Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

Driving in France 21

XF Saloon or a Range Rover Vogue out. If you return the vehicle less
DIRECTORY
from Europcar. clean than you found it, you may be
To hire a vehicle in France, you charged up to €100 for cleaning. CARAVANS AND
must be over 20 years old and MOTORHOMES/RVS
(usually) under 70, and have held a Maps
Aires de Service
full licence for more than a year. Your In this guide, each drive has a
www.campingcar-infos.com
hire policy should include Collision detailed itinerary map with the drive
Caravan Club
Damage Waiver and Theft Protection, route and the sights clearly marked.
0800 328 6635 (UK);
as well as unlimited mileage. Any Each suggested walk has a map as
www.caravanclub.co.uk
extras, such as child seats, SatNav well. There is also a pull-out sheet
RV Club
(GPS) or snow chains, should be map covering the entire country.
www.rvclub.com
booked in advance. If you are uneasy It is advisable to carry a road atlas.
about left-hand driving you may The two most useful series of maps CAR AND MOTORHOME/RV
wish to consider hiring a vehicle with are Michelin and IGN. The Michelin HIRE
auto matic transmission. map, covering the whole of France at Autos Abroad
You will need to produce your a scale of 1:1,000,000, is good for 0845 029 1945; www.autosabroad.com
passport, driver’s licence and a credit planning your trip – look for the Drivetravel
card (an impression will be taken as a distinctive red cover. The excellent www.drivetravel.com
security deposit) when you collect Michelin road atlas has generously Europcar
the vehicle. It will normally be overlapping maps at a scale of 0825 358 358; www.europcar.fr
supplied with a full tank of petrol, 1:200,000 and is the best map for
MAPS
and it is cheapest for you to return it driving currently available. Individual
IGN
refilled, or you will be charged at a regional maps, with yellow covers,
www.ign.fr
high rate. When you collect the are available at the same scale. IGN
vehicle, check it against the (Institut Géographique National) has Michelin
www.viamichelin.com
paperwork supplied for dents, its own set of maps, with scales
scratches or other damage. varying from 1:250,000 down to
If you are renting a motorhome/RV, invaluable, detailed maps for walkers
you may well be shown a video on at 1:25,000, recog nizable by their Above left Road sign for camping and
its operation and facilities while your turquoise blue covers. caravans Above right Motorcyclist in Le Faou,
paperwork is being completed. You Espace IGN, just off the Champs- Bretagne Below far left Camper-jeep in
should also be shown around inside Élysées in Paris, is a haven for map Corsica Below left Caravan in Pourville,
and out. Take time to check that lovers. All newsagents and petrol Haute-Normandie Below middle Parking
interior facilities are in good con- stations in France stock the more sign for caravans Below right Caravans in a
dition, and working, before you set commonly used maps. camp site, Basse-Normandie