11 things to know when travelling to France

emergency 112

1) The emergency phone number in France is 112.

2) New for 2015 – all drivers and motor bike riders are not allowed to use mobile phones with headsets or ear pieces whilst driving, be it for listening to music or for phone calls. However, this does exclude motorcycle helmets that have integrated systems.

3) Following our trip to France in the summer we found that the migrant crises at Calais was not as bad as we expected.  You will be hard pressed to come across any migrants or see the migrant camp when travelling through Calais, the camp itself pretty tucked away. Saying this, we’d probably recommend to travel during the day to avoid any night time incidents.

4) As of January 2016, motorcyclists will be required to have reflective jackets to be worn in the event of a breakdown or an emergency.

5) Get yourself a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you travel. If you already have an EHIC, make sure it hasn’t expired.

ehic card6) Some medical costs aren’t covered by the EHIC so you should also take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel. When our son broke his arm, the hospital were very keen to have details of a full insurance cover. Your travel insurance company will probably also want to know your EHIC details when you make your claim.

7) Speeding can result on the spot fines. Speed cams are usually well signposted in advance, but keep your eye out for mobile police vans. The maximum speed on autoroutes is 130kph (80mph) in good weather and 110kph (68mph) in poor weather. Monsieur Hollande is reportedly bringing in legislation to make it easier to track down foreign drivers who speed on French roads, so we need to lose the complacency regarding speed cams.

8) Speaking of speeding, in-car radar detectors and satellite navigation systems warning of the presence of speed cameras or radars are illegal whether in use or not. (Seems a bit unfair!)

9) Dueemergency phone in france to French law, you can’t get assistance from your own breakdown company if you break down on a motorway or toll road. You’ll need to use one of the orange emergency telephones situated every 2 km along main roads and motorways. This call goes to the police or the official breakdown service operating in that area. You’ll be towed to a safe designated area where you can then be met by your breakdown provider. Charges for assistance on a motorway are fixed by the Government.

10) Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to travel on the front seats of vehicles without using a special child restraint, unless there is no rear seat in the vehicle, or the rear seat is already occupied with children under 10, or there are no seat belts.

11) And finally, here’s the list of items you are legally supposed to have in your car:

• Reflective jackets (must be kept inside the vehicle, within reach)
• Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with 4 wheels or more)
• Headlamp beam deflectors (Depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually)
• GB sticker if you don’t have GB on your number plate.
• Breathalysers/alcohol test (As of January 2013 the French government announced that the introduction of an €11 fine has been postponed indefinitely, so you won’t be fined if you don’t have one).

 

I want to ride my Bicyclette…

 

We love our cycling here at France for Families HQ, so it is no surprise that as winter approaches we are keen to think of sunnier climes, the gentle warm breeze blowing inbetween the spokes and une vue incroyable as we ride by.

We’ve picked out 3 cycle routes that will inspire your 2016 adventures.

Our cycle route ideas may lend themselves to staying overnight in a certain town or village, but don’t limit yourself to these, there are plenty of great accommodation options in our Gites in France section; many that will be on or close to the cycle route.  And please note due to the distances involved, these cycle routes are aimed at families with teenage children.

1. Normandy is an ideal location for a holiday, not only is it close to the UK, but steeped rich in history with many outstanding places to visit as a family.  The approx 130-mile route starts in Bayeux, home of the famous tapestry that depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the eventual Norman conquest of England, and heads towards Omaha D-Day Beach. Meander through the Normandy countryside, then along the coast before heading back to Bayeux – this is between 30 and 40 miles for Day 1.  The next day head out north of the town towards the pretty seaside resort of Arromanches-les-bains and then along the coastal roads again before heading into Caen for another excellent days cycling.  If you have the legs we suggest you leave Caen heading towards the coast to Houlgate and then until you reach the port of Honfleur.  This leg of the route is the longest at around 45 miles, if you wish to take it easier, we suggest an overnight stay in Houlgate.  Along the way be sure to leave time to get to know Deauville.

monpanzier-france2. The Dordogne, as popular as ever with tourists is a great choice for a family cycle holiday. We suggest a 150-mile route starting in Monpazier, the village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association and within a 20 minutes drive from Bergerac.  Heading north on the quiet D53 road towards Belvès and then on to Siorac-en-Perigord for your first sighting with La Dordogne river.  The route then follows the meandering river until you reach Beynac et Cazenac, a pretty village that takes you on your way to Sarlat-la-Canèda.  Entering Sarlat is like going back in time, to the 14th century in fact.  The town in the Perigord Noir area of the Dordogne department has picturesque cobbled streets and many historic buildings, mainly due to a law passed in 1962 that gave the town the money to maintain and restore its treasures. (photo shows the historic centre of Monpanzier)

Heading south of the town on the D704 back on the trail of the Dordogne river heading towards the town of Souillac before heading south again and into the Regional Park of Quercy and towards our destination, Rocadamour.  The village known perhaps more by sight than by name is perched outstandlingly on a clifftop 100m above a gorge.

