Plot me a course through France

Gooldie · Post by **Gooldie** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:28 am

Can anyone recommend, plot me a route through France, dont mind some motorway but trying to get some more interesting roads too.

The plan is to get ferry to Zeebrugge and then Drive to Grasse in the south of France, with a stop over on the way. Any suggestions of stop over and route would be great.

Off to to renew passport as just realised it has run out !!!!

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:31 am

Annecy and then down throught the alps

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:35 am

well, depends on whether you want to go quick, or go scenic?

Alps in August are SLOW, unless you travel at non-peak times.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:13 am

As Andy says August can be slow. In fact anywhere remotely popular will be absolutely jammed with coastal areas the worst - it seems like the whole of France goes on holiday in August. The direct route down the motorways will take 11-12 hours unless you're really on a mission (don't do more than 30kph over the posted limit as you're then in BIG fine/ban/car confiscated territory if the Gendarmes catch you).

Just had a look on google maps however and the alps are pretty close. Scotty mentioned Annecy and he's right it's really lovely. If you don't have a fixed time to be in Grasse you could take the motorways direct to Annecy and stay the night there, and then follow the road south to Grasse as close to Italy as you can get. Google maps says that Annecy to Grasse via Albertville, Fontaine and Briancon will take 7 and a bit hours. Expect some slow driving, but if you leave really early and worst case it takes 12 hours you'll get some amazing roads/scenery

Gooldie · Post by **Gooldie** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:26 am

Tom wrote:As Andy says August can be slow. In fact anywhere remotely popular will be absolutely jammed with coastal areas the worst - it seems like the whole of France goes on holiday in August. The direct route down the motorways will take 11-12 hours unless you're really on a mission (don't do more than 30kph over the posted limit as you're then in BIG fine/ban/car confiscated territory if the Gendarmes catch you).

Just had a look on google maps however and the alps are pretty close. Scotty mentioned Annecy and he's right it's really lovely. If you don't have a fixed time to be in Grasse you could take the motorways direct to Annecy and stay the night there, and then follow the road south to Grasse as close to Italy as you can get. Google maps says that Annecy to Grasse via Albertville, Fontaine and Briancon will take 7 and a bit hours. Expect some slow driving, but if you leave really early and worst case it takes 12 hours you'll get some amazing roads/scenery

That is perfect, thank you all, job done! Will easily get to annecy with out much rush on the first day as get off the ferry at 8.30am and then day 2 a nice drive down through the Alps to Grasse.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:30 am

No worries, have a good trip

jj · Post by jj » Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:14 am

In previous years we have done coast to Villefranche-sur-saone on day 1 - then on day 2 headed for Saint etienne de tinee then on to the coast from there. It is an amazing drive. Last two years in the SL just gone straight motorways as a drive over the Alps would probably kill it. This will be the fifth trip in the car and so far I have only been stuck in traffic twice, once near Orange on the toll road and once in Antibes because of the festival. Always read about it being jammed but never had a problem.

This year I got hold of one of the Peage beepers so looking forward to saving the inevitable argument with the Mrs everytime we get to a toll booth and I am too far away / she cant reach / has no money /left handbag in boot at last stop

I am there from 6th to 16th August staying in St Paul de Vence then Cagnes sur mer. Cannot wait.

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:21 am

Re the toll tag's there is a deal on at the moment wherby if you book a chunnel crossing you get reduced price on the toll tag. I had lost my last one (left it on the car when I sold it

) so ordered a new one for this years trip with the kids. The deposit is halved from 40 Euros to 20 Euros and the setup and annual fees are reduced too.

The new ones are much smaller than the old ones too and they now have a UK based department that allows UK bank accounts, (this used to be an issue if I remamber correctly).

Deal below compliments of Golding.

http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller- ... f-Tolling/

Alistair · Post by **Alistair** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:03 pm

Thumbs up for Annecy and through the Alps - Scotty recommended to us in 2010 and it was excellent - albeit the weather was a bit iffy near the summits

See here for pics and movie in reverse to what you are doing (This is Monaco to Annecy)

http://www.thefords.eu/Road_Trip_2010/E ... nnecy.html

I'll see if I can find the route on google maps - got it somewhere....

Cheers

Alistair

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:15 pm

My outlaws will make you very welcome en Provence.

Scottish Elises