Driving Manchester to Paris.

Burnleyfc

Is that way longer in distance but shorter in time ?
We were thinking of picking up some beers and wine from Calais on way back.
Is there not much difference in price nowadays?
Cheers for the info on the petrol station will deffo be using that.
Hopefully a full tank will get us to it.

flyingscotno1

Iceweasel wrote: »

I run from Aberdeen to Dover regularly and would not recommend using the M1 at all.

I'd agree with using the M40 then to the M25 anti-clockwise. The M25 from M40 past Heathrow to around to the A3 is busy but you do avoid the Dartford Crossing.

harrys_dad

I would leave 30 minutes earlier, go with the M6 M1 M25 M20 route. This way you will get to the Dartford Crossing before 6am. This means it is free and there are no queues.

Unleaded fuel in France is hardly any cheaper, if at all, than in the UK.

There are two ways to Paris from Calais, one uses the A1 and the other uses A26/A16. Look at a map and see which way gets you to where you want to be in Paris earlier.

Speed limits on French motorways, if dry, are about 10mph higher than here, but do not be tempted to drive faster as it will use more fuel.

Read the advice on other parts of MSE to get best exchange rate for cash. Never ever ever get cash at the ferry. Even better, if you can, get yourself a Halifax Credit card which gives you full exchange rate with no fees at all, even for cash withdrawals (and is Martin's best buy).

Make sure you have your driving licence, insurance document and V5 registration document with you.

Do not not tempted to drive in Paris itself, they are all mad. Park the car and leave it for the duration. Use the metro which is excellent.

How long are you in Paris for? What do you want to see? Going up the Arc de Triomphe is easier and more fun than going up the Eiffel Tower. from the top you can look down at the madness as 12 different roads converge on a roundabout where those coming on have priority over those already on it (see comment above about never driving in Paris).

To avoid queues at popular sites by a combined admission ticket at any Metro station (not sure what they are called). These allow admission to a number of places from a list without queuing. For example, the quesues at the Musee D'Orsay (Impressionist paintings and a wonderful building) are usually two hours long and with that ticket you can go straight in a different entrance.

Walk loads! Have a good trip.

Ps. For food and shopping, including booze, go to Auchan in Coquelles, easily accessible from the A26, a couple of miloes west of Calais. Make sure you demand to pay in Euros on your card (if you opt for Pounds they will stiff you on the exchange rate). You can also have a final meal in their excellent cafeteria. It is less than 15 minutes from there to the Ferry Port.

Burnleyfc

We are driving to Disneyland Paris in a couple of weeks and will be the 1st time I've driven in France.
Don't think we will be going to Paris it's self.
Mainly be just the park and a few shops around it and then thinking of spending half day in Calais on way back to pick up some wine and beers.

Burnleyfc

Never thought of Auchen.
Sounds a better option than Calais cheers.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Burnleyfc wrote: »

Hi,
I will be driving from Manchester to Paris in a standard 1.6 05 Astra using the ferry from Dover.

Have you any tips for driving in France as well?

Yes, drive on the wrong side of the road.

Iceweasel

Burnleyfc wrote: »

Is that way longer in distance but shorter in time ?
We were thinking of picking up some beers and wine from Calais on way back.
Is there not much difference in price nowadays?
Cheers for the info on the petrol station will deffo be using that.
Hopefully a full tank will get us to it.

Yes - a little longer but no Dartford crossing and less traffic - so normally quicker - but allow plenty time for accidents and roadwork nonsense.

Best prices in Calais are at the Carrefour supermarket - marked A on the map:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=carrefour+calais&ie=UTF-8&ei=YYdmUtm8JYSohAeo4YDYBA&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg

Also the Lidls in Calais have some great bargains in wine and beer.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=lidl+calais&ie=UTF-8&ei=MIlmUtXQItHwhQfRoYGIDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg


Steer well away from places advertising in English - although cheaper than the UK the prices are much higher than elsewhere.

I've a diesel vehicle but that Total is the cheapest around for petrol too.

It's open 24 hours - pay at pump or inside - very good clean toilets.

I agree about Credit Cards - the Post Office one (also on Martin's List) is probably the fastest to be delivered to you - they don't charge commission and exchange either.

I got the PO one exclusively for use in Europe.

Iceweasel

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Yes, drive on the wrong side of the road.

No no no - they drive on the 'right' side of the road. :rotfl:

wba31

Iceweasel wrote: »

My recommendation would be the M6 south to Birmingham where you pick up the M5 going south as far as the M42 near Bromsgrove.

Then you follow the M40 south past Oxford to meet the M25.

QUOTE]

Agree with this around Birmingham, M6 is down to 50mph with average speed cameras between junction 8a (for M5) and (4a) for M42, getting onto M5 and then going east on M42 to M40 helps you avoid all roadworks.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Burnleyfc wrote: »

thinking of spending half day in Calais on way back to pick up some wine and beers.

Calais can carry a bit of a premium over elsewhere in France for beer and wine as so many Brits shop there (still cheaper than rip-off Britain of course), Paris is also sometimes more expensive, just as London is here.

The big Carrefours, etc, are OK in either, but any normal supermarket in any town between Paris and Calais could be a better bet.

It's worth shopping around and filling the car.