France Ferry & Campsite info (use Search function) mod warning post 1

Quazzie

gerfmurphy wrote: »

heading over to France in 3 weeks, cant wait.
Is there any special requirements for the car covers on the lights?
I was told its the law to have a triangle, breathalyzer etc can anyone direct me to a site covering this stuff?
do people generally use phones for sat nav?
thanks

This answers a lot
http://www.drive-france.com/
Breathalysers can be bought in Halfords. as can headlight adjusters. Just remember that you need the H-Viz in the cabin with you, and not just in the boot.

You don't need IRL stickers as our license plates are EU compliant so already includes that.

Phones for SAT Nav really depends on your network provider and what deal they have for Roaming.

BlazingSaddler

gerfmurphy wrote: »

do people generally use phones for sat nav?
thanks

Off-line Google Maps is the way to go for Sat Nav nowadays whilst abroad. Make sure you download the correct area before you go and you're away. No more out of date maps or data to worry about. I used it for the first time in Normandy in April.

Stone Deaf 4evr

BlazingSaddler wrote: »

Off-line Google Maps is the way to go for Sat Nav nowadays whilst abroad. Make sure you download the correct area before you go and you're away. No more out of date maps or data to worry about. I used it for the first time in Normandy in April.

I use an app called Navmii, you can download maps for the whole of france on it and store it on your device. Google maps just downloads the particular area you tell it to IIRC. Handy if you decide to go somewhere off the beaten path.

BailMeOut

The 'HERE WeGo' app is by far the best free offline SatNav option for your phone (or tablet).

munchkin_utd

BailMeOut wrote: »

The 'HERE WeGo' app is by far the best free offline SatNav option for your phone (or tablet).

I love my google maps offline, but the one MASSIVE advantage of here maps is that they have the speed limit on them.
When driving round cities on bypasses the limits can fluctuate up and down and have speed cameras to police them, so being reminded of the limit by your sat nav can save you a packet on speeding fines.

btw, yea, google can only do areas of a certain size, but you can save multiple adjacent areas which would work ok for all but proper transcontinental spins.

Its also worth remembering that the data roaming laws change in 2 weeks so everyone with a decent data pack at home will have a decent amount of data abroad in the EU.
If you have unlimited pack you wont get unlimited abroad, but you still get something like 6gb, which is about 100 times more than you might need to use google maps on the go abroad!

jamesthepeach

munchkin_utd wrote: »

I love my google maps offline, but the one MASSIVE advantage of here maps is that they have the speed limit on them.
When driving round cities on bypasses the limits can fluctuate up and down and have speed cameras to police them, so being reminded of the limit by your sat nav can save you a packet on speeding fines.

btw, yea, google can only do areas of a certain size, but you can save multiple adjacent areas which would work ok for all but proper transcontinental spins.

Its also worth remembering that the data roaming laws change in 2 weeks so everyone with a decent data pack at home will have a decent amount of data abroad in the EU.
If you have unlimited pack you wont get unlimited abroad, but you still get something like 6gb, which is about 100 times more than you might need to use google maps on the go abroad!

That's the ONLY reason I don't use Google as my goto sat Nav. The lack of speed limit and speed display. If it had that it would have everything.

mikerd4

I bought a tom tom sat nav last year.  It has active traffic updates and speed cameras (something that is a illegal in france if caught using it) in it.  I have to say it was brilliant when I used it last year

Tigerandahalf

jamesthepeach wrote: »

That's the ONLY reason I don't use Google as my goto sat Nav. The lack of speed limit and speed display. If it had that it would have everything.

But google doesn't give you turn by turn directions no?

First Up

mikerd4 wrote: »

I bought a tom tom sat nav last year.  It has active traffic updates and speed cameras (something that is a illegal in france if caught using it) in it.  I have to say it was brilliant when I used it last year

I used a basic Garmin SatNav for several years and found it great. I upgraded to a fancier Tom Tom a few months ago (Halfords had a deal on) and it is one amazing piece of kit. It is incredibly detailed and accurate and has good sized screen and mounting kit (plus loads of extra features.) I've used various Navigation apps on the phone but I'd recommend the (modest) investment in a good, specialist SatNav every time.

jamesthepeach

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

But google doesn't give you turn by turn directions no?

Turn by turn is fine on it. As is lane assist.
Speed limits is missing.

Bicycle

SusanC10 wrote: »

This time round we are going through the UK en route to France and using the Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais. Has anyone done this and any tips ??
We are coming back direct from Roscoff.

