Drive to Monaco

[Bob1984]

Hi, myself and a few friends are going to drive from Teesside to Monaco in April 2016 and I'm after any recommendations / do's / dont's from those of you that have driven around France.

Many thanks in advance

[OldGermanHeaps]

Avoid paris, 3/4 of the s there think they are in dodgems. They will literally nudge you out the way if they want by.

[Bob1984]

Ha thanks, think we were going to avoid Paris anyway

[Iva Barchetta]

You have to stop at the old grandstands at Reims circuit to take pics and take in the atmosphere.

It's the law.

[Maracus]

Iva Barchetta said:

You have to stop at the old grandstands at Reims circuit to take pics and take in the atmosphere.

It's the law.

Seconded.

[Impasse]

Fly down.

[nipsips]

Drive on the right in France.

Watch out for Priorite a Droite on smaller French roads. They will not stop!

As stated above avoid Paris. I've had the misfortune of driving right through it. Never again.

Take a constat. Do not sign said constat unless you know what your signing. Its legally binding.

Use the toll roads - they're excellent. Don't try and be tight and try to go round them.

Make sure you have alternative travel plans thought out just in case there is an accident. The amount of people I have to pay for suitcases for because they've loaded stuff directly into the car and have no way of transporting stuff home in the event of an accident. Make sure you have travel insurance and breakdown cover.

Also ensure you are fully comp abroad. A lot of insurers do not even offer this so ensure yours does and you have it selected.

Make sure you lock your car at all times. You do not want passports/documents going missing its very very expensive getting back without them.

Other than that enjoy it! I much prefer driving on French auto-routes to the UK's over crowded excuses for Motorways.

[Bob1984]

Great advice, thank you very much!

[northwest monkey]

Don't bother with the pre-pay toll device - the cash/card booths are easy and less problematic.

[dcb]

nipsips said:

Make sure you lock your car at all times. You do not want passports/documents going missing its very very expensive getting back without them.

In a lot (most ?) Euro countries, you are required by law
to carry your passport at all times.

Locals can get away with merely carrying their national ID card,
but for Brits abroad, it's passport time.

Also remember to keep a copy of the passport number in another safe place.

[br d]

northwest monkey said:

Don't bother with the pre-pay toll device - the cash/card booths are easy and less problematic.

If you don't mind getting out and walking around each time. And if you have a wide car it can be a pain even getting out of the door in the toll lanes. I suppose if you have a passenger at the tolls it would be okay.

I would recommend a Sanef tag every time anyway, a lot of them you don't even have to come to a stop now.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

northwest monkey said:

Don't bother with the pre-pay toll device - the cash/card booths are easy and less problematic.

Don't listen to this. The TAG is the dog's and can save you mucho time when it's busy (and you're not constantly searching for wonga)

[s m]

br d said:

If you don't mind getting out and walking around each time. And if you have a wide car it can be a pain even getting out of the door in the toll lanes. I suppose if you have a passenger at the tolls it would be okay.

I would recommend a Sanef tag every time anyway, a lot of them you don't even have to come to a stop now.

I'm struggling by to think if I had to stop for more than 1 in France on the way to Garda? They were all drive through at 30 km/h other than a stop in Chambery ( they're marked with T 30 above the booth on recollection )

[mcelliott]

northwest monkey said:

Don't bother with the pre-pay toll device - the cash/card booths are easy and less problematic.

Tosh. I've done over 20,000 miles with the Liber-t badge and saved huge amounts of time and hassle.

[Ikemi]

Impasse said:

Fly down.

I'd be tempted to follow this advice. Otherwise, stop at Reims (and the historic grandstand!) and use the toll roads as much as possible. I'd also recommend visiting Nice ... It's only c.13 miles from Monaco and the coastal roads are fantastic!

[s m]

mcelliott said:

northwest monkey said:

Don't bother with the pre-pay toll device - the cash/card booths are easy and less problematic.

Tosh. I've done over 20,000 miles with the Liber-t badge and saved huge amounts of time and hassle.

Yes, meant to say I've not had any problems with the French ( or Italian ones ). I'd recommend the tags

[Vaud]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Don't listen to this. The TAG is the dog's and can save you mucho time when it's busy (and you're not constantly searching for wonga)

Correct (1000s of kms on French roads). Sanef do a tag now, sold in the uk and you pay at the end of the month by direct debit. Beaucoup de fast exit from tolls. That said, you may have more fun in finding the side roads as well.

Avoid Paris.

Plenty of cheap hotels by the autoroute, but finding a hotel in a town will probably find you better food and drink, and probably a nicer night's sleep - and a chance to grab a nice breakfast / lunch as well.

Lots of nice places on that route; historic circuits, etc.

PS Avoid Paris.

[The Wolf]

Use the coyote app

[Vaud]

To add - Old Nice is ok. Go to the old town for "Socca".

Roads on the coast are pretty awful, head into the mountains (Monte Carlo rally).

Grasse is nice.

[northwest monkey]

s m said:

mcelliott said:

northwest monkey said:

Don't bother with the pre-pay toll device - the cash/card booths are easy and less problematic.

Tosh. I've done over 20,000 miles with the Liber-t badge and saved huge amounts of time and hassle.

Yes, meant to say I've not had any problems with the French ( or Italian ones ). I'd recommend the tags

Fair enough, but several times this year I saw the tag lanes shut off because they weren't working.