London to Nice and back again!! Some advice please
Discussion
Dear all. Me and the wife are currently planning a trip to France in late June early July for a couple of weeks. We've booked a villa in Nice for a week which will be with a few friends so the current plan is to get down there as quickly as possible and then once the week in Nice is over we'll spend a week slowly meandering back through France.
As it stands my knowledge of France is pretty limited so I wanted to see if some people have a few pointers. Firstly, we'll be following satnav on the way down and we just want to get as far south as we can on the first day. Does anyone know any routes we should avoid / take to get there and is it realistic to think we'll get to Nice from the Channel Tunnel in one day if we're hitting French soil around 7am (ish). Also how much is it likely to cost in tolls?
Secondly, can anyone recommend places we should definately visit or avoid? The big thing for me is the driving but the wife is more interested in good food, nice places to stay and good wine so anything that combines that lot would be ideal (well everything except the drinking & driving!!!!)
Thanks
Phil
As it stands my knowledge of France is pretty limited so I wanted to see if some people have a few pointers. Firstly, we'll be following satnav on the way down and we just want to get as far south as we can on the first day. Does anyone know any routes we should avoid / take to get there and is it realistic to think we'll get to Nice from the Channel Tunnel in one day if we're hitting French soil around 7am (ish). Also how much is it likely to cost in tolls?
Secondly, can anyone recommend places we should definately visit or avoid? The big thing for me is the driving but the wife is more interested in good food, nice places to stay and good wine so anything that combines that lot would be ideal (well everything except the drinking & driving!!!!)
Thanks
Phil
A few years ago, a couple of us did Chamonix in one hit from Birmingham and I've done Le Mans to Newcastle in one go so I guess Calais to Nice in a day is doable if you share the driving. As a Petrolhead, Monaco is well worth a visit. There's not vast amounts to see there but if you're familiar with the circuit, you'll find it fascinating. Also a good place for some supercar spotting.
While you're in the area, you simply have to drive some (or all) of the route Napoleon. Its wife friendly as well because the views are, at times, breathtaking. If you want a good place to go for a blast try the Col 'd Vence off the Route Napoleon. Not done it myself, but everybody seems to recommend it.
While you're in the area, you simply have to drive some (or all) of the route Napoleon. Its wife friendly as well because the views are, at times, breathtaking. If you want a good place to go for a blast try the Col 'd Vence off the Route Napoleon. Not done it myself, but everybody seems to recommend it.
Calais to Nice can be done in a single day without too much of a struggle. It is less than 800miles. You ought to be able to maintain an 80 to 90mph average (including stops). You just have to drive, drive and drive. It is boring, but safe enough, especially if you let your wife have a go for 200miles or so. Realistically, the limit is 1,000miles a day.
I always aim to sit on 95-100mph. There is not much point in exceeding 100mph because (1) if you get caught the police will take your licence away, (2) fuel consumption means you are stopping much more often and so your overall journey time increases (why do modern cars have such puny tanks? 30gallons would give great range, but normally we get 10 or 12 max) and (3) it is just too much hard work to maintain the necessary alertness all day long.
In July you will find it a lot easier if you are not travelling on a weekend (although early July should not be too bad). The problem is that the whole of northern Europe (not just the French) pass through France en route to the Mediterranean and they do it on Saturday and Sunday. Even during the Grands Departs, though, it is still quicker to use the Autoroute. The A6 Autoroute du Soleil is the worst: you may find it quicker and easier to go down the A71/A75 through Clermont Ferrand and over the Millau bridge, then back up the coast from Montpellier to Nice (although that is probably the best part of 1,000miles).
The tolls will cost about £60 to £75.
If you are driving Calais to Nice in a single day, make sure your car is in good order, especially your tyres. You may wish to increase the pressures a bit. Make sure you have a full size spare, because if you get a flat and all you have is run flats or a space saver, you're looking at a 3hour delay by the time you pull off the auto route and head into the nearest town, assuming you can find a tyre dealer with your size in stock (not that easy in rural France). I had a blow out at 120mph in the course of a 850mile journey from Umbria to the Dordogne last year and would have been knackered without my spare: we were able to change the tyre (and underpants) in 10mins and get on our way. You'll also run cooler if your oil is fresh and up to the max mark.
