Motoring Discussion > Driving vs flying Miscellaneous
Thread Author: legacylad Replies: 52

 Driving vs flying - Bromptonaut
I'll add my two pennyworth here.

We had camping holidays on the continent from when my kids were in Primary (The Lad about to start) until both were at Uni or older. Spans the years 1999 to 2013 and once more with the Caravan.

Nearly always crossed by ferry from Dover to either Calais or Dunkerque depending on who had best offers. Shuttle once or twice but usually silly money. Once and never again on a 'High Speed Ferry'. What worked for us was a crossing mid Sunday afternoon so leaving home late morning with a quick toilet stop at South Mimms or Thurrock. Abandoned latter after a nightmare where a rain soaked East London was heading en masse for Lakeside and it took half an hour to get off the services.

Immediate night stop, usually in Coquelles, then early breakfast and 07:00 start. Grenoble, Chambery or Clermont Ferrand were just about do-able in a day with kids. Easier as they got older and fewer stops needed. I'd still do that on first night now if not towing the 'van. I'm pretty well tatered after 600 miles but I'm sure others would and could press on into Spain.

Driving on the right in a RHD car was never a problem, even in the early trips. Nowadays after 50-60k over there down the years it's just a groove I drop into. On the Autoroute it's pretty easy, just be wary of blind spots - I will turn in my seat to clear the left side before pulling out.

On ordinary roads, as others say, hang back to improve sightlines for overtaking. Use your front seat passenger as an observer but final call is yours. Roundabouts need a bit of care. In some cars, including both Berlingos, it's easy to loose a vehicle behind the left a pillar and for respective movement to mean they stay in that blind spot. Move your head about to ensure it's clear.

These days with satnav navigation should be a cinch but it's still a good idea to plan an approximate route and have a paper map to hand in case of problems. If there's two of you get one to act as nav. If you're going round Paris with a roof box bear in mind some of the urban motorways are restricted to less than 2 metres height.

Mountain roads in the Alps, Pyrennes or the Massif have never been a problem RHD, even the minor ones. Nothing I've driven in Spain albeit that's been in LHD hire cars would give me any concern that way either.
 Messages Author Date
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 5 Jun 20 12:50
 Driving vs flying  new Mr Moo 5 Jun 20 13:06
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 5 Jun 20 13:12
 Driving vs flying  new sooty123 5 Jun 20 13:08
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 5 Jun 20 13:17
 Driving vs flying  new Zero 5 Jun 20 13:16
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 5 Jun 20 13:19
 Driving vs flying  new Duncan 5 Jun 20 13:42
 Driving vs flying  new Terry 5 Jun 20 13:42
 Driving vs flying  new Zero 5 Jun 20 13:50
 Driving vs flying  new tyrednemotional 5 Jun 20 16:37
 Driving vs flying  new Dog 5 Jun 20 13:44
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 5 Jun 20 16:37
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 5 Jun 20 16:57
 Driving vs flying  new Bromptonaut 5 Jun 20 17:09
 Driving vs flying  new Fullchat 5 Jun 20 19:27
 Driving vs flying  new Zero 5 Jun 20 19:37
 Driving vs flying  new PeterS 5 Jun 20 20:04
 Driving vs flying  new Fullchat 5 Jun 20 20:25
 Driving vs flying  new hawkeye 6 Jun 20 10:34
 Driving vs flying  new Zero 6 Jun 20 11:15
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 6 Jun 20 12:56
 Driving vs flying  new PeterS 5 Jun 20 20:17
 Driving vs flying  new smokie 5 Jun 20 23:52
 Driving vs flying  new No FM2R 6 Jun 20 00:22
 Driving vs flying  new PeterS 6 Jun 20 01:15
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 6 Jun 20 09:45
 Driving vs flying  new neiltoo 6 Jun 20 11:18
 Driving vs flying  new sooty123 6 Jun 20 11:24
 Driving vs flying  new PeterS 6 Jun 20 12:05
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 6 Jun 20 12:56
 Driving v Flying  new Fullchat 6 Jun 20 13:10
 Driving v Flying  new Zero 6 Jun 20 13:18
 Driving vs flying  new tyrednemotional 7 Jun 20 12:48
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 6 Jun 20 13:20
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 6 Jun 20 14:24
 Driving vs flying  new CGNorwich 6 Jun 20 16:18
 Driving vs flying  new sooty123 6 Jun 20 16:47
 Driving vs flying  new CGNorwich 6 Jun 20 23:00
 Driving vs flying  new sooty123 7 Jun 20 10:28
 Driving vs flying  new Terry 7 Jun 20 11:40
 Driving vs flying  new Zero 7 Jun 20 12:04
 Driving vs flying  new Dog 6 Jun 20 14:38
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 6 Jun 20 14:57
 Driving vs flying  new Runfer D'Hills 6 Jun 20 15:11
 Driving vs flying  new legacylad 6 Jun 20 15:33
 Driving vs flying  new Robin O'Reliant 6 Jun 20 15:58
 Driving vs flying  new Zero 6 Jun 20 16:51
 Driving vs flying  new Robin O'Reliant 6 Jun 20 17:08
 Driving vs flying  new tyrednemotional 6 Jun 20 17:11
 Driving vs flying  new Dog 6 Jun 20 17:11
 Driving vs flying  new Bobby 7 Jun 20 18:43
 Driving vs flying  new No FM2R 7 Jun 20 19:22
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