|
Motorway tolls in France:
Pay-as-you-go tolls are charged on most
motorways in France. Visit the English version of the web site for
French
Autoroutes, where, among other things, you will find a ready-reckoner
to calculate charges.
You can pay
by credit card - you just hand over the card, nothing to sign and often no
receipt unless you request one. On many motorways you can use booths which
display a carte bleu sign - insert your card, wait for it to be returned and
drive off. Otherwise make sure you have plenty of change available so you
can use the automatic booths, although manual booths are always able to
provide change.
An easy option is to sign
up for a Télépéage electronic device. This is stuck to the windscreen behind
the mirror and is read as you pass through the toll. This requires a credit
card for online purchase, a deposit of 30 euro and a fee of just 2 euro per
month which is only charged for months used (plus of course the toll
itself). The benefits are rapid passage through the tolls and no leaning
across the car to pay at left-sided toll booths. Visit
www.sanef.com but the
site is in French.
Alpine Tunnels from France to Italy:
- Mont Blanc Tunnel
- A car costs about 35 single or 45 return. For information on the tunnel
and everything in the Mont Blanc area go to the
Chamonix web site.
- The alternative route is via the
Frejus Tunnel (about 10 kms long), from Albertville (Modane) to
Turin, which also costs about 35 single for a car.
New Autoroutes
The A28 now runs from the A16 south of Calais
to Le Mans, and then onwards to Tours, where it joins the A11. This will
benefit UK drivers travelling from Calais and Dieppe towards the Loire
Valley, La Vende, and South-West France, who will now enjoy almost unbroken
motorway, except for still needing to use the non-motorway Rouen bypass.
The now-famous and beautiful bridge across
the valley near Millau means the A75 takes you unencumbered all the way to
the Languedoc coast near Montpellier.
Tips on
driving in France |