One viable alternative is to take the car train from Calais to Nice. It goes overnight, leaving Calais on a Friday night at about 6pm and arrives into Nice at about 10.30am the next morning. It is really good fun, like camping (you have to take a picnic, but you can buy that in Calais, the onboard catering is not up to much). It's a bit scruffy but not the end of the world (the 6-berth 2nd class couchettes are newer than the 4-berth 1st class ones, and they are the same size; you do not have to share). It's not much more expensive than fuel + tolls + hotel (from memory it is about £400 one way). I really recommend this (although loads of people on our train were whinging about the state of the accommodation).
I really enjoy our annual trip to the south of France. Taking the car is so much nicer than going on a plane and hiring some rubbish hatchback when you get there. The key to it all is making sure you know what you're doing.
Your journey back, I assume, is straight up the N85 Route de Napoleon!
I always aim to sit on 95-100mph. There is not much point in exceeding 100mph because (1) if you get caught the police will take your licence away, (2) fuel consumption means you are stopping much more often and so your overall journey time increases (why do modern cars have such puny tanks? 30gallons would give great range, but normally we get 10 or 12 max) and (3) it is just too much hard work to maintain the necessary alertness all day long.
In July you will find it a lot easier if you are not travelling on a weekend (although early July should not be too bad). The problem is that the whole of northern Europe (not just the French) pass through France en route to the Mediterranean and they do it on Saturday and Sunday. Even during the Grands Departs, though, it is still quicker to use the Autoroute. The A6 Autoroute du Soleil is the worst: you may find it quicker and easier to go down the A71/A75 through Clermont Ferrand and over the Millau bridge, then back up the coast from Montpellier to Nice (although that is probably the best part of 1,000miles).
The tolls will cost about £60 to £75.
If you are driving Calais to Nice in a single day, make sure your car is in good order, especially your tyres. You may wish to increase the pressures a bit. Make sure you have a full size spare, because if you get a flat and all you have is run flats or a space saver, you're looking at a 3hour delay by the time you pull off the auto route and head into the nearest town, assuming you can find a tyre dealer with your size in stock (not that easy in rural France). I had a blow out at 120mph in the course of a 850mile journey from Umbria to the Dordogne last year and would have been knackered without my spare: we were able to change the tyre (and underpants) in 10mins and get on our way. You'll also run cooler if your oil is fresh and up to the max mark.
One viable alternative is to take the car train from Calais to Nice. It goes overnight, leaving Calais on a Friday night at about 6pm and arrives into Nice at about 10.30am the next morning. It is really good fun, like camping (you have to take a picnic, but you can buy that in Calais, the onboard catering is not up to much). It's a bit scruffy but not the end of the world (the 6-berth 2nd class couchettes are newer than the 4-berth 1st class ones, and they are the same size; you do not have to share). It's not much more expensive than fuel + tolls + hotel (from memory it is about £400 one way). I really recommend this (although loads of people on our train were whinging about the state of the accommodation).
I really enjoy our annual trip to the south of France. Taking the car is so much nicer than going on a plane and hiring some rubbish hatchback when you get there. The key to it all is making sure you know what you're doing.
Your journey back, I assume, is straight up the N85 Route de Napoleon!
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 18th March 10:09
All good advice above but I would also suggest you get yourself one of those Liber-t Peage tags especially if going in the busy months. www.sanef.com/fr
You get to use the auto toll lanes which rarely have queues and the charge goes direct to your credit card.
Do not under estimate how much time this can save you during the busy periods as the queues for the credit card/cash tolls are long and slow moving.
Calais / Nice is an easy run in a day - I have done it numerous times at all times of year. You don't need to tear arse your way down, a steady cruise of 80/85 will be sufficient and less of a strain on you.
The Autoroute de Soleil should be fine except in the busiest holiday periods and is the most direct autoroute. Going via Paris/Clemont Ferrand/Millau is ok but the loop below Millau,via Montpellier to Nimes can make a long day of getting to Nice.
If you get held up and want to do a quick overnight, the Campanile's ( www.campanile.fr ) are common and reasonable value. They produce a small brochure that lists all the hotels, with location, maps and contact number - ideal if you have no real agenda.
You get to use the auto toll lanes which rarely have queues and the charge goes direct to your credit card.
Do not under estimate how much time this can save you during the busy periods as the queues for the credit card/cash tolls are long and slow moving.
