I will be driving in both Normandy and Provence, but not between them. Rick says in his books and DVDs to "buy good map when you get over there and study the key" to get around in Europe when driving. I wanted to ask if any of you have done that and if so, where do you find them and how does that work? Is it possible to buy a really good map of the area I will be driving in online? We leave for France on 9/14 and I thought I'd try to familiarize myself with the area before I get there if I can. Thanks. Jim
Posted by
OP
Slidell, LA
553 posts
Thank you all for your advice. I just found Michelin's Normandy and Provence maps on Amazon and bought them along with Rick's France map that details places shown in his guidebooks. Total coat, $28. I appreciate your suggestions. If anyone has experience in driving in either of these places please share them. I've never driven in France, but after driving in Scotland last fall I figured France couldn't be any more challenging than that. Thanks. Jim
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
You can probably find appropriate Michelin maps at a bookstore like Barnes & Noble.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7036 posts
Jim, I bought Michelin maps from B&N last year for both Normandy and Provence. You can buy them online from bn.com or amazon.com or at most book stores. They were invaluable for my driving tour of France.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7036 posts
For starters, France will be easier because you're on the 'right' side of the road - that's right as opposed to left, not right as opposed to wrong, don't want to annoy our British friends. I found driving in Normandy very easy, even with the maps I got turned around a couple of times, but that's part of the fun. Be prepared for tolls, but usually only on major highways. I kept a baggie of euro coins in my glove compartment but if you have a 'chip & pin' card you can go through the cc line. Provence was a little more challenging because most of the places I wanted to go involved smaller country roads, but they were still pretty well marked. I sometimes just forgot about the map and followed the town signs as that was sometimes easier. I did appreciate the good maps though because I didn't use a GPS - yes I survived w/o GPS. I was very careful about parking only where allowed and didn't have any problems, learn to read the no-parking signs (not to mention all of the road signs) as they can be confusing in the beginning. I really enjoyed driving in France. Hardest thing for me was getting used to km/hr instead of mph. That and the sticker shock at the gas prices, I thought I was prepared but $75-80 to fill a 10 gallon tank?! Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
Dallas
1021 posts
I agree with Nancy that a GPS isn't required. I drove in France and indeed all over Europe for a long time using paper maps and always got where I wanted to go. That said, a GPS is very useful at times. Getting into and out of a city or town can be stressful for both the navigator and the driver as street or road signs can be missed resulting in the need to figure out how to get back on track. A GPS all but eliminates that. Also, when driving narrow country roads occasionally the only road sign for an intersection can be hidden in the shade of a tree or behind overgrown bushes. You miss it and have to backtrack. With GPS that doesn't happen. So I suggest getting a GPS unit with European maps or a navigation app for your smartphone or tablet computer.