Car Hire in the Limousin France

We have travelled down by car a couple of times but it's a long slog from the North of England and you loose at least a day each way travelling plus the time it takes you to recover from the journey, a flight to Bellegarde airport and hiring a car is much easier.
In addition you have the costs of  fuel, tolls maps or sat-nav and possibly European breakdown cover. Flying and hiring a car has usually been the better option for us except when we needed to transport our possessions.

Do not plan a route half way across country direct from a to b as we once did. We passed through hundreds of villages were the speed limit was 50 kph and it took an eternity.

Look out for the toll roads on your map or route finder these cost but you can cover ground quickly.

 

Drive on Ferries

When we have to drive without pets we used Norfolk Line Ferries. We found them less crowded than other ferries  because they don't take foot traffic. This means you can actually get some rest during the crossing, unless like us you are too excited. The restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices. Their route is Dover to Dunkerque.

We also used Eurotunnel when we brought across the dogs and cat. This was because we were able to stay with them throughout the crossing. I don't know why the ferry companies don't seem to realise that people don't want to abandon their pets on a car deck. Yes we know car decks can be dangerous in a storm or rough sea's but they are infrequent and they could make the policy the exception not the rule, then more pet owners would use the ferries.

Channel Tunnel

 The check ins on the Chunnel  are automated and if you miss your check in time they will put you on the next available train. This means that unexpected delays due to traffic do not get you in a tiz. Once off the train in France you are more or less straight onto the motorway system so it is a good idea to have your route planned and your headlight adjusters, GB stickers etc sorted out. While you are waiting in the car park to drive onto the train put your headlight adjusters on as you are not allowed to stand in front of your car when it is on the train at all.

The service stations on the French motorways are fairly pleasant the food is certainly better than the ones in the UK.

The tolls are easy enough several have booths for right hand drive cars if you don't have a passenger to reach through the window for you. It is a bit chaotic as you pass through the barrier though and cross the no mans land where 10 booths merge into three lanes of traffic. Do not expect anyone to let you in if you are changing lanes or trying to get off a slip road though.