France without a car
Discussion
We are toying with the idea of going to France next year without a car.... Something like the below -
Fly to Paris
Disneyland Paris for a few days
Paris city for a few days
Train to Eurocamp near Bordeaux / La Rochelle for a week
Fly home from Bordeaux
Is this doable or is it likely to be a hassle without a car?
Fly to Paris
Disneyland Paris for a few days
Paris city for a few days
Train to Eurocamp near Bordeaux / La Rochelle for a week
Fly home from Bordeaux
Is this doable or is it likely to be a hassle without a car?
Paris and Disney without a car will be fine, in fact lack of a car is better in Paris. However, the camping portion could be a hassle. Without a car getting to and on trips from the site could be a problem… rural bus services may not be great. How will you cater for food on site - all from the likely expensive site shop? Finally, how much stuff so you need to take - without a car, you won’t have much capacity.
Is there a Eurocamp in Bordeaux? I would expect it to be in a rural location somewhere near to Bordeaux and that is where any issues may lay.
Intercity public transport is excellent and affordable, beyond that it can be patchy. Taxis are very expensive.
The Devil is in the detail of where your campsite is and where you want to visit while there
Intercity public transport is excellent and affordable, beyond that it can be patchy. Taxis are very expensive.
The Devil is in the detail of where your campsite is and where you want to visit while there
soxboy said:
How about hiring a car once you've got to Bordeaux? It can then be used for shopping, exploring etc.
We hired a Nissan Juke from Budget at Nantes airport last year, it was pretty reasonable price.
Yep, I agree. A car when in that area will be very useful, if only for shopping off the site, where it'll no doubt be quite pricey.We hired a Nissan Juke from Budget at Nantes airport last year, it was pretty reasonable price.
Double Fault said:
France is massive and a joy to drive around.
I know car hire prices are a joke at present but it would be an unrelenting ball ache to not have one.
Would indeed, but if hire isn't in the plan then just take your own.I know car hire prices are a joke at present but it would be an unrelenting ball ache to not have one.
Ferries are cheap and frequent, both petrol and diesel in France is way cheaper than it is in the UK at the moment and the roads are an absolute delight meaning its easy to make the journey to your destination part of the holiday rather than the massive pain in the rectal area that driving in the UK invariably is.
And of course with your own car you can bring a few cases of wine back too. Honestly, what's not to like?
OP, you don't say where you're based in the UK but as others have said, why go without a car when driving in France is such a great experience, cheap and generally very relaxing. The ability to take as much or as little with you when you have a car is great too.
We just did 2 weeks in the Vendee then 4 days at Disney and having our car made it nice and straightforward. We wouldn't have done it without but there are 6 of us!
We just did 2 weeks in the Vendee then 4 days at Disney and having our car made it nice and straightforward. We wouldn't have done it without but there are 6 of us!
Irish_Stu said:
Based in Northern Ireland which makes it more of a drag to drive my own car but not the end of the world.
Plan now is to hire a car for the later part of the holiday, as suggested. Thanks for all the advice.
The best solution. A car in Paris is a millstone and you don't need one at Disneyland.Plan now is to hire a car for the later part of the holiday, as suggested. Thanks for all the advice.
However,I suspect that once you leave the station at Bordeaux it will probably be an absolute necessity.
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