South of France here we come
Discussion
Having driven to S of F for the last six years, in a car, try to avoid Lyon, always very heavy traffic and also from then onwards down south, but it's normally holiday time when we go.
We now tend to do that part of the journey about 2-3am.
Also for tolls, have a look at the https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ And get a tag, so much easier.
The coast road from St T to Monaco has some lovely parts, going east past Frejus is lovely and a nice way into Cannes..
We now tend to do that part of the journey about 2-3am.
Also for tolls, have a look at the https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ And get a tag, so much easier.
The coast road from St T to Monaco has some lovely parts, going east past Frejus is lovely and a nice way into Cannes..
Yes very useful info, a few people are saying avoid Lyon now, so we have just got to work out a route round or stop a little way south of it. Will definatly get the TAG before we go, good call that thank you, It will save a lot of hassle at the tolls, as we can just drive on through.
Anyone got any good shouts for a camp site while we are there. was think a mix of a few camp sites and a few Aires once on the coast road.
Anyone got any good shouts for a camp site while we are there. was think a mix of a few camp sites and a few Aires once on the coast road.
You might want to consider joining France Passion. Sadly, it is not what first springs to mind but it is really very useful. When we were motorhome people ourselves, we had some amazing trips and stopovers in France. We stayed on various vineyards, foie gras producers' farms, lovely smallholdings etc. Well worth the money and a lot of fun. IIRC, membership for a year is around £25ish (incl book of places to stay) and your overnights at every place are free. No commitment to buy any produce but we have been introduced to some fabulous wines and cheeses.
http://www.france-passion.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKEAjwtbP...
http://www.france-passion.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKEAjwtbP...
This site is just outside st. Tropez. Stayed here twice a few years ago and it was great then, looks even better now. http://www.tournels.com
Just had a look at that site looks nicely positioned and away from the late summer crowds might be just the ticket.
Measured the MH this morning and we fit into class 2 ,under 3 mts and spot on GVW 3500 result, will just have to take off the top box no biggy but looking good for the toll prices.
Measured the MH this morning and we fit into class 2 ,under 3 mts and spot on GVW 3500 result, will just have to take off the top box no biggy but looking good for the toll prices.
Ive done runs to the South of France, Spain and Italy lots towing the van with the kids and thankfully found a beaut of a site which we firstly used as a quick stop over site, but now actually build a few days in both outbound and return as its so nice.
http://www.camping-castels.co.uk/camping-chateau-d...
Its an easy run down the Autoroute, has an amazing resturant, swimming pool, fishing lake and a lovely bar area/court yard.
From here, its another easy run down into St Tropez when your ready to leave.
Personally, Id never ever ever stay near Lyon - that place is a cess pit and its the only part of the journey you have to really be alert as the Motorways criss cross and dip into tunnels left right and centre.
Enjoy St Tropez. Its bloody expensive. Little tip, go to Gassin for an afternoon/evening. Top of a hill, amazing resturants with million dollar views.
http://www.camping-castels.co.uk/camping-chateau-d...
Its an easy run down the Autoroute, has an amazing resturant, swimming pool, fishing lake and a lovely bar area/court yard.
From here, its another easy run down into St Tropez when your ready to leave.
Personally, Id never ever ever stay near Lyon - that place is a cess pit and its the only part of the journey you have to really be alert as the Motorways criss cross and dip into tunnels left right and centre.
Enjoy St Tropez. Its bloody expensive. Little tip, go to Gassin for an afternoon/evening. Top of a hill, amazing resturants with million dollar views.
Thanx Curly,
will be looking at Chateaux to stop over on way back good call by the looks of the site. may be moving the holiday forward a bit to beginning of September because majority of the smaller 2-3 star sites on the coast road seam to close mid October, wonder why that is. Possibly because the schools go back after summer hols in mid to late September here.
Anyone charging electric bicycles with an inverter through lighter plug in motorhome. Any advise or tips or links to inverters you are using. I was going to use my moped once down there but are now probably going to take our electric bikes instead to get around. We will be at camp sites every three days so will need to charge up bike battery's with out mains plug in. I'm not taking my genny.
Anyone want to post up there preferred route from Calais for a starting point for me.
will be looking at Chateaux to stop over on way back good call by the looks of the site. may be moving the holiday forward a bit to beginning of September because majority of the smaller 2-3 star sites on the coast road seam to close mid October, wonder why that is. Possibly because the schools go back after summer hols in mid to late September here.
Anyone charging electric bicycles with an inverter through lighter plug in motorhome. Any advise or tips or links to inverters you are using. I was going to use my moped once down there but are now probably going to take our electric bikes instead to get around. We will be at camp sites every three days so will need to charge up bike battery's with out mains plug in. I'm not taking my genny.
Anyone want to post up there preferred route from Calais for a starting point for me.
We did the same trip last year but in a car not a motorhome.
Itinerary was as follows:
Day 1 - York to Arras
Day 2 - Arras to Lyon
Day 3 - Lyon to Cannes
Didn't touch a single motorway or toll road. Was generally slow going, but got to see so may french towns and alpine roads. Loved it so much we are planning on doing it again next year.
Itinerary was as follows:
Day 1 - York to Arras
Day 2 - Arras to Lyon
Day 3 - Lyon to Cannes
Didn't touch a single motorway or toll road. Was generally slow going, but got to see so may french towns and alpine roads. Loved it so much we are planning on doing it again next year.
mdk1 said:
Having driven to S of F for the last six years, in a car, try to avoid Lyon, always very heavy traffic and also from then onwards down south, but it's normally holiday time when we go.
