Driving to Paris, have i forgoten anything?

Troubled82

Ok, im travelling to Paris this bank holiday week end and am trying to get everything sorted.

Just had a few queries as it will be the first time we’ve driven abroad. We will be going in my girlfriends car and she will be doing the driving, how ever, I haven’t told her yet as it’s a surprise (she thinks were driving up north). I plan on telling her the morning we leave so we can sort out the travel insurance and check the car insurance is up to scratch.

Also anything I have forgotten here?

Travel insurance (possibly do through Eurotunnel as the have a deal for travel insurance and break down cover for £33 for 3 days)
Break down cover (as above)
High visibility jacket (got it)
Caps for lightings (have been told you can get them on Euro tunnel for a decent price)
GB badge (borrowing from a friend)
Check insurance to see if were ok to drive abroad (the morning we leave)

Any help would be much appreciated,

Si.

Incapuppy

Troubled82 wrote: »

Check insurance to see if were ok to drive abroad (the morning we leave)

Would there be any reason that this would not be ok? The reason I am asking is that if you leave this until the morning of your departure you are kind of knackered if you hit a problem!

spiro

2 high viz - carried in car not boot.
Spare bulbs - you dont need to be able to fit them but you must carry them.

If you go on the motoring section of the AA website they have detailed lists for each country.

Hope she likes surprises because parts of Paris can be an 'experience'.

Incapuppy

spiro wrote: »

Hope she likes surprises because parts of Paris can be an 'experience'.

I was just about to come back and ask if she had driven on the continent before as I should imagine that driving in Paris and its environs would be a tad daunting for a novice.

PS - have just noted that it says in the first post that it will be the first time!

Fen1

Are you actually going to be driving into Paris itself: parking at the hotel, driving along the Arc de Triomphe etc.

Or are you just driving across to somewhere outside the city and having a holiday outside Paris?

Or staying outside Paris, parking the car at your hotel on the outskirts and using public transport in central Paris?

barginunter

How can you possible "surprise" your girlfriend that she will be driving to Paris? If I was her I would not be happy. Flights and a nice hotel would have been a nice surprise but not what you're planning. Driving abroad is not difficult but the Peripherique takes some practice. At least share the driving with her.

tattycath

If my partner 'surprised me' and told me i would be driving to Paris-I would be mortified!!!! and more than a little unhappy.... fingers crossed for you

goggle

1) do you both have current valid passports?
2) does your girlfriend like surprises?
3) will she be happy driving a UK car in France?
(I am happy driving a LH drive car abroad but would not drive a RH drive car "on the wrong side of the road")

All I can say is Good Luck with this - it could backfire on you!

Troubled82

My god, don’t scare me like this!

I understand where your all coming from but that is why I have told her that we are going up to Manchester. So she is expecting a long old drive and seems ok with it.

I plan on just driving over there and parking the car up at a car park (possibly outside the city) and then buying one of those public transport passes. Thought it would be nice to get to know the city on foot too.

You raise a good point about driving abroad but from what I have heard as long as we take the main motor ways there (with the tolls) it is a pretty empty route so shouldn’t be too stressful. She is a pretty confident driver and if we can sort out the insurance for me I will offer to do all the driving (ive driven abroad before).

Im pretty sure she will like it, im constantly surprising her with things and she’s always had a positive response. I will do a little write up when I get back so will be sure to add if we enjoyed it or not.

I will take a look at the AA web site shortly.

Thanks for all the help guys and girls.

euterpe13

As someone who lived in France for 20+ years, and has driven in many countries:
- make sure you have a sat-nav that will work in France ( if you don't have one, borrow one - will save a lot of problems!)
- be very careful of roundabouts - not only do you go round them in a different direction from the UK ( sounds simple, I know, but instincts are sometimes hard to correct) but priority rules are sometimes different - look for markings on the ground.
- remember the golden rule when driving in France : at intersections, all traffic coming from your right has priority, unless a light or road sign indicates the contrary
- speed cameras on French autoroutes are not always signaled, as in the UK, so do watch the speed-limit ( 130 on autoroutes, 110 on dual carriageways, 90 on national roads, 50 in town - all Km/hr of course)
- be very careful where you park, and leave nothing of any value in the car, whether in sight or not
- given the size of Paris, you should decide before you reach the outskirts ( e.g. the Peripherique) where you intend park, otherwise you could be driving around for hours...it's a 3-hour drive from Calais to the outskirts of Paris.

Presume you have already booked an hotel for the nights.

Lyndach

You'll need a spare thing of petrol in the boot, at least that's what OH told me, apparently it's illegal not to have it, or you get a fine if you break down because of no petrol. (I semi paid attention when he was talking sorry!)