laartista

Hi,

So originally I was going to train it in Provence but after reading and reading this board it seems better to have a car. I booked an automatic for a week at a rate of 338$ inclusive thru Europe by car to use while staying in Avignon and Nice. Although I have traveled alot, I have not driven in Europe,with the exception of driving one day in southern Spain last year. I live in NYC and can hold my own against the taxi drivers- but for some reason am a little nervous- I'm traveling solo fot the majority of the trip.Is it easy driving in Provence? Also I forgot who , but someone on this board had a good itinerary-anybody know who that is?

julies

The most difficult thing to do is going to be having to navigate and drive at the same time. This shouldn't be a problem at all in more rural areas, but could be very difficult in cities. We've never used one, but you may want to lok into whether or not you can get a car with a GPS navigation system.

richardsonsnm

a car with navy is going to cost much more.

Doble_Vergasser

Stu Dudley offers a fantastic itinerary for Provence and the Cote d Azur.

Do not be afraid of driving in France. We were in Normandy, not Provence but it is very similar to US. The round abouts are actually far better the typical X type intersection. Get a good map and keep your wits about you. (In Italy I made more wrong turns than you count on two hands. No harm tho'.)

Images2

We often drive in France and do just fine. Get a Michelin map of the area you'll be driving in. Your local bookstore will have them. If not, they can order it for you.They have every road on them, just excellent. Also get a compass. We use ours often, even in Paris! There are many traffic circles in France. These are wonderful because you can keep going around, looking at the signs until you know exactly which one to take to continue on the direction you want to go. The roads are sign posted by the next main town on the route, not the route # of the road always. It's very important to have your map and notice which main town you are driving towards.

Have a great time!

highledge

I agree on the good maps! But also make a decision if you want the most direct route or the senic route! A fair number of major roads (highways/autoroutes) are toll roads. Be prepared with your money handy

tomboy

I echo images2 heartily. A year ago we drove around several roundabouts 3 or 4 times. Better that than making a rash move at the last second, confusing native drivers. After all, no one else will observe your 2nd, 3rd , or 4th orbit, and you'll be more confident in your driving.
Otherwise, having driven in Chi and Detroit, if you can drive in NYC you'll be ok.
The other thing, remember, you don't have to pronounce perfectly to yourself. So if you see on a map you're near Les Eyzies, and it looks like Les Easy to you, then if you see a sign for Les Easy, that's the place you want. You don't have to gaze at the map, then at the sign, then at the map, then at the sign, to make sure it's -E-Z-Y- or -E-Y-Z/ Comprendez you?

Bob_KY

Don't drive in Paris at night in the pouring rain with a headache and a spouse who gets hysterical when you get lost in a strange city. Other than that you will be fine,and I would recommend the car.

laartista

Thanks All

Anybody know the link to Stu's itinerary for Provence. I tried a search but keep getting the one for Tuscany. One other question please, If I leave things in the trunk not in clear site during my days travel is that safe as far as theft goes.

Underhill

If you'll send me a message at

[email protected]

I'll ship you a copy of my husband's excellent article "Driving in France." It originally appeared in the La Révue premium newsletter on the bonjourparis.com web site and has made a lot of people feel more comportable about driving in France. It's really not that bad!

TimS

Stu will probably read this thread and offer to send you his driving itinerary himself. However, I have it as a MS Word document and can send it to you as an e-mail attachment. My e-mail address is [email protected].

ira

Hi L,

We spent 2 weeks driving in France a few months ago.

I overplanned.

It was much easier than I expected. the roads are well marked and very good.

In addition to your maps, look up your route at www.mappy.com. Zoom in as close as possible. Look for zig-zags, roundabouts and turns in cities.

Print these out as supplements to your maps.

At worst, you won't need them.

For example as you approach a roundabout, you will see a sign that shows the circle and where each of the exits go. If you are unsure of what to do, go around again until you find your exit.

If there is more than one lane entering a circle, the right hand lane is for people taking the first right.

Don't worry. You will pick up the procedures very quickly.

designergigi

laartista,
Driving is quite easy as long as you have a list of the towns you will be traveling to. Often, when off the beaten path, you will see a roundabout and it will have the next town listed OR the second or third town. I just keep a list of towns visible. If off the autostrade, it's also very easy to stop if you need to check your map.
When I've taken a wrong turn it usually brought me to a place I'd not seen and often one that is magical.
Relax, have a few snacks in the car, some water, a good map, change, and allow plenty of time so you're not stressed. Give yourself time to stop at that antique shop along the way or visit that charming village church.
I often leave items in the trunk, always put there before I park the car, and always take everything that suggests I'm touring out of the car.
Many cars can be identified as a rental but there's no need to lure anyone to break into it.
Have fun! It will be an adventure!!!

adeben

I drive regularly in France (and occasionally Provence) without any difficulty. And I have to adjust to the steering wheel being on the 'wrong' side of the car, and folks driving on the 'wrong' side of the road! For you, the mechanics of driving will be normal, and you will find it very easy.

Jeangail

I was wondering how you got the rate of $338 for an automatic car rental. I reserved an automatic car through Hertz and am paying quite a bit more. I didn't shop around because they guaranteed me an automatic but I may need to reconsider.

JeanneB

Just one more little note about traffic circles:

You will often come to one that doesn't have any indicators for your next destination. Instead, you will see an arrow saying "Toutes Directions" (or something like that). It is pointing you to the next traffic circle where, indeed, you will find the markers you're looking for.

"Centre Ville" arrows are guides into the town the traffic cirle is in.

julia_t

At least coming from NYC you are used to driving on the same side of the road that they do in mainland Europe What are you worrying about?

I come from the UK, live in the UK, and only drive on the "wrong" side of the road when I go to Europe and rent a car or, worse, take my own car over, and than have the double distraction of driving on the wrong side of the car as well as the wrong side of the road.

But really, it's not something to fret about.

cocofromdijon

<"Toutes Directions" (or something like that).> you're right Jeanne!

Julia why do I feel more at ease when I go to Britain with my own French car? I spent 2 years in London and never wanted to drive another car than mine.

<I have not driven in Europe,with the exception of driving one day in southern Spain last year. > You should be fine then, I didn't see much difference (at least in Andalucia)

Take care
coco

tod

Driving in France last year was a real eye-opener for us. What fantastic roads, road-markings and Direction finders! We also went round and round the traffic circle if not sure at first. We are people that are used to driving "on the otherside" of the road like in England!
You should find it relatively easy.

julia_t

Hi coco...

actually I do prefer driving my own car on the continent because the controls are familiar and in the right place - no flailing hands trying to find a gearstick that is on the other side! And putting on the wipers instead of the indicators! But I do have to remember to keep to the right, and it is not so easy to pull out and overtake as you can't see so well.

But then in a rental car with the wheel and controls on the other side than I am used to, I find it is quite easy to stay on that other side, and the visibility especially when overtaking is better.

However I find whatever/wherever I drive I get used to it fairly quickly.

And what I meant to convey to laaartista is don't worry, it will be a doddle! Have a great trip!