We now tend to do that part of the journey about 2-3am.
Also for tolls, have a look at the https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ And get a tag, so much easier.
The coast road from St T to Monaco has some lovely parts, going east past Frejus is lovely and a nice way into Cannes..
As mdk1 says get a tag if your motorhome fits these regulations. You pay in £ once you're back home so no need to carry around spare change for the small change toll booths or worry if you have enough for the longer runs. Had some great fun sailing past queues of cars last year at certain booths - it saved a lot of time!We now tend to do that part of the journey about 2-3am.
Also for tolls, have a look at the https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ And get a tag, so much easier.
The coast road from St T to Monaco has some lovely parts, going east past Frejus is lovely and a nice way into Cannes..
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/what-is-liber-t
I put a small dashcam video together from one of the booths last year that Sanef have pinned to their FB page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE9a2dZ6wcw
It's also worth noting the new pollution stickers that you need in certain French cities. I believe Lyon is on the list!
https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/
I went to Paris in the MH last weekend to watch the rugby. I have a Sanef TAG - I got it when we used to take the car over there however I now use it with the MH although we try to avoid MWays wherever possible. This is virtually impossible to do if you want to get to Paris in good time though.
Despite being over 3m and around 4.5t in weight it still worked a treat
The barrier lifted first time there and back and on that basis I should get class 2 charges! Class 3 are SIGNIFICANTLY higher than class 2...
Result!
Despite being over 3m and around 4.5t in weight it still worked a treat
The barrier lifted first time there and back and on that basis I should get class 2 charges! Class 3 are SIGNIFICANTLY higher than class 2...
Result!
77racing said:
Will look at that Cavalier, as we probably will stop in St Tropez for a couple days to recoup from the trip down but heh we will be in the sun.
mum and dad took me there twice a year for 10 years as a kid caravanning, before the campsite was sold and dad decided to buy an apartment opposite...which he duly sold just before I was old enough to drive there myself!! Anyway the area is beautiful and the roads fantastic. The beach is no over crowded at all ,and the whole bay retains the 'unfound' feel of the Cote d'Azur....St Tropez, is good to tick off the list but a bit 2 dimensional in comparison imo.Anyway...not a bad website...https://coolcamping.com/campsites/europe/france
and I was here last June.... The Col De Turini runs past the gate...awesome.
http://www.camping-sainte-madeleine.com/anglais/we...
Just north of Menton/Monaco
Quickmoose said:
mum and dad took me there twice a year for 10 years as a kid caravanning, before the campsite was sold and dad decided to buy an apartment opposite...which he duly sold just before I was old enough to drive there myself!! Anyway the area is beautiful and the roads fantastic. The beach is no over crowded at all ,and the whole bay retains the 'unfound' feel of the Cote d'Azur....St Tropez, is good to tick off the list but a bit 2 dimensional in comparison imo.
Anyway...not a bad website...https://coolcamping.com/campsites/europe/france
and I was here last June.... The Col De Turini runs past the gate...awesome.
http://www.camping-sainte-madeleine.com/anglais/we...
Just north of Menton/Monaco
We are over there in a few weeks on a trip in our motorhome, that site looks great in sospel, it mentions a tunnel though which sounds a little tight. Have you been through it or do you know if it's suitable for a motorhomeAnyway...not a bad website...https://coolcamping.com/campsites/europe/france
and I was here last June.... The Col De Turini runs past the gate...awesome.
http://www.camping-sainte-madeleine.com/anglais/we...
Just north of Menton/Monaco
When you approach Lyon ignore the SatNav.
Take the A46 bypass road. Not "Lyon Centre" .
The A46 will route you around Lyon and you'll escape the worst of the heavy local traffic merging with motorway traffic.
Just follow the signs to MARSEILLES and you'll come out the other side back onto the Autoroute Du Soleil.
Coming back take the A46 again and follow the PARIS signs.
If you are in a motorhome you won't be able to easily park in St Tropez.
I suggest you park at a camping ground at either Port Cogolin, St Maxime or Port Grimaud (e.g. Prairies De La Mer) and take the regular ferry. Much more pleasant.
https://www.bateauxverts.com/en/
Take the A46 bypass road. Not "Lyon Centre" .
The A46 will route you around Lyon and you'll escape the worst of the heavy local traffic merging with motorway traffic.
Just follow the signs to MARSEILLES and you'll come out the other side back onto the Autoroute Du Soleil.
Coming back take the A46 again and follow the PARIS signs.
If you are in a motorhome you won't be able to easily park in St Tropez.
I suggest you park at a camping ground at either Port Cogolin, St Maxime or Port Grimaud (e.g. Prairies De La Mer) and take the regular ferry. Much more pleasant.
https://www.bateauxverts.com/en/
All good info and a good source of info not just for me but others heading this way, thank you chaps. ran the idea of the karting side trip by mrs 77 ..................not very impressed This holiday is hers really after been shuffled all over the country with car 77 she will deserve a bit of a chill out in the sun. personally I will be just popping to the shops for an hour or so when we get near the track, whilst she chills out round a pool of some sort. what the eye doesn't see the heart won't ....................
we will be using that Soffel site on way home as well,as long as there is not a tunnel we can't get through.
This holiday is hers really after been shuffled all over the country with car 77 she will deserve a bit of a chill out in the sun. personally I will be just popping to the shops for an hour or so when we get near the track, whilst she chills out round a pool of some sort. what the eye doesn't see the heart won't ....................we will be using that Soffel site on way home as well,as long as there is not a tunnel we can't get through.
Edited by 77racing on Thursday 23 March 19:31
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