Off To France

[5wany]

Decided to holiday in France this year (1st time). 

Have booked an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo and return to Portsmouth via Caen (better ferry time).  We are travelling from Edinburgh down to Brittany so a good run for the X5 and looking forward to it.  :drive:

I'm aware of the need to have HiViz vests for all occupants and breath test kits.  Is there anything else I should be aware of?  Any tips, links and advice welcome/appreciated from all you southern boys that pop over to France for a bottle of wine at the weekends 

[MJim]

Warning triangle, first aid kit, remember your registration and insurance docs...

[jaynana]

[quote="5wany"]
all you southern boys that pop over to France for a bottle of wine at the weekends 
[/quote]

not that lucky  but, switch off speed camera alerts if you have them - illegal in france

[squeaky2]

Not much else to add at the moment but whereabouts are you heading too?

[pvr]

Make sure your car is fully comp whilst in France. Admiral includes this, but on the previous insurance co I had to pay £35 each time I crossed.

[xl5]

been over a few times and the police really dont bother with you unless you drive like a pratt...
if you do like listening to music then make sure you have loads of cd's cos the french radio is rubbish..

[pvr]

Yes, what is all that about. All they seem to do is talk on every station.  :'(

[X5Sport]

[quote="pvr"]
Yes, what is all that about. All they seem to do is talk on every station.  :'(
[/quote]
That's all the French ever do....... ) )

[ChrisLux]

Hi-viz vests,warning triangle, first aid kit,breathalyzer kit,registration & insurance docs,turn the radar warning off satnav,don't use cruise control both are illegal in France,speed wise if you go above 145kmh you'll get
flagged,if you go above 160kmh you stand chance car will be confiscated !! Remember to drive on the right  )

[squeaky2]

[quote="ChrisLux"]

Hi-viz vests,warning triangle, first aid kit,breathalyzer kit,registration & insurance docs,turn the radar warning off satnav,don't use cruise control both are illegal in France,speed wise if you go above 145kmh you'll get
flagged,if you go above 160kmh you stand chance car will be confiscated !! Remember to drive on the right  )

[/quote]

cruise control isnt illegal in france.  Belgium yes in places but certainly not france

[ChrisLux]

[quote="squeaky2"]
[quote="ChrisLux"]

Hi-viz vests,warning triangle, first aid kit,breathalyzer kit,registration & insurance docs,turn the radar warning off satnav,don't use cruise control both are illegal in France,speed wise if you go above 145kmh you'll get
flagged,if you go above 160kmh you stand chance car will be confiscated !! Remember to drive on the right  )

[/quote]

cruise control isnt illegal in france.  Belgium yes in places but certainly not france
[/quote]

Hmmm it appears I've been mis-informed by my Assurance company here then  >:(

[squeaky2]

[quote="ChrisLux"]
[quote="squeaky2"]
[quote="ChrisLux"]

Hi-viz vests,warning triangle, first aid kit,breathalyzer kit,registration & insurance docs,turn the radar warning off satnav,don't use cruise control both are illegal in France,speed wise if you go above 145kmh you'll get
flagged,if you go above 160kmh you stand chance car will be confiscated !! Remember to drive on the right  )

[/quote]

cruise control isnt illegal in france.  Belgium yes in places but certainly not france
[/quote]

Hmmm it appears I've been mis-informed by my Assurance company here then  >:(


[/quote]

Id say so......cannot find anything about it anywhere and i spend most of my driving life in france at the moment and there isnt any signage etc warning of it. 

Unlike the belgians......then again their driving seems to be one of the worst in europe so i cant see what difference not using cruise control is going to make!

[pvr]

Belgium cruise control is only at 1 or two places and only for trucks as they have caused massive accidents by driving full speed into traffic jams whilst watching tv or being on a mobile or so.

[5wany]

Thanks for replies, will get a France kit pack put together. 

[quote="squeaky2"]
Not much else to add at the moment but whereabouts are you heading too?
[/quote]

Off to here end June http://www.camping-boutinardiere.com/
Normally just grab a package holiday, but now got a 3yr old and wife tells me to expect another at end Aug, so holiday types for me gonna change.  Looking forward to the adventure, if it turns out a success, will prob be the summer holiday routine for next few years  .

Had a look on  http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/guides/driving-france which updates the position on Breath kits to be 0.05% from March 2013.

Thanks again for feedback

[xl5]

that site looks nice...we're thinking of the french alps in the summer but dunno re the 8 hour drive.