7 ways to plan for strikes, traffic jams and speed cameras on the French Riviera

France loves strikes and industrial action.  Fact.  And not so conveniently for tourists to the French Riviera, many strikes fall on bank holidays and/or during vacances scolaires (school holidays).

The month of May crosses over printemps vacances (spring holidays) plus 4 bank holidays and major Riviera events including Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix – perfect conditions for unions to capitalise on huge movements of people.

Be prepared

If you are travelling by train, airplane, bus, car it pays to be aware that there can be frequent strikes by French transport workers so check ahead if you can to save yourself time, money and frustration.

Another thing to note is that public transport has reduced schedules on bank holidays, so allow extra time for travelling and double-check attractions or activities will be open.

Vocabulary related to French strikes and travel disruptions

Grève / un movement social = strike / industrial action

Perturbation = disruption

Retard = delay

Bouchon / Embouteillage = traffic jam

Éboulement = road block due to collapse (e.g. cliff, rockfall). Also effrondrement (block due to collapse/subsidence) and coulée de boue (mudslip)

Réfection de la chaussée = repairing road surface

Supprimer/annulation = to cancel / cancellation

My recommended 7 websites for travel planning for strikes, traffic jams and speed cameras

Please note, I’m sharing these weblinks for information purposes only.  I appreciate that finding information on French strikes in English is difficult but don’t shoot the messenger – I don’t own or update any of these sites myself!

1.   Bison Futé is a French website detailing major road works, main closures or highway disruptions. They have a calendar of peak travel congestion (handy for travel planning during French school holidays which have different dates according to regions), and regular updates by department (area) in France.  In my opinion, this website is essential for any car journeys through France.  http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/

Bison Futé is useful for journey planning in France

2.   Train updates from SNCF (French national rail) including line works and strikes. http://www.infolignes.com/previsions.php?zoneId=3&zoneName=Sud-Est

3.   Useful local news website with links to updates on bus strikes.  http://www.nicematin.com/t/Ligne-d’Azur

4.   A great website initiative from Penny Ciocchi for global transport strikes. Very helpful for advice regarding strikes at Nice Airport including strikes by air traffic controllers and ground workers. Also, covers Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris Metro. www.easytravelreport.com

5.   French air traffic controller strike updates; if you need up-to-date info these are my go-to sites:

– Official site for the ATC union (Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien) http://www.sncta.fr/

– www.eurocontrol.int (The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation)

– http://dsnado.canalblog.com/ (DSNA – Direction des Opérations – bilingual information about air traffic situation)

– https://www.public.nm.eurocontrol.int/PUBPORTAL/gateway/spec/index.html (NOP Network Operations Portal – read their Headline News for strike updates and check flight status under ‘Flights’)

(French air traffic controller strikes – image: DailyMotion)

6.   Map and information on the location of speed cameras in the French Riviera region. Also, covers other areas in France.  http://english.controleradar.org/provence-riviera-speed-cameras.php

7.   One of my favourite sites for estimated driving times and costs – particularly good for fuel estimates and costs of tolls in France.  Add 10%-15% time buffer to the travel times given as does not take into account stopping at traffic lights, major congestion etc www.viamichelin.com

Italian transport strikes

I’m including links to some Italian strike sites too as many visitors to the French Riviera combine trips to Italy:

1.   Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport (note: the Italian word for strike is sciopero) http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/site.php

2.   Blog site with Italian strike updates http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/italy_transport_strikes/

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Disclaimer:  Access Riviera strives to give current and accurate information, however bear in mind that strikes can be cancelled or shifted without notice. The information above is provided on an “as is” basis, and your use of this information is at your own risk. We can not assume any kind of liability for any damage, loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from any information published on this page or from any kind of changes, such as scheduled times, cancellations etc., mentioned or not on this page. We encourage you to verify any strike information that might interfere with your travel plans with your ticket office, airline or with your transport operator.

Tips for hiring a rental car on the French Riviera

The French Riviera is a great driving destination with panoramic look outs, walled medieval villages, coastal towns and some particularly scenic driving routes.

The French Riviera offers scenic driving – Villefrance sur Mer, Beaulieu port, Eze village, L’Esterels

I’m often asked for advice about transport options on the French Riviera – mainly trains, buses and airport transfers – however, I thought it was due time I write a dedicated blog post about hiring a rental car on the French Riviera.

Rental car companies and contracts are a minefield of jargon and exclusions, so after many previous years of selling rental car policies for Europe plus personal experience here are some tried-and-tested tips that will save you time, money and stress.

You’ve landed in France – bienvenue! – and are heading to collect your rental car from the depot.

What’s next?

Here are my ‘Tips for hiring a rental car on the French Riviera’:

Two major considerations when hiring a rental car in France are that:

(1) French rental fleets don’t have vehicles you may be used to with ample passenger room and luggage storage

and

(2) French rental car companies guarantee bookings by category, not make or model. Bear this in mind so don’t get too attached to the specific make or model on your booking as the words ‘or similar’ are added to cover all vehicles in the category.

