Originally Posted by Alexlebrit (Post 220164)

Whether you get a sat nav or not I'd still buy a Michelin map like this one at AMAZON.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but maps (used with or without Satnavs) give you the flexibility to see what's around you and pick places to go see, whereas Satnavs due to their restricted screen size if nothing else, tend to show you how to get to where you think you want to go to ONCE you've picked the places.

Also European road signs are really quite good, almost all roads are clearly numbered, and if you're lost in a village it's far easier to go into the bakers with a map to find out directions, than it is with a Satnav.

Oh and it's about 90 quid cheaper.

Originally Posted by Monsieur-to-go (Post 220183)

My kids are in their teens now but when they were the age of yours we spent a lot of time touring by using eurocamp sites. Their tents are very well equiped and most sites have excellent facilities for young kids. You can also book different sites on different nights in different countries.

Just my tuppence worth

Originally Posted by Alexlebrit (Post 222874)

Michelin maps: Yes, they're updated each year, the scenic routes are marked with a green border down the side of the road, and major rest areas on the auto-routes/dual carriageways are marked. Watch out though as an "Aire de repos" just means a place to stop, with a loo and maybe a little tourist info area, there's no restaurant, but there are picnic areas. That said autoroutes do also have British style motorways services, but to be honest unless you must, there's no reason to eat there, they'll be more expensive and the food won't be as good.

Good cheap food: the thing to do is come off the motorway and look for the place surrounded by trucks. ALL French truckers think of themselves as gastronauts, and so actively seek out the good cheap places to eat, and of course they all have CBs so they let each other know very quickly if standards have slipped.

Petrol stations: yes there's loads, just like the UK, and just like the UK supermarket prices are usually cheaper. BUT, aside from petrol stations on the autoroutes most of the others will be shut outside normal trading hours (so nothing after 6 pm and nothing on Sundays). The pumps take a credit card, and most chip and pin cards will work, but NOT ALL. One way to check is to go to a big supermarket petrol station, and choose the 24/24 pump. Try your card to see if it works, if not then just drive round again and go to the normal pumps.

Have a look at Viamichelin it's a route planning website, but so much more. It uses the Michelin maps so you can see what they look like, it gives you a choice of different types of route (quickest, most economical, recommended by Michelin, scenic), it'll give you places of interest, places to stay, and places to eat AND you can import all that into some satnavs (they even sell satnavs). For a European trip like yours I'd say it's the best thing to look at.

Originally Posted by Monsieur-to-go (Post 220183)

My kids are in their teens now but when they were the age of yours we spent a lot of time touring by using eurocamp sites. Their tents are very well equiped and most sites have excellent facilities for young kids. You can also book different sites on different nights in different countries.

Just my tuppence worth