3. The Canal du Midi in Languedoc lends itself as the perfect guide through this diverse region.  The canal stretches for more than 240km and was created in the late 17th century to help link France’s Atlantic coast with the Mediterranean coasts.  Our suggestion is to start your route at Carcassonne, a UNESCO fortified city that is worth allocating some time to before heading off and completing your route in Sète, a stylish town on the Mediterranean coast.  Head to the Promenade du Canal towards the south of the city  and pick up the Canal towpath (around here please be careful with pedestrians!) You will head north out of the city before heading south east towards the coastline.

The canal follows the L’Aude river through this outstanding stretch of French countryside and has plenty to keep you interested. From ancient villages, castles, churches and aqueducts and many more landmarks.  After Carcassonne, your next major town is Beziers the gateway to many seaside resorts in Languedoc, itself one of the oldest cities in France.  Then through the villages of Vias and Agde before reaching your destination of Sète.

We suggest overnight stays in La Redorte or Homp, then Beziers and then Sète.  Airports that serve the route include Carcassonne, Beziers, Montpellier and Nimes.

Take a look at our Cycling Holidays in France section for more ideas and which cycling tour companies to contact to help you make your adventure a reality.

Enjoy the ride!

Montpellier – Arty, Intellectual and Near the Beach

 

Overlooked by many British visitors to France, the city of Montpellier is an elegant, sensual and subversive city that offers those who venture here unexpected sensory pleasures. Talk to any local and they will tell you that if you want to capture what Montpellier is all about arrive at Place de la Comedie early in the morning and watch the city awaken.

Montpellier is where old meets new, in the most extreme of ways, not only does it have the oldest centre in France, but in the Antigone district you will find the modern city sweeping all the way to the River Lez. Here you will find Port Marianne, a boatless area peppered with bars and exclusive eateries.

The city centre is car-less, its rues snaking between beautiful historic buildings, bars, jewellers, coffee shops and little squares – the majority of which form a perfect shelter from the Mediterranean sun. The sea is just 5 miles away.

Hire a Velomagg bike (http://www.tam-voyages.com) and meander along the cycle path that hugs the River Lez, pass through Vineyards that are a feature of Languedoc (the region produces more wine that Australia) and skirt around lakes all the way to the beach.  On the way spot flamingos and take in a glass of wine in Palavas-les-Flots.

There is so much see and feel in Montpellier, our recommendations not to miss include visiting the Arc de Triomphe, Musee Fabre, Promenade de Peyrou and the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle.  If you have the time the Jardin des Plantes, the oldest botanical gardens in France, is well worth a visit.

We would also recommend the Burger et Blanquette restaurant, perfect for both adults and children.  The restaurant on the Rue Rosset, near the Musee Fabre, offers a lovely summer terrace and great food.

For holiday homes to rent in Languedoc, check out our Gites in Languedoc section.

Christmas at Disneyland: Save 35%

disney-xmas-mickey-minnieWelcome to the Magic, Disneyland Paris specialists, have today launched their new offer enabling families to save 35% off a Disneyland break between November 7th 2015 and March 16th 2016. For more information please see their website or call 0844 856 5488 (Calls cost 7 pence per minute, plus your telephone company’s access charge) for more details.

 

 

disney-christmas-paradeThere are some restrictions, so please see their website for more details, but looking through the offer it means you can save 35% and be there for Disney’s Christmas celebrations, which start on November 7th and finish on January 7th.

 

 

 

 

Prices depend on when you go and the duration of your stay. To give you an idea, a family of 4, with children aged 7 to 11, staying at Disney’s Davy Crockett’s Ranch bed and breakfast from Friday 4th to the Sunday 6th of December costs £562.10 for the whole family, and that includes:

  • 2 Bedroom Cabin accommodation
  • Tickets & unlimited access to both parks for each day of your stay
  • FREE Parking
  • Extra Magic Hours, all Shows & Attractions inside the Disney® Parks
    and Fastpass® Tickets
  • Meet’n’Greet Disney Characters

The offer ends on November 4th.