Road Trip to South of France

Road Trip to South of France

Author
Discussion

si_xsi

Original Poster:

1,230 posts

202 months

Saturday 22nd February 2014
quotequote all
Hi All,

I'm going to be driving to Provence for a week in June, stopping off in Paris with family on the way down. After Provence we are then going to pick up the top half of the Route Napoleon and head up to Grenoble and stay somewhere near Annecy.

Can anyone recommend a b n b or hotel to stay for one night there, with parking?

After this we intend to head north back up to Calais but wanted to stop at another place for 1 more night, can anyone recommend somewhere else which is decent to stop over? We are both nearly 30, no children.

Also, what am I looking at in tolls from Calais to Provence? Last time I drove to the alps we just sat on the autoroutes at 90 mph all the way there without any fuss, has Mr Gendarme got lazy - waiting for the big speeders or was I just lucky biggrin

Cheers

Simon

Fatt McMissile

330 posts

140 months

Monday 24th February 2014
quotequote all
Hi Si
we usually stay in Ibis Hotels (not Ibis budget) that are usually tidy, have a buffet breakfast, and are reasonably priced. Out of town sites will be easily accessible and have parking - gated and fenced in dodgy areas. Good continental breakfast but rubbish reheated other stuff. There's usually a Courtepaille (short straw) restaurant nearby that is a bit like a Harvester. Whatever you think of that, the service is pretty swift and the prices are reasonable, a good package for travellers en route. It's the same chain so look for discount voucher in the hotel room.
The Accor hotels website http://www.accorhotels.com will show you all their hotels and prices from Budget to Dominique Strausse Kahn near your destination. You can book online and your card will not be charged until 10PM on the day of arrival, you can cancel up until then.

Route planners like mappy or viamichelin show the cost of tolls for a route. Paris - Grenoble is about 45 euros.

On the autoroute you won't get charged in a UK reg car if flashed by a static camera, you will get an on the spot fine if nabbed by a mobile unit that may be beside the road, on a bridge or in a parked or moving unmarked car or van. They will be about but whether on your route when you pass is of course a matter of luck, I work on the principle that they're less likely to be out on wet days and lunch times (12-2). I'm not sure if the mobile units are the same, but for fixed cameras in a 130 KMPH zone: MAXIMUM recorded speed to avoid fine/points 136.84 KMPH - 85.03 mph. I set my speed by my satnav as my speedo/cruise control is optimistic. Don't forget that there's a heavy fine if caught with camera warnings turned on on the satnav, but so called danger zones are ok.

Enjoy....
Steve

Dave Barton

16 posts

199 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
quotequote all
Hi Si,

I don't know if this place could be of use to you on the way down its a fantastic b&b with very secure parking www.latannerievendee.com worth a look

Regards

Dave

old'uns

550 posts

140 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
quotequote all
That's one hell of a detour smile

si_xsi

Original Poster:

1,230 posts

202 months

Tuesday 25th February 2014
quotequote all
Steve - thanks for the info on bnb's, tolls and speeds, will stick to 85!

Thanks for the thought Dave, but the place you recommend is on the opposite side of France we are travelling on.