Returning from the Languedoc this weekend

[supersarbs]

Hi All,

After a fairly tough trip down to the Languedoc on the 3rd August (18 hour drive from Calais), I'm looking for some guidance from PHers with experience of French motorways in August to help me plan the route back to the UK on the 17th, as the Bison Fute website suggests it'll be another bad one traffic wise. To be clear, I am happy to pay more in tolls to facilitate a reasonable journey and equally will travel a longer distance to miss heavy traffic. The nearest city is Beziers if this helps.

Questions so far:

1 - When it comes to choosing my route back, will the A20 have less traffic than the A75?

2 - Will an earlier start (say 5am) get me ahead of the traffic?

3 - Is there any value in travelling away from the autoroutes? I'd rather not do this unless there's a real benefit

4 - Is it worth paying the extra for a flexible euro tunnel ticket or does people's experience suggest the euro tunnel people are fairly reasonable when it comes to August travel / people arriving late etc.

Thanks all in advance.

Cheers

Pete

[anothernameitist]

I've always taken the A75, but drive through Millau now to save the toll bridge fee.

I drove August Bank holiday on that stretch once - quiet.

I take the N7 (?) after Clermont Ferrand to Nevers / Moulins mostly dual carrige way.

North of that I'm not sure which will be best this weekend.I ususlly skirt Paris on the East and head upto Beauvais on the RNs not Autoroutes, as you can tell I'm not really an Autoroute person.
But:
Good luck

[supersarbs]

anothernameitist said:

I've always taken the A75, but drive through Millau now to save the toll bridge fee.

I drove August Bank holiday on that stretch once - quiet.

I take the N7 (?) after Clermont Ferrand to Nevers / Moulins mostly dual carrige way.

North of that I'm not sure which will be best this weekend.I ususlly skirt Paris on the East and head upto Beauvais on the RNs not Autoroutes, as you can tell I'm not really an Autoroute person.
But:
Good luck

Thanks for the advice, Just traced the route back on google maps and will check this route for traffic before I leave.

Pete

[benjj]

I'm doing the opposite tomorrow, Harrogate to Beziers

Crossing Dover-Calais Sat eve arriving at about 10pm local. Staying the night in Laon and then doing it on one hit via Dijon, all autoroute on Sunday.

Edited by benjj on Friday 16th August 13:35

[supersarbs]

Hi All,

Quick update now I am back.

Ended up realising that all routes were likely to be chockablock on Saturday so bought a flexi ticket and left Friday night.

Left 10pm and arrived 1pm in sunny essex. Cruise control set to 130kph.

Autoroutes were busy but up to speed through the night, suggesting plenty of people had the same idea. The bison fute site showed big delays by midday, so pleased with the decision

Thanks all

[gemini]

Just got back yesterday from Perpignan
Must have done the same routes!
Cruise set to 130.

All that way and you drive through Millau to save £6?

[Le Pop]

I've always wanted to drive over the Millau bridge... I can't believe you would not drive over it just to save €6!!

[Johno]

Funny thing is the Millau bridge looks far better from underneath or beside than it does when you drive over it .. . that's actually pretty dull

But I agree, it was on the to do list and I wouldn't avoid 6 quid to drive through Millau .. . It's why the bridge was built in the first place! .. . If you have time though go underneath or onto the valley sides to get a real sense of the scale of it.