CatherineMcCullough

We are planning to travel to Bordeaux/Dordogne from July 8-19 and are curious about the impacts of labor strikes and flooding. We've read reports about gas shortages and flooding but are not sure if these are causing issues in the Bordeaux/Dordogne area. We are planning to fly in and out of Bordeaux and then driving in the area. We are also wondering if flying through Amsterdam would be preferable to flying through Paris. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

kerouac

Exactly what problems are you expecting in July, more than a month from now?

Edward2005

There are no gas shortages presently, but there are spotty rail strikes and threats of strikes by AirFrance workers. Will this be the case in one month? Who knows?

StCirq

I live in the Dordogne. We don't have any "problems" at the moment except for the occasional TER train strikes, which are hardly worth worrying about, as only a few trains are affected and usually there's another train coming along shortly.

No one could possibly say what the situation will be a month from now, of course.

As to Amsterdam versus Paris, I'd fly through whichever is cheapest.

RonZ

Flying into Bordeaux seems to be a logical plan as opposed to an airport further away.

sparkchaser

OP, you are going to make sure to rent a boat with paddles because gas is hard to find now and will be non-existent by July.

StCirq

No, a boat won't work because the rivers will all be flooded

Whathello

As of today, you'll find the usual problems : French are rude, eat snails and speak french only. We also use the Euro, couldn't adapt to USD. We measure temps in celsius, weight in kgms etc.
We do not tip, we drive more aggressively than in the US, but we drive also a lot better ;-)
What other problems ? France is close to Belgium, which capital is a hellhole and in the hands of terrorists who may come blow everything up in France, according to US dept issuing warnings.
What else ?
Enjoy your holiday, life as usual overhere.

CatherineMcCullough

Thank you. I understand it's nearly impossible to predict what will be happening a month from now, but I appreciate knowing a little more about what the situation is at present. Navigating the myriad - and often inflated - stories we hear here in the US is also difficult. And, as we had not booked our flights, we were considering switching gears entirely. It doesn't sound like that is necessary, which is great.

sparkchaser

There have been at least three threads here about the fuel issue in France (which for the moment is now resolved).

I can appreciate you not knowing about them because this forum isn't on a proper platform where certain threads could be stickied.

sparkchaser

LOL @ Whathello

Christina

I haven't heard any "inflated" stories in the US, not sure what media you are talking about. I heard reports that are factual directly from someone who lives there on NPR, and I've read numerous articles in quality newspapers that were also factual. I also readc the French press and the coverage does not seem notably different to me that I would call the articles in the US papers I read (Wash Post and NYT) "inflated" stories. Here is one, and the contributor is Parisian, do you think they are "inflating" facts?
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/04/wo...uvre.html?_r=0

It isn't really difficult to navigate a few reputable news sources.

dotheboyshall

Wonder if the OP is so used to "problems" extending over several months if not several years after they occurred.

CatherineMcCullough

@Christina, you are a piece of work. My questions in no way warrant your snarly response. I have read the same articles you have and I simply asked for an opinion from those experiencing the situation first hand. I have read conflicting perspectives on this forum even, including people saying you were "talking out of a hole in your head" when commenting on the flooding in Prague. And yes, I do believe that even reputable news sources tend to inflate and scaremonger when covering many topics.

@StCirq, @Edward 2005 and @sparkchaser, thank you for your help.

This forum never ceases to amaze with its capacity for an exchange of valuable information. It also is ripe with rudeness and disrespect.

I have come to appreciate various posters' humor and personalities. (For example, I was not surprised by @kerouac's response.) In fact, acknowledging the snide humor, arrogance, and condescension among many of its regulars, I try to phrase my questions so they are as innocuous as possible. Alas . . .

Next time I will call James McAuley, because you all are certainly too busy to be polite. Oh, but that's right, I didn't even ask about Paris.