Europe trip/Sat nav advice
Discussion
Hi,
Does anyone know if you can get a Sat Nav that will tell you the nearest petrol stations (Including when I'm lost in Europe)
Also, I want it to plan routes with the option to avoid Major roads/Motorways... Do any do that?
Basically I'm thinking of taking the SM to Limoges to see my parents over the Christmas break as they have some cracking roads around where they live but 500 miles of motorway would suck balls.
Any tips/ideas/warnings? The main issue will be the small tank range (100 miles to empty)
Cheers, Andy.
Does anyone know if you can get a Sat Nav that will tell you the nearest petrol stations (Including when I'm lost in Europe)
Also, I want it to plan routes with the option to avoid Major roads/Motorways... Do any do that?
Basically I'm thinking of taking the SM to Limoges to see my parents over the Christmas break as they have some cracking roads around where they live but 500 miles of motorway would suck balls.
Any tips/ideas/warnings? The main issue will be the small tank range (100 miles to empty)
Cheers, Andy.
I took a Garmin Zumo 550 to Spain and France this year and it was fab. Absolutely brilliant for guiding me across the Pyrenees, giving warning of hairpins etc. It has loads of fuel, ATMs, hotel POIs built in.
Only snag with the 'nearest petrol' on any GPS is that many of the small provincial petrol stations are closed on Sundays (or indeed, most of the time!!!!)
Only snag with the 'nearest petrol' on any GPS is that many of the small provincial petrol stations are closed on Sundays (or indeed, most of the time!!!!)
rsv gone! said:
I took a Garmin Zumo 550 to Spain and France this year and it was fab. Absolutely brilliant for guiding me across the Pyrenees, giving warning of hairpins etc. It has loads of fuel, ATMs, hotel POIs built in.
got to second the garmin 550 , great bit of kit and worth the moneyAndyDRZ said:
Anyone know the truth behind the rumour that British cards don't work in French petrol stations - the unmanned ones with the pay at pump facility after hours.
P.S Changed my name to something more fitting.
went to le mans last year and the self service card petrol stations won't accept Uk cards. well all the ones I tryedP.S Changed my name to something more fitting.
Edited by RemaL on Wednesday 5th December 11:28
We took a TomTom 700 on a trip to France last year and planned routes by asking for the shortest route (not the fastest!) avoiding motorways and toll roads and avoiding any town centres that looked like they might be in the way. This gave us some cracking roads although there was the odd occasion when the TomTom tried to direct us up dirt tracks. On those occasions, we simply carried on with the road we were on and took the next advised turning (that had tarmac.)
UK credit cards didn’t work in un-attended petrol stations last year. We resorted, on one occasion, to paying a local in cash for him to put the petrol on his card. It cost us the value of a beer but got us out of a sticky situation so was worth it.
Have a great trip.
UK credit cards didn’t work in un-attended petrol stations last year. We resorted, on one occasion, to paying a local in cash for him to put the petrol on his card. It cost us the value of a beer but got us out of a sticky situation so was worth it.
Have a great trip.
THe Zumo is brillinat but to be honest, not very good at planning a route for you. Do that yourself with a map.
If you include mways, youll end up staying on them. If you avoid major roads and mways, it will take you on every Z-grade goat track in the land.
No, self serve petrol stations wont take UK cards. Twice we've had to borrow a locals card and give them cash.
In my experience, there are more fuel sations generally in the south and south west of France than there are in the east and north east, so if you fill up everytime you see one, you should be fine.
You sure 100miles is your max?
I thought 120miles was my max on the R1 till I had no choice but to do 148miles
Its worth zeroing the trip and running in out completely before you go so you know exactly what youve got.
If you include mways, youll end up staying on them. If you avoid major roads and mways, it will take you on every Z-grade goat track in the land.
No, self serve petrol stations wont take UK cards. Twice we've had to borrow a locals card and give them cash.
In my experience, there are more fuel sations generally in the south and south west of France than there are in the east and north east, so if you fill up everytime you see one, you should be fine.
