Ever thought of a driving holiday through France? It can be an incredible experience that you or your family will not forget. This article provides twelve tips that can transform your holiday planning and touring into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When going on your first driving holiday through France, traveling at your own pace, stopping in quaint villages and historic towns to experience the local French food, and staying in family-run guesthouses or hotels can just add more excitement to the whole holiday experience.
You will need places to stay, and there are so many different options to choose from, but this can be a great way of getting into the heart of the country and experiencing the true traditional France while on your driving holiday.
The roads are well maintained, especially on the toll roads that have fantastic lay-bys, and the service areas are of excellent quality, which makes the experience when traveling much easier. Even when entering the local villages, the roads are still very good quality, far better than some other countries we have been in. Just remember that you will be driving on the right hand side of the road!
You should be aware of a few things.
The legal age to drive in France is 18 years of age, and even if you have a full license from another country and you are under 18, you are not allowed to drive in France.
Every passenger must wear a seatbelt, and it is illegal for a child under the age of 10 to be in the front seat.
You must always stop at a zebra (pedestrian) crossing, which is enforced by law. When going through a town you will find many of them. However, pedestrians should be very careful, as the French do not seem to obey this rule as much as they should!
Watch your speed! If you are stopped for speeding, you can be fined on the spot, and the fines have to be paid in cash there and then, which can be quite expensive. If you cannot pay or you are traveling more than 25 km./h. above the speed limit, your car can be impounded; you could end up with a very hefty fine or even lose your license, so be careful.
The motorways are 130 km. per hour, but this is reduced in bad weather to 110 km. per hour. On dual carriageways and main roads, the speed limit is also reduced in bad weather. A dual carriageway is 110 km. per hour and main roads are 90 km. per hour, with the periphery being 80 km. per hour and towns or minor roads permitting a maximum of 50 km. per hour.
The French Government publishes information on exactly where speed traps are located. This is one of the reasons why it is illegal to have a radar detector. Also, with the number of satellite navigation systems available, you will find that many have a warning system for speed cameras. However, it is also illegal to have this facility on, otherwise you could end up with a hefty fine if you are caught!
In bad weather, fog etc., even during the day, it is compulsory to use your lights. However, you do not have to keep your lights on during the day at any other time.
You must have deflectors fitted to your headlights if you have a right-hand drive vehicle, and by law you must have a set of replacement bulbs and a warning triangle with you at all times. However, it is always advisable to check the regulations prior to your holiday in France, as they do change from time to time. A good place to access this information is the AA website.
You must have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher with you. In France, the law states that if you are the first on the scene of an accident, you must stop and provide assistance, therefore these may well be required! In the event of an accident, you would need to call the police, which is accomplished by dialing '17'. They will dispatch an ambulance or the fire brigade if these are also needed.
The term 'La Priorite à Droite' means that the vehicle coming onto a road has priority from the right. This is even the case when a minor road is entering a main road, so do be careful, as you must yield, even if it is you on the main road. Officially, this rule no longer applies unless clearly posted, yet it still causes confusion and in Paris, it is still widely practiced.
Planning your holiday prior to traveling will help you to locate all the tourist attractions that you want to visit while on your holiday in France. When it comes to shopping, most places shut for at least two hours each day. Most hypermarkets, etc. are not open on a Sunday, whereas museums and other attractions are, so you can make general plans for your whole trip.
If you use a route planner such as Microsoft AutoRoute, it can provide you with lots of other information as well, like how long it will take you to travel between places, and you can also find hotels, petrol stations, restaurants, and even cash points to name but a few! The other good thing about using a route planner, is that if you do not have a sat nav system, you can get in-depth maps that will take you directly to your desired destination without getting lost.
With these few general rules out of the way, you can enjoy the experience, the beautiful scenery, the French wine and food, and have a great family vacation while on your driving holiday in France.
About the Author:
www.placesinfrance.com
Martyn Davis European traveler, author, photographer and business development manager. For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks, and attractions - Driving Holidays in France. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com
|
|
Viewing 12 Tips for A Family Driving Holiday in France