Lyon, Beaune, or Dijon as stopover from Antibes to Colmar?
Mar 5th, 2015, 01:28 PM
#21
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If you're taking the motorway, then Orange could be a worthwhile stop for lunch, being right on the Autoroute (just north of Avignon): http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/orange - - about halfway on the trip from Antibes to Beaune.
Mar 6th, 2015, 04:07 AM
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neckervd - awesome! Totally awesome!
And if going to Beaune and you have time from Macon you can take the official Burgundy Wine Road that meanders thru wine villages and by famous wine houses to Beaune - obviously takes a bit longer but on the autoroutes you see very little except the gorgeous countryside - I like to go thru towns sometimes too even though those roads can be much slower going, obviously but if you have time... take the road less traveled!
And if going to Beaune and you have time from Macon you can take the official Burgundy Wine Road that meanders thru wine villages and by famous wine houses to Beaune - obviously takes a bit longer but on the autoroutes you see very little except the gorgeous countryside - I like to go thru towns sometimes too even though those roads can be much slower going, obviously but if you have time... take the road less traveled!
Mar 6th, 2015, 06:07 AM
#23
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drchris, it's a lot less expensive now than a few years ago, now that petrol prices are a little lower. Generally, it's cheaper to get your petrol at a station connected to a supermarket, like Casino or Carrefour.
This is a handy site for comparisons;
http://mon-essence.fr/
It's nearly always more expensive to get petrol on a motorway.
You can avoid tolls by taking the more scenic routes, you only pay toll on the motorway.
This is a handy site for comparisons;
http://mon-essence.fr/
It's nearly always more expensive to get petrol on a motorway.
You can avoid tolls by taking the more scenic routes, you only pay toll on the motorway.
Mar 6th, 2015, 10:56 AM
#24
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IME France has a cartel with petro prices off the autoroutes - very very little difference except a few euro cents - but maybe that has changed since I was there a few years ago.
Side roads are great but can take so so much longer than the freeways (not free - predatory tolls!) but if you have time the beauty of the real France lies on the side roads - not the busy monotonous N or National roads but the lovely D or departemental roads that are often empty well-paved and go thru remote villages.
That said the OP has little recourse but to take the autoroutes to get to Colmar in two days - but from Beaune to Dijon do try to take the Burgundy Wine Road - it's not that far and the wine towns are cute and famous world-wide for their names on vintages of Burgundy wines.
Side roads are great but can take so so much longer than the freeways (not free - predatory tolls!) but if you have time the beauty of the real France lies on the side roads - not the busy monotonous N or National roads but the lovely D or departemental roads that are often empty well-paved and go thru remote villages.
That said the OP has little recourse but to take the autoroutes to get to Colmar in two days - but from Beaune to Dijon do try to take the Burgundy Wine Road - it's not that far and the wine towns are cute and famous world-wide for their names on vintages of Burgundy wines.
Mar 6th, 2015, 11:55 PM
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A difference of 15 cents a liter is not uncommon, sometimes even more. Makes a difference on a roadtrip where you need several tanks of petrol.
When using the D-roads, be very aware of the speed limits, that can change suddenly.
When using the D-roads, be very aware of the speed limits, that can change suddenly.
Mar 8th, 2015, 06:44 PM
#26
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Great information and suggestions! Thanks everyone. We are already doing way more than we should even attempt in 3 1/2 weeks but this will likely be our only trip through France except for a week in Paris 30 years ago so we want to see as much as we can. For me, travel in Europe is not so much a vacation in the sense of rest and relaxation - for that I'll go to the beach or take a cruise - as it is like one of those college intersession courses in which you complete a semester of study in 3 weeks.
PalenQ - We hope to have time to take the wine roads for the scenic beauty around Beaune/Dijon and Colmar. We did so many museums and cathedrals in Italy last year that we want to enjoy God's natural beauty this year.
dfourh - We will try to visit Orange while staying near St-Remy-de-Provence but if not, a stop for lunch on the way back through is a good suggestion.
Tulip - thanks for the link to the gas prices - very helpful. Is "gasoil" what we call "regular" in the US (89 octane)?
neckervd - I will note the itineraries in case we ever do make it back to France.
PalenQ - We hope to have time to take the wine roads for the scenic beauty around Beaune/Dijon and Colmar. We did so many museums and cathedrals in Italy last year that we want to enjoy God's natural beauty this year.
dfourh - We will try to visit Orange while staying near St-Remy-de-Provence but if not, a stop for lunch on the way back through is a good suggestion.
Tulip - thanks for the link to the gas prices - very helpful. Is "gasoil" what we call "regular" in the US (89 octane)?
neckervd - I will note the itineraries in case we ever do make it back to France.
