Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• At intersections and roundabouts, French road signs use the name of the next
destination for directions—the highway number is usually missing. That next destination
could be a major city, or it could be the next minor town up the road. Even if you rent a
GPS system, it's a good idea to check your map ahead of time and get familiar with the
names of towns and cities along your route—and even major cities on the same road bey-
ond your destination.
• When navigating into cities, approach intersections cautiously, stow the map, and
follow the signs to
Centre-Ville
(city center). From there, head to the TI
(Office de Tour-
isme)
or your hotel.
• When leaving or just passing through cities, follow the signs for
Toutes Directions
or
Autres Directions
(meaning “anywhere else”) until you see a sign for your specific des-
tination.
•Drivingonanyroadsbutautorouteswilltakelongerthanyouanticipated,soallow
yourself plenty of time for slower traffic (tractors, trucks, traffic, and hard-to-decipher
signs all deserve blame). First-timers should estimate how long they think a drive will
take...then double it. I pretend that kilometers are miles (for distances) and base my time
estimates accordingly.
• While locals are eating lunch (12:00-14:00), many sights (and gas stations) are
closed, so you can make great time driving—but keep it slow when passing through vil-
lages.
•Beverycarefulwhendrivingonsmallerroads—manyarenarrow,flankedbylittle
ditches that lure inattentive drivers. I've met several readers who “ditched” their cars (and
had to be pulled out by local farmers).
• On autoroutes, keep to the right lanes to let fast drivers by, and be careful when
merging into a left lane, as cars can be coming at very high speeds. Cars and trucks keep
their left blinker on while in a passing lane, indicating that they plan to get back over to
the right.
• Motorcycles will scream between cars in traffic. Be ready—they expect you to
make space so that they can pass.
• Fuel is tricky to find in rural areas on Sunday, so fill up on Saturday and avoid
automated stations unless you have a chip-and-PIN credit card. Autoroute filling stations
are always open and always staffed.
• Keep a stash of coins in your ashtray for parking and small autoroute tolls.
You'llfindareasinFrancewherepublictransportationislimitedandbicycletouringmight
be a good idea. For many, biking is a romantic notion whose novelty wears off after the
