Driving On The Continent

[spudqueen]

At the age of 51 Mr Spudqueen and I are thinking of driving on the continent for the first time (we've both driven hire cars in the US). We're thinking of driving our own car through the chunnel and into northern Italy, via France (obviously!) and possibly Switzerland. Can anyone with personal experience give us any tips and pointers? We've not booked anything - yet, just deciding whether we should actually do it!

[shoota]

Sorry Spudqueen, that should have been 'HiFX' regarding the prepaid debit card.

http://www.hifx.co.uk/online-international-money-transfers/online-generic?_$ja=kw:h.i.f.x|cgn:Brand+Terms|cgid:464289170|tsid:41214|cn:Brand|cid:19131890|lid:3268409727|mt:Broad|nw:search|crid:24449616082&gclid=CJmj1tCGyLcCFfMbtAodszsAwg

[jg96]

Driven in France in my own car many times and it always seems to be whatever your driving and how fast you may be going a French man in a bigger car just has to overtake you!

[BlueToffee]

Be aware that French drivers tailgate.

Be extra vigilant exiting garages etc that you stay on the right, even regular visitors to mainland Europe slip up.

Not only are the speed cameras hard to detect, there are new ones in some areas fitted into the Armco barriers on autoroutes. They also ALL used to have warning signs before the camera, not so any longer, although there are still plenty that do.

If you are using a SatNav, it is illegal in France to have the audible warning of speed cameras and traps turned on.

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

[spudqueen]

Wow - those answers are all brilliant folks. Thank you very much. So many useful tips (I like the one about wearing your watch on your other wrist!). Actually in the States I was okay remembering to drive on the other side of the road, it was when I got home I was totally confused and had to wait for another car to come along so I knew what I was doing! Just need to book the time off work now then we can put our little plan into action! Who said we were too old for adventures?!!

[BlueToffee]

You might find this article of interest SpudQueen ....

http://www.connexionfrance.com/Drivers-motoring-offences-fines-British-Irish-EU-France-14766-view-article.html

[spudqueen]

Thanks for that Blue Toffee (I presume you're an Evertonian!). I'd be too scared to deliberately speed in a foreign country - I might do it accidentally, but not on purpose!