Have I forgotten anything essential for Euro road trip?

hairbrain05

Have I forgotten anything for essential for our road trip to south of France?


Passports
European Brk Down cover
Copies of Insurance (I take we don’t need any enhanced insurance?) and MOT
Drivers licenses
Travel Insurance
Eurotunnel Ticket Reference
Car kit (high vis vest, warning triangle, headlight adjustors etc)

any assistance appreciated!

Gloomendoom

Car?............................................

mcfisco

Stick the hi-viz vests [one for each occupant] where they can easily be seen - by a Gendarme hiding under a bridge through a haze of Gauloises smoke.

hairbrain05

erm.. yes.. we have the car.. and 3 kids to go in it..

Gratis

Vehicle Registration Document (preferably the original plus a copy).

It's (supposedly) proof of your car's ownership; Gendarmes can, and do, ask to inspect it at random roadside checks.


You should also carry enough extra Euros – in cash - to pay any on-the-spot fines you may, perhaps unwittingly, incur.

(I have a bank-sealed polythene pack containing €1,500, which I keep in the car. But I do drive fast.)


If you use a particular type of engine oil, take a litre or two of it with you, to enable you to top it up, if necessary.


If at all possible, take a full-sized spare wheel, not a skinny one. You wouldn't like to drive 500 miles on one.


Take, as well, an air-gauge and an air-pump that runs off the cigar–lighter socket. (Also handy for pumping up li-los and such like. )


The current edition of the Michelin Guide Rouge and an up-to-date edition of the Michelin Road Atlas. Together with a SatNav that covers France and is also up to date.


Insulating tape and a pair of scissors can come in handy for fixing small things.


If you're going to the South, make sure the air-con has been serviced and is fully gassed. It's also nice to carry a car-fridge and one of those tacky, fold-up, silver-backed sun shades with rubber stickers that you can erect across the inside of the windscreen when you have to leave the car parked in the sun.

Watch out for the horrific daily traffic jam on the road between Ste-Maxime and St-Tropez. Allow extra time if you can't avoid it.

Have a really great time!

rugbyleague

Take your E111 healthcard (again one for each member). Hopefully you will not need it but saves a rather large bill.

jackomdj

A lot of insurances just cover you 3rd party abroad. We are paying £15 to get us fully comp.

Drivers licence we take plastic and paper copy.

E111 is now the EHIC. Don't pay for this, lots of bogus sites that get you to pay for it.

Enjoy your trip. We are off to France soon, I can hardly wait.

k12479

I believe you need your own breathalyzer for France now, unless that was repealed.

jackomdj

k12479 wrote: »

I believe you need your own breathalyzer for France now, unless that was repealed.

We have one, but it has been deferred for now.

maman

Make sure you have GB stickers on your car (unless on number plate).

Oh and teabags!:rotfl:

hairbrain05

thanks everyone! Great list Gratis

Teabags were TOP of the list haha... Got our GB sticker and our EHIC cards... haven't bothered with the breathalyser as it's been deferred and there's no danger we'll need it.

jackomdj - thanks for tip re insurance, i'll give them a call today as been wondering about this


xx