long long drive in Summer to France

kdee_2

so, 3 bored kids, a nine hour journey stretching ahead of us and the ferries (my bugbear) charging the earth to transport us that short journey across the channel. Speedferries sold out, all prices now sky high.
To top it all , French hols when we go so getting through Paris will be a nightmare.
Wanting an alternative to getting to Loire from Calais without having to drive through Paris (last year it added 2 hours of traffic jam onto our journey). Anyone know a good route planner that allows you to avoid an area? AA doesn't and neither does Michelin.

Also, ETAP hotels, anyone used them?

CDP

Hi


We have used Etap hotels before and found them v good value.

How about timing your journey so you miss the most of the rush hour for Paris? That and gameboys and DVD s for the car for a long journey.. We are off to Dordogne so will be joining you!

HTH
CDP

VixxAnn

hi there, cannot help with your specific enquiries I'm afraid, just wanted to say that we have booked with P&O £30 each way and are taking our first car journey accross France this summer too! (also with 3 kids - are we mad !!)
We are heading down to the Ardeche in one day:D haven't really thought about best way to go yet and don't know if we'd be going near Paris or not, but I will watch what responses you get....

andy88_2

Depending where in UK you are, you could look at ferries from Portsmouth, though some of these are overnight and so you'd spend more for cabins etc.

From Calais, you can probably find a route to the north of Paris. Start on the A16 south and go past Rouen or somewhere. They're gradually building more motorway on this route, but my map isn't up to date. I just did a Michelin search to Saumur which seems to confirm this, but it depends where in Loire valley you're going; further up you would be via Paris.

Etap Hotel owned by Accor together with several other brands at different budget levels - Formule 1, Ibis, Mercure, etc. Most of the rest are another chain Envergure

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm
http://www.etaphotel.com/etaphotel/index.html
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/index.html
https://www.envergure.fr/

Rabbit

Hi there, like Andy88 said we would use the route of getting to Rouen via the motorways and then head for Alencon, then to Le Mans. I suppose it depends on whereabouts you are going in the Loire, we try and avoid Paris and you could try

https://www.mappy.fr

It's like Multimap but French. We have found it very helpful as you get distances in Km or miles and amount of fuel etc also with a route planner and times.

We always use Etaps on our way, they are excellent value for money and you can request a breakfast too. We tried Ibis but didn't think it was worth paying the extra - think from memory you get a restaurant too.

Good Luck with the trip, hope you have a great holiday.

andy88_2

VixxAnn I think you'll avoid Paris to the east - certainly if going from Calais - Reims, Dijon, etc

actually I just searched it on Viamichelin and they recommended via Paris .... 4 minutes quicker! I wouldn't bother.

Natelle_2

I've just tried Autoroute 2003 and that wants to send you around Paris.
I'm planning a route to the Costa Blanca and Autoroute, AA and Michelin all want to send me via Paris. The only around this for me is to stipulate a route via Reims, Troyes or Dijon. This might be your solution, but the mileage and time will add up.
What's this fascination with going via Paris!

kdee_2

it is quicker to go via Paris but experience has taught me that if you are going peak season on a Saturday then you hit this phenomenal bottleneck of traffic all trying to get across and onto their various end destinations. It can be an absolute nightmare, so what could seem like a bit onto your journey by trying to avoid it can often be the best option as you avoid the jam

Savvy_Sue

RAC's Route Planner does France, and that's my favourite. But there is no substitute for taking your own road atlas with you in case you miss the route you planned to take.