Calais / Nice is an easy run in a day - I have done it numerous times at all times of year. You don't need to tear arse your way down, a steady cruise of 80/85 will be sufficient and less of a strain on you.
The Autoroute de Soleil should be fine except in the busiest holiday periods and is the most direct autoroute. Going via Paris/Clemont Ferrand/Millau is ok but the loop below Millau,via Montpellier to Nimes can make a long day of getting to Nice.
If you get held up and want to do a quick overnight, the Campanile's ( www.campanile.fr ) are common and reasonable value. They produce a small brochure that lists all the hotels, with location, maps and contact number - ideal if you have no real agenda.
Thanks for all the advice, some really helpful stuff there. I'm well used to doing London to Aberdeen on a pretty egular basis so from the sounds of it we should be good to do it in one session.
It looks like we'll be travelling slowly back up through Western France so any suggestions of any other places worth visiting or staying at? This is our main holiday for the year so we wont mind splashing out too much.
Cheers
It looks like we'll be travelling slowly back up through Western France so any suggestions of any other places worth visiting or staying at? This is our main holiday for the year so we wont mind splashing out too much.
Cheers
Hey all,
This is some great advice. The girlfriend and I are planning on doing the same journey although we'll be heading out in the first few days of August. Calais to Theoule-sur-Mer which is right by Nice. We were thinking about the Motorail but have heard some bad stories about it - apparently cars get broken into/damaged quite a bit.
We'll take two days to get there, probably staying at Dijon for one night and then on the second day we'll drive the Route Napoleon down towards out destination. I'm thinking we'll just follow the TomTom... tempted to buy the additional traffic update service now too! Coming back we'll take 3 nights and have a more chilled journey taking in the sights, stopping and staying at Gorges du Verdon.
J
This is some great advice. The girlfriend and I are planning on doing the same journey although we'll be heading out in the first few days of August. Calais to Theoule-sur-Mer which is right by Nice. We were thinking about the Motorail but have heard some bad stories about it - apparently cars get broken into/damaged quite a bit.
We'll take two days to get there, probably staying at Dijon for one night and then on the second day we'll drive the Route Napoleon down towards out destination. I'm thinking we'll just follow the TomTom... tempted to buy the additional traffic update service now too! Coming back we'll take 3 nights and have a more chilled journey taking in the sights, stopping and staying at Gorges du Verdon.
J
BigJL said:
We were thinking about the Motorail but have heard some bad stories about it - apparently cars get broken into/damaged quite a bit.
I can only say my experience was positive. Loading is not brilliantly organised (it seems to be run by a load of English students on holiday), but you drive your own car down to the foot of the train, then some scruffy French prison-escapee type loads it up. There is not much scope for damage. So far as I was aware, nobody on our train had any damage problems.
The accommodation is primitive. I am quite choosy about hotels and such like but I survived. My wife and I got to Calais early, parked up at the Gare (dead easy to find from the Eurotunnel) went into town on foot for a late lunch, then picked up a picnic from the local shops (plenty of booze recommended). Then we treated the whole thing as a camping adventure. There is a bar and snack car on board, but it is not like the GNER restaurant or anything like that. The couchette was secure (not that I had anything worth nicking) and comfortable enough but hardly 5*!
At Nice, breakfast was provided in the station buffet while th eunloading progressed at a leisurely pace. We were awat by 11.30 or noon.
There were much nicer cars than mine on board. In fact, the passengers seemed to be a mix of middle-aged middle class Brits and petrol heads. Around me were a 997 GT3, a DB7 Vantage Volante, a Maserati Coupe a perfect Porsche 356 Speedster and loads of BMWs. On balance, the Motorail was much more wife friendly than a long slog down the autoroute.
I will say that some of the people of the train were complaining about the quality of the accommodation: it is not the Orient Express.
I have attached a few pictures below:
r129sl said:
Well those photographs are staggering. Also see various Evo Car of the Year articles, they went up there recently.
The best way to find the good roads is with a Michelin 1:200,000 road atlas: the good driving roads are the twisty ones edged with a thick green line.
I'd also recommend the Tarn Gorge area - last June some of those roads were practically deserted compared to the SE France bits.The best way to find the good roads is with a Michelin 1:200,000 road atlas: the good driving roads are the twisty ones edged with a thick green line.
Features in the Car 2001 article with the M3, Vette, Clio V6 and Subaru if you want a taster
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