Last minute holiday to France booked, travel help please!

lallysmum

I've just impulsively booked a week long stay in a caravan in France, leaving Sunday 18th Aug, returning Sunday 25th.
Now I'm panicking about how to get there, never having been to France before.
The place we are staying is Le Chene Gris, which is 20km from Disneyland Paris, so I'm basing my travel info as if we are going to DLP.
We live in Essex, so would go from Dover.. I need to take the car, so don't know if ferry or tunnel is best. Is it best to start from Calais? Or to go to somewhere else?
I've tried googling for answers, but get nowhere fast. And I leave in 6 days.. and I like to be ready for these things about a month in advance!

Could someone who knows stuff please plan my travel? Pretty please!
Thanks

mcfisco

Ferry will be cheaper but a bit slower.
Calais is just fine for your destination

have a good holiday

Go get yourself one of these to cover all the French driving idiosyncrasies
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_722063_langId_-1_categoryId_165664

Note, you need one hi-viz vest for each occupant of the car

lallysmum

So did not know I needed that! Thank you, will pop to Halfords and pick one up.
Will check out ferry prices, thank you!

mcfisco

Don't forget a French map

From Calais head South on the A26 as far as Arras
Then take the A1 towards Paris as far as Senlis
Get off the A1 at the toll booths towards Meaux

Use your map for local roads after that
The toll roads all take credit or debit cards, just get in the right lane for it, don't get in the lanes marked 'T'

jackomdj

Also red triangle and full bulb set.

purcel

Toll cost roughly about 20 euros each way. Also don't forget they are driving on the other side of the road, so be careful at roundabouts

andygb

jackomdj wrote: »

Also red triangle and full bulb set.

Also a first aid kit, and don't forget to arrange breakdown cover and make sure that your insurance covers you for European driving.
Get your fuel at supermarkets NOT at motorway stations.
If you are in Essex, then book an early ferry, so that you miss the hordes of drivers on the Dartford crossing (and I think you don't have to pay before 0600?).

sjg666

Driving in France is easy (just watch out for the speed freaks in the fast lane - much the same as in the UK I suppose).

If you have a sat nav then this will remind you to drive on the other side of the road, other way round roundabouts etc (my TomTom does so I assume other brands do).

Don't forget the breathalyser kit, spare bulbs, hiz viz's, triangle and headlight beam converters (these are very easy to stick on - come with good instructions). ALSO IF your numberplate does NOT have the European GB stamp/flag down the side of it (only has to be on front OR back - not both) then you will need a GB sticker.

We drove to a site near Disneyland earlier in the year, the drive is very easy.

For ferries check the prices of P&O and DFDS (be careful of the DFDS website as sometimes the search brings up results for sailings to Dover AND Dunkirk - but they are nice boats!).

sjg666

mcfisco wrote: »

Ferry will be cheaper but a bit slower.
Calais is just fine for your destination

have a good holiday

Go get yourself one of these to cover all the French driving idiosyncrasies
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_722063_langId_-1_categoryId_165664

Note, you need one hi-viz vest for each occupant of the car

Cheaper at Amazon depending on what they'd charge for fast delivery - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Car-Essentials-Euro-Travel/dp/B003FZBGMS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1376393809&sr=8-8&keywords=europe+driving

carmel11

Sat navs with speed camera detectors are illegal in france, I kept mine out of sight.Shops and maybe some petrol stations will be closed on Sundays, make sure you carry some cash for petrol, some petrol stations don't take visa
https://www.sncf.com trips by train to Paris
You find the site by the railway station.
Are you going to eurodisney?

lallysmum

carmel11 wrote: »

Sat navs with speed camera detectors are illegal in france, I kept mine out of sight.Shops and maybe some petrol stations will be closed on Sundays, make sure you carry some cash for petrol, some petrol stations don't take visa
https://www.sncf.com trips by train to Paris
You find the site by the railway station.
Are you going to eurodisney?

Thank you for that.
My sat nav is built into the car - as in it is part of my radio/phone thing. I might be able to turn off speed camera things, what if I can't? does that mean I can't use the sat nav?

We are going to Disney for two days.. the campsite is apparently 15 mins drive from there.