Driving to Paris, have i forgoten anything?

mikey72

Just try to stay at the front. Put your foot down, get off the lights first, then you can get into the correct lane with no problems.
It when you're surrounded by french motorists who know where they're going, (or don't) it's harder.
I spent two weeks there once, with the car, with no problems. It's no worse than only other capital.

DCFC79

Troubled82 wrote: »

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.

good luck for you, hope you enjoy it

Lyndach wrote: »

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!)

never too petrol when we went abroad

spiro wrote: »

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

same again we didnt take high viz jacket, i think we took bulbs as well and defo first aid kit and red triangle but take what you feel you would feel safer with,
you need to fill up with petrol we found they dont open as late as over here(mid week) so try and fill up during the day to avoid being caught out(if you dont have a spare can of petrol)

vikingaero

AHAR wrote: »

When I visited Paris I was amazed by how many cars have dents and scratches. I'd estimate at least 20% of the cars I saw had clearly visible damage of some kind. I wouldn't take any car I cared about there. Good luck!

Yep Central Paris can be that bad! :eek:

Parisiens will create a parking space by bumping cars if they think they can fit half their car in. That's why you see so many with dents. For many drivers it's a fine balance between leaving your handbrake off or risk damage.

Many Paris commuters have a car at home and a special "Paris car" specifically for commuting into the City. :eek::D

Be aware that if you drive in Central Paris with portable sat navs such as Tom Toms and Garmins, the height and scale of the buildings in some areas will block out the GPS signals and leave you mapless. Happened to me quite a few times even with the latest satnavs.

AHAR

vikingaero wrote: »

Parisiens will create a parking space by bumping cars if they think they can fit half their car in.

What else could a car bumper's raison d'être be if not to bump into things?!

NicoC_3

I think it's a lovely surprise but would reiterate what others have said and suggest you DON'T drive into the centre of Paris. The drive down to Paris is lovely (especially if you take the coastal route rather than the one that goes 'down the middle' but when you get nearer to Paris everything goes haywire! I'm a confident driver but I still have cold sweats thinking about driving there and would never do it again. I'm surprised about the post that 20% of the cars had dents- I'd have said nearer 50% or more!!!

To save on stress I'd research your carpark on outskirts first and then you can head directly there. We visited the zoo when we were there and that is in a really nice residential area just off the periphique (i think) with a metro station really near by so it might be worth looking there.

Have fun, your girlfriend is a lucky woman!

abacab

Lyndach wrote: »

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!)

Gawd,this reminds me of our experience driving into France.
Fuel was a bit low getting on Ferry,but fully intented filling up in Calais .
This was a sunday morning.Missed the PFS near Eastenders,drove for miles towards Belgium with no petrol station in sight.In the end we turned of the main road.We were in the french countryside with the fuel gauge reading nil by now.
Kept going somehow and spotted an elf sign in the distance.
Pulled in and it was open.Have since read that most petrol stations are shut sunday mornings.The most welcome fill up I've ever had.Didnt have breakdown cover back then.
You live and learn.

reddevilled

Think you need to take a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher as well