We are stopping off for a few days outside of London and intend to go into London and see some of the main sights with the kids - bit nervous now after recent events - I know there is probably more likelihood of being in a car accident but still........

Yes we do this every year in reverse. Head out via Rosslare and come back via the UK. This year we are heading to The Netherlands before we go to France so we are going out and back via the UK and the tunnel.

The tunnel is quick - you drive onto the train. And it only takes 35 minutes. However your ears do pop descending and the last time we took the train it started abruptly. Stationary one minute and going very quickly the next. Possibly to discourage any illegals. You can sit in your car - you need to keep the windows partially open because of the lower air pressure in the tunnel - or you can get out of the car and stretch your legs.

If you are nervous about London, then perhaps see places on the outskirts. Go to Legoland in Windsor - always a hit when our gang were young. Kew Gardens is also fab. We haven't been to Hampton Court but I'd like to see it.

Bicycle

Quazzie wrote: »

This answers a lot
http://www.drive-france.com/
Breathalysers can be bought in Halfords. as can headlight adjusters. Just remember that you need the H-Viz in the cabin with you, and not just in the boot.

You don't need IRL stickers as our license plates are EU compliant so already includes that.

Phones for SAT Nav really depends on your network provider and what deal they have for Roaming.

Don't waste money on the Breathalysers. Halfords charge quite a bit for something you don't need - the law was changed so that there is no penalty for not having one. But if you really do want one, pick one up cheaply - if you can get it - in a French supermarket.

Bring a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. There is a "good samaritan" law in France that requires people to assist where they can if there is an incident.

We also bring a reflective jacket for everyone in the car. They aren't expensive and it means that everyone is that little bit safer if unfortunately there is a problem.

Also, go to your bank and get about €50 in 1 Euro coins for the tolls. Work out how much you will be charged by using www.viamichelin.com to map your journey.

First Up

Bicycle wrote: »

Yes we do this every year in reverse. Head out via Rosslare and come back via the UK. This year we are heading to The Netherlands before we go to France so we are going out and back via the UK and the tunnel.

.

Unless you want/need to spend time in the UK en route, I much prefer a direct sailing to France. The drive from Holyhead to the Tunnel is awfully long and there is a constant risk of traffic jams, especially getting around London on the M25.

On balance I'd prefer to drive to Holland from Cherbourg.

Tigerandahalf

jamesthepeach wrote: »

Turn by turn is fine on it. As is lane assist.
Speed limits is missing.

I used it recently and it was a nuisance. No turn by turns. Plus if you take a wrong turn will it automatically redirect?

The big problem I have with my garmin nuvi satnav is how poor it is at picking up addresses and points of interests.

I have typed in street names and place names and nothing will come up. Plus the screen is tiny for typing in the names.

_Brian

Juggler101 wrote: »

Anybody successfully gotten a travel cot into an Oscar Wilde 2-star 4-bed cabin? I know it *says* it can't be done, but I like a challenge Our cot is slightly narrower than the usual almost square cot, so I'm doing some wishful thinking here...

We just put the littlest one into the bottom bunk with mum,

Bicycle

First Up wrote: »

Unless you want/need to spend time in the UK en route, I much prefer a direct sailing to France. The drive from Holyhead to the Tunnel is awfully long and there is a constant risk of traffic jams, especially getting around London on the M25.

On balance I'd prefer to drive to Holland from Cherbourg.

We worked out the logistics and decided to go via the UK. We know the M25 well We will take a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead and stay in Chester, then drive down to Folkestone, stay the night and take 10.16am train the following morning.

First Up

Bicycle wrote:

We worked out the logistics and decided to go via the UK. We know the M25 well We will take a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead and stay in Chester, then drive down to Folkestone, stay the night and take 10.16am train the following morning.

Fair enough. Out of interest I looked at the distances involved and noted that Holyhead to the Hague is about 1,000k and Cherbourg - Hague is 770k. Of course you have the ferry time to factor in as well.

billbond4

I found here maps, excellent, download maps on wifi before you go.
My piece of advise with sat nav maps is to try some out before you go and pick the one you like the most and use it a bit before you go

westgolf

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I used it recently and it was a nuisance. No turn by turns. Plus if you take a wrong turn will it automatically redirect?

The big problem I have with my garmin nuvi satnav is how poor it is at picking up addresses and points of interests.

I have typed in street names and place names and nothing will come up. Plus the screen is tiny
for typing in the names.

