing the same journey. Not many sites are suitable for remaining hooked up overnight. I would not stop at an Aire overnight for security and peace and quiet reasons.
The one night stop is quite feasible for your friends who you say are camping therefore, I assume, just a car, but not really towing a caravan. So I would suggest that you let them go at their own speed and you take an extra day and enjoy the journey - well after you get past Clermont! Meeting up at your destination - you are limited to 60 mph they can go at 80!
A lot of us do the 3 x 2 hour stints when towing and stop for an overnighter at about 4 pm - not really necessary to book ahead. We can then visit the local village and have a relaxing evening.
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Hi Nicky
06.20 ferry will probably dock at 09.00 French time. Clermon Ferrand is about 440 miles so thats average speed of 44mph However that will be a lot slower by the time your factor in rest stops, which with a full car will probaly be about 3 times to be comfortable. so that is 4 driving sections which is about 110 miles each one. Four stops will add on another 2 hours so you wont get to your overnight till about 21.00. That's one hell of a days driving for your first time. It will however only leave about 200 miles the next day. Thinking of this as your first tour abroad I would advice you break the total mileage (about 650) into two manageable sections this in turn reduces the time/distance on the first day and will allow an earlier finish to find an overnight stop.
Many municipals are perfectly adequate for an overnight stop and depending on the ground will be ok to stay hooked up. I have done it many times.
Most municipals are ok to drop in but the secret is not to leave it late. I wouldn't leave it much after 16.00 to stand a chance.
Autoroute aires. People do stop on them but personally I wouldn't. Much safer nd easier to find a municipal.
Just to re-cap The journey is your biggest concern. Autoroutes are much better than our motorways but can get busy around major cities so plan your times carefully in manageable sections.
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Don't forget you are on holiday not a race to see how fast you can get there. I have done that sought of mileage when I was working in France, but far to many miles on holiday and the first time.
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The halfway point at 325 miles is Camping Robinson at Bourges . On a Friday in August it would be best to book if you want that one
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We have done long journeys but we usually do them exclusively on motorways and often if we do an overnighter at the start of our holiday.
Having a double axle, personally I would book ahead too and certainly for Beziers in all cases during the main holiday period.
David
P.S. I've moved this thread here with the hope that it will get more responses.
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You also have to remember that if it's in the first 2 weeks of August an awful lot of French folk will be heading south as well, usually on Friday and Saturday. Good advice given above about distance travelling. W would do roughly the same as Harry and Comreyas.
JVB's comment is also relevant as some sites won't accept TAs but I have seen them make exception for foreign tourists. Check out any potential stopover site before leaving the UK.
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Agree with previous posts you are attempting a long journey with a large caravan on what will be very busy roads, the likelihood you will find delays even on the autoroutes, especially at the tolls. Some toll booths can have long = very long queues in August, have you looked into the Sanef Tag which can reduce the wait at tolls. Work on 35 MPH from start to finish may sound slow but rest stops traffic delays etc soon reduce your average - 90Km/Hr 56MPH is your legal speed limit
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According to Google maps the journey is 402 miles. I do that length of journey in a day when going to the Vendee BUT...I am not driving around Paris on. Saturday in August. If early August assume it won't be good. Also you do sound new to France so I would agree with other contributors and perhaps break it earlier.
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Try camping salbris below orlean I think that's far a enough in one day with a family and have two over night stops your on holiday not in a race drive carefully and enjoy the the French towns and villages they are really en joyable this site has alovely lake and parkland and easy walk into town
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The most we have done is 500 miles in a day over a 10 hour stretch, we average 50mph including stops when towing but we are experienced and have pit stops rather than long lunches and we don't have kids in the back moaning are we there yet....
In August when we did have kids many moons ago and were not as experienced we had to pay for a hotel for the night on a couple of occasions due to all campsites being complet!!
Remember even if your ferry is on time its going to be gone 9 local time before you get off, then go thru customs and get out onto the autoroute so 440 miles say 10 hours if you are lucky and do not encounter much traffic its going to be gone 7pm or later before you get there if you are lucky.
So my advice would be to aim for around 300 miles, book a site with a pool, bar and restaurant arrive about 3 or 4 so the kids can run about and have a swim/play etc. have a nice meal then set off early the next day to arrive on your destination site later in the day as you have booked a pitch you should be OK to arrive late and then just get on pitch and sort out everything the next day.
As for driving in France it is much easier than UK especially on autoroutes but remember to factor in the cost and would advise to get a sanef tag (others are available) to speed through the toll booths using the 30kph lanes which over a day will save you 30+minutes.
Most of all have a great time
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I think really good advice Michael. We have teenage kids and they love it if they can have a swim and a bit of time later afternoon and makes it more relaxing. I have only pushed the mileage in a day due to the wife...just wanting to get there!
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Well Nicky, the vast majority of the advice is give yourselves an extra day each way. When our kids were teenagers we gave ourselves a 3 week holiday to have 2 weeks in the South of France to allow for 5/6 days driving. Be prepared for delays en route. Would recommend avoiding Paris area and go via Rouen, Dreux, Chatres and Orleans then A75 south; this route has minimum toll charges and is now mostly dual carriageway/motorways; there are plenty of places to stop overnight (get the Club France Site Book), remember get to an overnight site by 4 pm and you should have no problems. Whilst on site near Beziers look at inland Languedoc (St Chinian, Cessenon sur Orb, Orb Valley area - we used to live there) you will not be disappointed and it will be less busy!. And of course Carcassonne but it will be busy. If you would like suggestions for more places to visit just ask.
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Even at my age I could get from Calais to Bourges in a day - but I would pay the money and use motorways all the way.
That means no messing with the money saving route via Rouen, Evreux and Dreux. I would go straight down the A1 towards Paris, turn off after the airport where the big signs say Bordeaux and take the A3 / A86 middle ring round the east side of Paris. No, not the Peripherique.
With a 9 am. start from Calais I would aim to get to Bourges by 5pm. Sure, the autoroutes are dear, but it's time versus money, isn't it.
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Same here, once retired of course take the leisurely/cheap route but with only 2 weeks auto routes all the way, maybe even when one is retired. French towns can get a bit repetitive as can speed humps, chicane's, roundabouts, traffic lights etc.
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Can I add that I would actually cross the channel the night before, and aim for an 8 am. Start from Calais rather than after a 9 am. Ferry arrival.
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Lots of good advice here. For my pennies worth... we holiday in July / August each year near Biscasrrosee on the South West coast. Although our journey uses slightly different roads - the overall distance is very similar. We have a 5 YO and have done this journey both driving solo & towing.
We land in France just after lunch on a Sat and drive 100 or so miles on the first day. Sunday is our main driving day where we'll rack up 350-400 miles, and finally arrive on our main site Monday after a 150 mile drive. 2x Overnight stops in total and but a relatively stress-free journey.
We do not use tolls - except to skirt around the big towns. The roads in France are exceptional for towing - especially it seems the further South you go. Many roads are also dual carriageways. We like to take in the scenery - but thats just us. Not really had a problem with traffic queuing on any of our holidays in France - in fact, it tends to be Dover that has all the delays!!
We'd always stay on a site as appose to an Aire.... and normally pre-book our 1st and last site too - just because they tend to get busy. We've not had any problem getting on to a municipal site - just watch the opening hours as many we've stayed on have barriers!
Happy Holidays
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