You sure 100miles is your max?
I thought 120miles was my max on the R1 till I had no choice but to do 148miles
Its worth zeroing the trip and running in out completely before you go so you know exactly what youve got.
RemaL said:
AndyDRZ said:
Anyone know the truth behind the rumour that British cards don't work in French petrol stations - the unmanned ones with the pay at pump facility after hours.
P.S Changed my name to something more fitting.
went to le mans last year and the self service card petrol stations won't accept Uk cards. well all the ones I tryedP.S Changed my name to something more fitting.
Edited by RemaL on Wednesday 5th December 11:28
sounds a PITA to me, shame as im thinking of a month of so touring on the bike early next year. lucky for me i know i can get to 220miles per tank eh?
Probably will do slightly more. I am running it in at the moment so I don't know for sure.
Might get a petrol can and do what you suggest...
I've been hitting the reserve at 85miles and it has 2 litres after that so maybe it'll make 110.
Get led down Dirt roads sounds fun considering the bike I'll be on! Although may mean it takes a very long to actually make it to my parents!
Might get a petrol can and do what you suggest...
I've been hitting the reserve at 85miles and it has 2 litres after that so maybe it'll make 110.
Get led down Dirt roads sounds fun considering the bike I'll be on! Although may mean it takes a very long to actually make it to my parents!
Hooli said:
funny ive just asked much the same question on another forum. opinion there is france are gradually bringing in new machines that work with UK cards but dont count on it. advice from there was take pockets of cash & pay a local to use their card if you need to.
sounds a PITA to me, shame as im thinking of a month of so touring on the bike early next year. lucky for me i know i can get to 220miles per tank eh?
Maybe I should get one of those 27 litre safari tanks? That would give me a range of about 330 miles. Shame they look fugly!sounds a PITA to me, shame as im thinking of a month of so touring on the bike early next year. lucky for me i know i can get to 220miles per tank eh?
TomTom should see you right.
AndyMX5 said:
Basically I'm thinking of taking the SM to Limoges to see my parents over the Christmas break as they have some cracking roads around where they live
As an aside, my parents live south of Limoges, near to Brive-la-Gaillard. It's a lovely area with some great roads as you rightly point out.If your parents live there do they have a local account that they could lend you a card for?
It's also very cold in that area over Christmas - I usually find I'm ready to warm my hands with the toilet hand dryers well before running out of fuel in those temperatures.
If you use viamichelin.com to plan a route I'm pretty sure it'll show you all of the petrol stations.
It's also very cold in that area over Christmas - I usually find I'm ready to warm my hands with the toilet hand dryers well before running out of fuel in those temperatures.
If you use viamichelin.com to plan a route I'm pretty sure it'll show you all of the petrol stations.
AndyDRZ said:
Sadly, I'll be leaving too soon for that...
Just realised my license is still at the DVLA for an address change... Is it bad to ride in france without your real license? I took photocopies before sending so I could take those?
Do not ride in France without your license. My friend was caught and it cost him €700 Just realised my license is still at the DVLA for an address change... Is it bad to ride in france without your real license? I took photocopies before sending so I could take those?
My Garmin 2610 works perfectly well in France - and will find petrol stations.
As to British credit and bank cards - some of the larger sypermarkets (E Leclerc, Super-U) now accept uk cards, as do the multinationals (BP) if you can find them. Most smaller stations won't.
This is only really an issue on Sundays when most petrol stations are shut - with some accepting credit card payment at the pump. Even then, most french drivers and riders will happily fill your tank and take your cash if you ask them nicely.
As to British credit and bank cards - some of the larger sypermarkets (E Leclerc, Super-U) now accept uk cards, as do the multinationals (BP) if you can find them. Most smaller stations won't.
This is only really an issue on Sundays when most petrol stations are shut - with some accepting credit card payment at the pump. Even then, most french drivers and riders will happily fill your tank and take your cash if you ask them nicely.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff