Wish

iTrader: (2)

Off to France and want to know should I fill up the wife's X3 Diesel here or over there when I get out the tunnel ??

What are the fuel prices like over the water???


Cheers

Clarebabes

Diesel is cheaper over there anyway so I would fill up over there. Wait for a non-motorway service station if possible - supermarkets could be a good bet if you can find one which will accept our payment cards.

nik52wrx

Cheaper over there. Not many places more expensive than our great country.
Cheap wine as well

dpb

umm over there


unless youve other some other reason for linning gordos pockets ?

Clarebabes

But remember to buy in supermarkets away from the port. I bought 3 bottles of Rose for 1.25 euros. Thought it would be pish, but it wasn't!

dpb

L'clerc accepted my credit card on the way out and on the way back before getting on the ferry on a sunday (unmanned) it wouldnt have it - but it would take my bank debit card

Clarebabes

This is what I meant. They're fussy buggers!

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Ive got Mastercard and Amex ... I will be alright with them wont I?
I wasnt planning on taking any paper money with me

MattW

Diesel in the UK is the most expensive in the world.

STi-Frenchie

Your Mastercard will be accepted at most places. Not too sure about the Amex at supermarket filling stations. Cash on the other hand, is accepted everywhere and is necessary for those on the spot speeding fines

scoob_babe

Always had problems with Amex in France.
We've had the odd issue with chip and pin cards in that we've had to sign at the kiosk on the way out but no probs with pay at the pump.
Supermarkets are way cheaper than the normal petrol stations, even motorway services are cheaper than our normal petrol stations too!

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Good stuff, I will get the car to france on fumes then fill up there !

Ms Gooner 1

We're going to do some driving in France in July! Hadn't given the cards a thought - do they take Visa?

STi-Frenchie

Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. You shouldn't have any problems with either of them. Enjoy the roads, you'll love driving on them if you haven't done so before!

Lee247

I've never had a problem with Visa or Mastercard in France. As for the fuel, we fill up at Dover, on the Company
And yes, fuel is much cheaper in France, but then again, isn't everywhere cheaper than here

Ms Gooner 1

No, never been to France - we're going over on the Friday as the Essex Scooby Crew are going out for a day trip on the Saturday - visiting Le Touquet (I think I've spelt that right). We're then going to leave them and drive down to Cannes and spend a few nights there before driving back up, overnight in Paris and then back to Calais.
Don't have a clue about driving abroad - never done it at all.
Anyone no of any web sites I can pick up some pointers??
Thanks for the heads-up on the Visa though

OllyK

Other than remembering to drive on the other side of the road, there isn't much to it. Going round roundabouts the wrong way takes a little getting used to. Also IIRC France has some odd customs in towns about giving way to vehicles approaching from the right.

dpb

just avoid Paris on a friday afternoon

youlll be fine

STi-Frenchie

There are quite a few good threads on here about driving on the continent. You might want to see if you can dig up the Stelvio thread as the issue of driving through small villages where priority is given to people coming from the right is discussed. Could save you a whole load of grief if you are aware of the dangers.

Ray T

Also don't get caught short of fuel on a sunday, most rural petrol stations just seem to be the auto pumps, last summer between me and the GF we must have tried 8 different cards mastercard, visa, debit in 3 different stations, were getting a bit low before we found a manned one, of course no problems on the autoroutes (as long as you have enough juice to get to one!).

ray t