Page 22 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

20 BACK ROADS FRANCE

Caravans and
Motorhomes/RVs
When crossing to France by ferry, you
will need to ensure that your LPG
supply, meant for cooking, has been
turned off correctly. On Eurotunnel
the valves must be sealed and your
roof vents opened for safety.
Rules of the road and speed limits
are the same for caravans and RVs/
motorhomes as they are for cars
(see pp16–17). Outside of built-up Above Motorhome parked in a camp site
areas, outfits longer than 7 m (25 ft)
or heavier than 3.5 tonnes (4 US tons) Calor gas is unavailable in France, but Car and Motorhome/RV Hire
must leave more than 50 m (165 ft) Campingaz is easy to find. Popular All the major vehicle-hire companies
between them and the vehicle in brands include Primagaz, Butagaz operate in France. It is worth doing
front. They must also use only the and Totalgaz. A deposit is required an Internet search or ringing around
inner two lanes of roads with three for cylinders and you will need a before you leave home, as there are
or more lanes. regulator, as pressure varies widely. numerous special deals for rentals
France has a great many booked and prepaid in the UK and
well-equipped official campsites, Motorbikes USA and you can save as much as
both privately and municipally French rules of the road apply to 50 per cent. Autos Abroad is a very
owned, fully geared up for mobile bikers too, but there are extra things competitive broker for other com-
homes. Good sites in holiday regions to remember. Your headlamp must panies such as Europcar, Budget
fill up quickly at peak times so it is be on at all times, and helmets must and Alamo.
advisable to book ahead or arrive be worn by both driver and pillion. For car hire booked in combination
early. Voltage on most sites is 220 Filtering or lane splitting (riding with flights, your travel company can
volts, but can be less. Reverse between lanes) is tolerated, but if usually offer a good price. SNCF, the
polarity can occur (when the site’s you have an accident as a result it French national railway, offers com-
live line is connected to a mobile will be considered your fault. bined train and car-hire fares with
home’s neutral one), so check with a Almost all public parking garages convenient collection points at over
polarity tester before you connect are free for motorbikes (you can tell if 200 stations. Rail Europe (see p11)
and report any problem. the barrier is only three-quarter can provide details.
Sites called aires de service (or aires width). However, do not park in a car For non-EU residents planning to
de stationerment) also offer limited space. On a toll autoroute you will drive in France for a minimum of
facilities for mobile homes, such as need to go through a manned (as three weeks, the best option is the
fresh water and waste water disposal, opposed to credit card) lane to get short-term tax-free purchase-and-
electrical hook-ups (bournes) and the motorcycle discount. buy-back scheme (sometimes called
over night spaces. There may be a There is a great deal of biker TT leasing) offered by Citroën,
small charge for using these facilities. camaraderie in France, up to and Peugeot and Renault. Drivetravel
Caravan organizations, such as RV including the motorcycle gendarmes, has details and offers. They also offer
Club and Caravan Club, advise but do not take liberties, and always a range of mobile home/RV and
against using on-motorway aires for be courteous to fellow motorcyclists. motorcycle hire. For the ultimate
overnight stops, especially in the A greeting or a thank you is often convenience in luxury travel, hire a
south, as these are a target for thieves. marked by an outstretched foot. Mercedes-Benz CLS Coupés, a Jaguar