Help, advice, tips, comments for first Motorhome trip via France to Spain.

[GMJ]

Dare say a lot easier but not a big problem nipping out to pay .

You ever been there when there are huge queues?

 

[alcam]

You ever been there when there are huge queues?

Can't say I ever have . Apart from the queue behind me !

 

[mark61]

You ever been there when there are huge queues?

Haven't seen long queues for years at the peage. Probably just luck with times.

Golden rule is always avoid going behind a MH with UK plates.

 

[Wooie1958]

Haven't seen long queues for years at the peage. Probably just luck with times.

Golden rule is always avoid going behind a MH with UK plates.

Or a huge gang on nobhead british classic car owners on UK plates near Le Mans

They all found it highly amusing running about between each other coppering up and swapping credit cards at the toll booths

As soon as they got through they blocked up solid the rest area on the other side so no one else could get in then were all lined up having a piss on the verge.

Thankfully we didn`t come across them again.

 

[GMJ]

Or a huge gang on nobhead british classic car owners on UK plates near Le Mans

They all found it highly amusing running about between each other coppering up and swapping credit cards at the toll booths

As soon as they got through they blocked up solid the rest area on the other side so no one else could get in then were all lined up having a piss on the verge.

Thankfully we didn`t come across them again.

Yeh, sorry about that.....

 

[Upforadventure]

Thank you, thank you xxxxxxxxx

How does the tag work? Presumably sort of remote?
Yes can shift across or get out.
Roughly how much are the tolls?? So I know. Card or cash (notes?? coins easier???)
Decided to go.
He won't read this and him if he does. He caused the problem!!!!!! What happened to the exploding angry emoji??

So best probably to stick to motorways/big/toll roads??? Safest with driving and doglets???

HOwevr going to see friend in Marmande on route - and from there could pretty much cut straight over pyrenees to Zaragoza. A65 / E7. Anyone done this route? Decent road? Safe?/Dogs? Driving RHD issues? Not hugely more extra time if have to back to west coast and cut down from there. Opinions?

Also anyone played golf and left doggies in MH?? Yes aware of heat - but do you tell the golf club?? Do 9 then check then next 9?? Park MH in carpark ok I preume etc. Safe?

 

[mark61]

Thank you, thank you xxxxxxxxx

How does the tag work? Presumably sort of remote?
Yes can shift across or get out.
Roughly how much are the tolls?? So I know. Card or cash (notes?? coins easier???)
Decided to go.
He won't read this and him if he does. He caused the problem!!!!!! What happened to the exploding angry emoji??

So best probably to stick to motorways/big/toll roads??? Safest with driving and doglets???

HOwevr going to see friend in Marmande on route - and from there could pretty much cut straight over pyrenees to Zaragoza. A65 / E7. Anyone done this route? Decent road? Safe?/Dogs? Driving RHD issues? Not hugely more extra time if have to back to west coast and cut down from there. Opinions?

Also anyone played golf and left doggies in MH?? Yes aware of heat - but do you tell the golf club?? Do 9 then check then next 9?? Park MH in carpark ok I preume etc. Safe?

I often pay by card, especially when alone, saves faffing about. Cash is fine, just takes a bit longer.
Calais to Bordeaux must be getting on for £150 now, using all toll road. For a class 2

I have used the part toll road part free roads as suggested by About France
Used the route a few times with varying success. I've given up on it a few times and gone back to peage route due to heavy traffic. Have also used it very successfully but that has been overnight, I'd usually get a latish train (10/ 11 pm) and I can be slightly North of Bordeaux by 7am, ready for a nap.
It's also a bit of a pain to navigate on your own.
Peage is easiest but you pay for it.

Most people don't recommend overnighting on the M Way service stations, I do though and so do many many others.

Toll fee's here https://www.autoroutes.fr/index.htm?lang=en

Once searched you'll probably have to modify search with whatever class your MH is in. Probably 2 or 3.

 

[Wooie1958]

Message GMJ and you will receive an email with a link through which you can apply for a tag and both of you will save 4 euros

That`s how i got mine and it arrived in 7 days from France

 

[Wooie1958]

If you`ve any distance to travel through France ( which you have ) it is far quicker using the Peage ( toll roads ).

The other roads are great but it takes for ever to get anywhere , if just ambling about then use the other free roads and you see some fantastic places.

 

[TeamRienza]

Two points that I would add were extra vigilance is required. Entering a motorway can entail a sharp curve from the approach road onto the slip road (acceleration lane) which can be quite short by UK standards. Consequently checking your left hand wing mirror can be a bit more difficult to ensure the nearside lane is safe to enter. I normally have the mirror adjusted to show further out from the van.
Secondly, France has the largest number of roundabouts in the world! Lane discipline can be a minor issue, as it is at home. You may be following the protocol, but sometimes others don’t which can be a bit interesting at times. I seem to recall that Spanish roundabout procedure can be a bit different. I must check it out as we are due there next month.
I enjoy driving in France. Away from cities I find the roads excellent and the standard of French driving fine.