There is an issue with the Garmin nuvi particularly if you are in some parts of the vendee region. It seems to go blank in certain parts of the region. My workaround is to update maps before we leave home, then when we land in Roscoff I don't put the final destination in at that stage. Instead I aim for a largish regional town en route such as Rennes or La Rochelle. Pull over for coffee and refresh the Nuvi and it seems to pull down more details and I can usually use destination address/road/ post code at that stage.

First Up

westgolf wrote:

There is an issue with the Garmin nuvi particularly if you are in some parts of the vendee region. It seems to go blank in certain parts of the region. My workaround is to update maps before we leave home, then when we land in Roscoff I don't put the final destination in at that stage. Instead I aim for a largish regional town en route such as Rennes or La Rochelle. Pull over for coffee and refresh the Nuvi and it seems to pull down more details and I can usually use destination address/road/ post code at that stage.

Have to say I never had that problem in the Vendee with my old Nuvi. It did go blank on me one time in Belgium but it was only because I didn't have the right map loaded. It always did the job in France.

westgolf

First Up wrote: »

Have to say I never had that problem in the Vendee with my old Nuvi. It did go blank on me one time in Belgium but it was only because I didn't have the right map loaded. It always did the job in France.

I met two other Irish drivers in St Jean Des Monts two years ago with the problem and one in La Rochelle last year. Two nuvi's and one tom-tom.

First Up

westgolf wrote:

I met two other Irish drivers in St Jean Des Monts two years ago with the problem and one in La Rochelle last year. Two nuvi's and one tom-tom.

That's interesting. I navigated all around that area (including some very out of the way spots) with a Nuvi 255 and never a bother.

average_runner

westgolf wrote: »

There is an issue with the Garmin nuvi particularly if you are in some parts of the vendee region. It seems to go blank in certain parts of the region. My workaround is to update maps before we leave home, then when we land in Roscoff I don't put the final destination in at that stage. Instead I aim for a largish regional town en route such as Rennes or La Rochelle. Pull over for coffee and refresh the Nuvi and it seems to pull down more details and I can usually use destination address/road/ post code at that stage.

Never had that problem and we go by la Rochelle. We even go there for a few days and Sat nav is grand

alias no.9

mikerd4 wrote: »

I bought a tom tom sat nav last year.  It has active traffic updates and speed cameras (something that is a illegal in france if caught using it) in it.  I have to say it was brilliant when I used it last year

In Ireland, my Garmin has a little red warning saying /!\ XXkmh Speed Camera Zone in France the wording changes to /!\ XXkmh Dangerous Road Segment which it obviously must be if they feel the need to target it with speed cameras

murt101

juneg wrote: »

Stayed in saumur for a one night stopover in the way to dordogne. Loved the eurocamp campsite there. Lots to do. Visited the chateau in saumur the next day. All enjoyed that too. Our first visit to one of the Loire chateau .

We stayed in Domaine de la Breche and loved it too, great site, very good restaurant just outside the gates and loved the area.

murt101

SusanC10 wrote: »

This time round we are going through the UK en route to France and using the Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais. Has anyone done this and any tips ??
We are coming back direct from Roscoff.

We are stopping off for a few days outside of London and intend to go into London and see some of the main sights with the kids - bit nervous now after recent events - I know there is probably more likelihood of being in a car accident but still........

We did this last year...main tip is use the bathroom before you get on the train, the toilets on the train make the ones on Irish Rail look 5*. The most exciting part of the tunnel crossing was boarding the train!

loyatemu

Bicycle wrote: »

Also, go to your bank and get about €50 in 1 Euro coins for the tolls. Work out how much you will be charged by using www.viamichelin.com to map your journey.

the tolls all take cards, you don't need to carry around loads of coins.

BailMeOut

When you land in Roscoff from Cork early on a Sunday morning (7am) turn right when you exit the ship rather than left and drive 1-2 minutes into Roscoff town. While everywhere in France is shutdown Roscoff restaurants and market will all be open so you can get some breakfast and coffee and some fresh food items for your long drive at the market. Also gives you an opportunity to get the maps out and plan your road trip for the day.

Stab*City

Anyone have any experience of driving to Italy? We have done both western France and the Costa Brava in the car before but this will be my first time going to Italy. Just wondering the best route options and maybe if anyone knows any camping sites similar to France but in the Italian Riviera.

average_runner

alias no.9 wrote: »

In Ireland, my Garmin has a little red warning saying /!\ XXkmh Speed Camera Zone in France the wording changes to /!\ XXkmh Dangerous Road Segment which it obviously must be if they feel the need to target it with speed cameras

#

My garmin tells us where the cameras are in France and the zones in Ireland!!!