Please help! I need a confidence boost

Threebabes

You will have a great time. I greatly admire you, doing it alone. The sense of achievement you will feel will be amazing. Enjoy! :-)

notanewuser

Last time I went to Bristol airport it took me 3 hours from just north of Cardiff. I only just made my flight.

It's March, so there will be roadworks galore as the roads authorities try to spend the rest of their budgets. Definitely avoid as much of the M5 as you can, M49 is good. If you do drive slowly keep to the left and don't get in the way of other drivers. I love driving over the Severn Bridge - lovely view from either side.

Good luck.

mintymoneysaver

You'll be fine! Just out of interest, how are you getting from the airport in Paris to the park/ hotel?

ollow

Thanks again for all you advice and kind words.

I've got all restaurants booked already.

Transfer from airport is a shared private shuttle and have the train booked to go back to the airport.

All packed now, monies sorted into daily envelopes. Just need to get children to pack their carry ons but they are up their dads for the night so they can do them in the morning. We're not leaving until about 3pm.

averagemummy

Your kids are now at an age they can help you. I took both my DD (2, and 8) to N Wales last year all on my own as OH had to work.

I found that my 8 DD and I became quite a team, I could rely on her to help me out with packing a day bag, making packed lunch, making sure the little one kept out of mischief whilst I loaded the car up.

We also went to Disney Paris a couple of years ago. I found that the staff LOVE kids and are always willing to help if they can. You will all LOVE it!

dangers

I've just looked up directions from Cardiff to the airport. Mine says to use the M49, get onto the Portway (a4) all the way into Bristol, straight onto the A370 and then coming off at Long Ashton, going through Barrow Gurney (very narrow in places),before turning right onto the A38 which leads up to the airport.

I would have considered getting onto the m5 at avonmouth, going south over the bridge and come off at J19. - the next junction. Take the first exit ( ignoring the services), turn almost immediately right and follow the road all the way up through port bury. At the very top, turn left. Just after the Failand inn (at a used car dealership), turn right and then right again at the end of the road.
At the bottom of the hill, turn left. Carry on for a couple of miles and you will go under the A370 and the n through Barrow Gurney.

There are obviously some other locals reading this - is this the way you would go?

If you do go on the A4, please watch for the speed camera in Avonmouth. Sorry but I can't remember what the speed limit is there, but its a dual carriageway that is also in a residential area.

belfastgirl23

No practical advice to add except to say you should be very proud of yourself. It's ok to find this challenging, you're going out of your comfort zone and the admirable thing is that you don't have to do so, you're choosing to do so. I just want to make sure you know it's ok to be scared, you don't have to feel foolish.

If you don't feel a bit scared sometimes then you're not living life to the full!

Hope you have a lovely time

mintymoneysaver

The train back is great. Do you have tickets already? I had to print mine off from a machine in the station and I couldn't find it for ages! If that's the case just look for a yellow machine! It's a bit of a walk back through the airport when you get there, but really well signposted so you won't go wrong! Have a great time x

Savvy_Sue

ollow wrote: »

Unfortunately not going somewhere warm but we are off to Disneyland Paris. We've been saving for 18 months for this trip so I just want it to be special for the children.

I'm sure it will be special, but if you see this, make sure you have packed their woolly hats and gloves, Disneyland Paris was FREEZING when we went in Feb half term many (many) years ago ...

dangers wrote: »

I've just looked up directions from Cardiff to the airport. Mine says to use the M49, get onto the Portway (a4) all the way into Bristol, straight onto the A370 and then coming off at Long Ashton, going through Barrow Gurney (very narrow in places),before turning right onto the A38 which leads up to the airport.

I would have considered getting onto the m5 at avonmouth, going south over the bridge and come off at J19. - the next junction. Take the first exit ( ignoring the services), turn almost immediately right and follow the road all the way up through port bury. At the very top, turn left. Just after the Failand inn (at a used car dealership), turn right and then right again at the end of the road.
At the bottom of the hill, turn left. Carry on for a couple of miles and you will go under the A370 and the n through Barrow Gurney.

There are obviously some other locals reading this - is this the way you would go?

There are roadworks on the M5 in that area, so I'd get off it as soon as I could. But the M49 is good.

I'd check which route the SatNav had chosen: I can get lost driving to the airport even now and with a SatNav (although I do get found again!) It helps if I know which signposts to look out for, and you can get your children to help with that, young as they are. But be aware that the route through Barrow Gurney is NOT signposted to the airport (and if you've ever driving it you'll know why!)

TBH on a first attempt I'd come down the Portway, turn right at the bottom and follow the airport signs from there, which take you along Winterbourne Road. It always seems a long drag with LOTS of roundabouts but there shouldn't be too much traffic on a Sunday. You'll then be directed off to the right, and it will feel for a bit as if you're driving round in a circle, but just get the kids to look out for the brown aeroplane signs and tell you which way the aeroplane is pointing!!!

dangers wrote: »

If you do go on the A4, please watch for the speed camera in Avonmouth. Sorry but I can't remember what the speed limit is there, but its a dual carriageway that is also in a residential area.

It's now mostly 40 (recently reduced from 50), with a stretch of 30. Goes up to 50 again soon after the bus lane starts, then back down to 40 as you get near the bottom.

One other tip, know which car park you are headed for: Silver Parking is beyond the airport and you get bussed back, so allow extra time. All the car parks are well signed, but it does help to know which one you've booked in. If you haven't yet booked, it's cheaper if you do.

Good luck. You CAN do this. You will NOT drive 3 times round Bristol City Centre (as I did on my very first visit with 3 young children in the car) and finally take the only road you haven't yet tried in an attempt to escape. Your children WILL see it as a great adventure. Or Else ... :rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

Oh, and if you DO get lost, Bristolians are generally extremely friendly and helpful.