Davy

 

[Wooie1958]

There`s also the " priorité à droite " which can be very entertaining and we first encountered in Grand-Fort-Philippe when leaving the aire there

https://www.thelocal.fr/20190808/how-does-priorit-droite-really-work-when-youre-driving-in-france/

Oh bloomin eck or words to that effect i exclaimed as the lovely elderly gentleman made the manoeuvre

 

[GMJ]

Message GMJ and you will receive an email with a link through which you can apply for a tag and both of you will save 4 euros

That`s how i got mine and it arrived in 7 days from France

Yes, thanks.

Anyone taking out a Bip&Go tag email me and I can get us both 4€ off our bills.

 

[Upforadventure]

Thank you all again.

Ar! Issue with tags - I leave on Monday.

Would any of you be prepared to message me your mob numbers? And maybe if anyone is in France/Spain, whereabouts?

Thank you for so many tips and advice - specially the right priority thing. That could be interesting espec on roundabouts!! So do you give way to the left and right????? Or is it basically don't go til it's clear everywhere????? Could be a long journey!! Don't remember any of that when lived in France - probably didn't know!!

Are the roads really this bad at the mo????

 

[GMJ]

You give way the opposite of the UK....mainly. So traffic coming from the left. The sign will say Cedez le Passage

Just beware of a lack of using the indicators so don't assume that a car is coming off the roundabout until it has actually come off at a junction.

Also beware that numerous vehicle may be in the outer lane of a roundabout so you assume that they will be coming off before they get to you...but they don't always, so coupled with lack of indicator usage it can be interesting.

don't worry: just take things slowly and you'll be fine. i think the French are very tolerant of MH's and even if they beep you, it's just a national sport to them....

 

[alcam]

Haven't seen long queues for years at the peage. Probably just luck with times.

Golden rule is always avoid going behind a MH with UK plates.

Good advice .
Toll booth near Boulogne few years ago my card wasn't working .
English guy behind me got right in my face screaming abuse . I , of course , reacted in kind . He backed off , came back , same thing . Then went back to his car .
I watched him , fekk me , brick sheeithouse . I got the card to work

 

[TeamRienza]

Priority a droit is an almost extinct rule in France. Mostly observed by older drivers from when it was more common, so I am told.

You are most likely to encounter it in some towns and rural villages. It is quite a good traffic calming measure as it keeps you on your toes. Watch for the yellow diamond signs (check on the links) and a written sign on entering a village.

In rural areas as you travel along you will see white posts (about 3 feet tall) with a red band. It means you on the main road have right of way. In law anyway! (See links)

I have yet to see a roundabout in 10 years visiting for 6 to 8 weeks at a time where priorite a droit applies.

Simply be aware that this right of way exists to a tiny degree and drive with caution and expect the unexpected and all will be good. I have been caught out twice in all my travel. Once by a bus in heavy traffic in Lourdes, who pushed out from a side street. I suspect he was simply fed up waiting to be let out. And a second occasion on a small back street in a village where an elderly man came sailing out without warning. I don’t recall seeing any signs so cannot say for certain who was wrong. Because both happened in builtup areas speed was slow so action was easy to avert any danger of collision.

Priorité à droite | Who Has Priority | Right of Way

The “right of way” conundrum that the French pose to UK drivers with French motoring laws and customs.

www.drive-france.com

How does Priorité-à-droite work on French road signs?

This is a confusing law for English drivers in France. One of our guest bloggers writes about her own experience with priorité-à-droite French road signs.

expatsfrance.com

Happy travels.

Davy

 

[TJBi]

In fact, those white posts with red bands simply indicate the location of a junction and have no bearing on the priority. These days, major roads generally have priority over minor roads outside towns and this is indicated prior to the junction by a broad arrow pointing up with a narrow bar crossing it. Where you see an "X" sign, this generally indicates that you are approaching a junction (not necessarily a crossroads) at which the rule of priority to the right applies. Very few roundabouts have priority to the right; in general these days, vehicles on the roundabout have priority over those entering.
See https://www.auto-ecole.net/code/regles-de-circulation-8/les-intersections-avec-et-sans-panneau-224 for information and illustrations of signs.
It is often possible, when approaching a junction at which one has priority to see the Give Way/Stop sign and/or markings on the minor road.

 

[TJBi]

<snip>

So best probably to stick to motorways/big/toll roads??? Safest with driving and doglets???

HOwevr going to see friend in Marmande on route - and from there could pretty much cut straight over pyrenees to Zaragoza. A65 / E7. Anyone done this route? Decent road? Safe?/Dogs? Driving RHD issues? Not hugely more extra time if have to back to west coast and cut down from there. Opinions?

Also anyone played golf and left doggies in MH?? Yes aware of heat - but do you tell the golf club?? Do 9 then check then next 9?? Park MH in carpark ok I preume etc. Safe?

Undoubtedly simpler driving on motorways and major dual carriageways. Personally, I never drive on toll motorways because I am not going to obtain the speed advantage that they offer, because driving at more than 90km/h is very expensive - the engine drinks the diesel at an alarming rate.

I can't comment on playing golf but can say that it should be possible to provide a reasonable amount of ventilation through rooflights and windows; best not to park in full sun, though. As to safety of parking, question is not whether in a car park or not but how secure locks are and what additional security devices may have been fitted.