Collect your rental car when well rested and refreshed

My number one tip is to pick up your hire car when you are well rested and refreshed. Too many tourists arrive straight off a long-haul flight and go straight to the rental depot to collect their hire car before a lengthy road journey.

The French Riviera road network includes busy highways and some treacherous winding roads, especially the Corniche roads heading to Monaco, alpine roads to Sospel and back roads around the River Loup.

Road near the Pont du Loup

Driving while excessively over-tired is comparable to driving drunk – your concentration waivers and you are a danger to other road users, especially if it is your first time driving in Europe. If you can, rest prior to collecting your hire car.

Premium rental locations

Bear in mind that picking up a rental car at an airport or train station means you’ll pay a bit more for your rental. In France, it adds around €40 to your rental cost. If you can collect your rental car at a location not based at the airport or a train station this may save you money.

Identification

It is standard for French rental companies to take I.D copies from all renters. This is often your passport if you are not a French national, or driver’s license. Arrange an International Drivers Permit prior to arriving in France if you are not an EU member; it doesn’t replace your actual license it is merely a translation to accompany it.

Transmission

If you want a car with automatic transmission, book in advance. Most European rental fleets have cars with manual (stick shift) transmission, and particularly in peak seasons cars with automatic transmission are booked quickly.

Car make and model

Try to understand that you won’t see 4WD Range Rovers, or Jeep Cherokees at most French depots.  European rental fleets just don’t have the extensive car range with huge luggage storage and passenger room.

The cheaper car classes will most likely be Fiat Punto, VW Polo/Golf, Peugeot 308, Opel Astra/Vectra. You can rent Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8’s and BMW 7-Series but rental rates are much higher.

Compact car classes

Where can you go?

Check the geographic restrictions with your rental car company on where you can take your rental car. If you intend to travel to Eastern Europe, rentals are usually much higher cost and some luxury cars can not be taken to Italy at all.

If you intend to pick up your car in one French city, for example Nice, and drop it off at another city in France, for example Lyon, you usually don’t have to pay one-way fees because you are in the same country (do check though with your specific rental company!). However, you will pay one-way fees if you drop the car off in another country and it can be pricey.

Pre-hire inspection report

It’s crucial that you obtain a pre-hire inspection of your rental car while you are present.

You will understand after traveling in France that minor vehicle damage is common – broken wing mirrors, small dents etc.   Something deemed a minor repair in your home country could be costly in France such as dings in your side door or cosmetic paint repairs.

Don’t skip this step – especially at the airport rental depots during peak times the staff may be unwilling to assist you due to lots of customers, but for peace of mind it’s important you aren’t stuck for the previous renter’s damage.

Driver support

Find out exactly what the rental company offers you as driver support – breakdown assistance, replacement vehicles etc

Try to book a rental company that has an English-speaking contact centre (unless of course, you speak fluent French).

It’s vital to know that many small owner-operated rental companies compete fiercely with the global brands on price, however they often do not have English-speaking contact centres – which may create issues for you if you break down in rural Provence or the high country of the Riviera Alps and need a replacement car.

Generally speaking, the bigger global brands Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Thrifty and Sixt have English-speaking staff.

Rental hours

Be wary of pick-up and drop-off times – this is France and you’ll find depots closed in the middle of the day (often between 12:00 and 13:30), after hours, weekends or bank holidays. Check and double check the depot hours. If you bring the car back late you will be charged for an extra day’s rental.

Fuel up

It may seem a simple thing but check if your car is a petrol or diesel vehicle; there’s always a chance you have been given a diesel car and the rental company omits to tell you.

Always take the opportunity to fuel up on long journeys as fuel stations may be limited in rural areas.

Often, fuel stations that operate adjacent to supermarkets – for example, Casino brand supermarkets – offer slightly lower fuel prices than the prices you find at the stations along the French autoroutes / highways.

To see the price of fuel in France, you can visit the government website Prix des Carburants en France and search by area to see all petrol stations and the current price per litre.

Refuel your car before returning it to the depot. If your fuel tank is not topped up, the fuel price per litre to refuel from the rental company is always inflated, plus they add a refuelling charge. Get a fuel receipt in case there are any post-rental fuel charges that you might need to dispute.

Extras

If you require baby car seats, booster seats, GPS systems book these in advance. In peak Riviera tourist season, especially the months of June through to August these can’t be guaranteed if you walk into a depot.

Also, check if your credit card covers you for CDW/theft insurance – many rental car companies will try to sell you additional CDW/theft insurance which incurs big deductibles in the event of an incident but you may already be covered for free by your home country credit card company so it pays to check if you have coverage for France and/or Europe.

If you are covered by your credit card, make sure you sign this on your French rental contract ‘I decline CDW, LDW, Theft insurance (and your signature)’. You can also request a copy of your contract in English; it’s not compulsory for French companies to provide this but you are entitled to one. 

My Top Tip! If the French rental car company asks at the depot if you want to be billed for extras in Direct Currency Conversion (DCC), decline. This is a useless service whereby if you have a non-European credit card it converts your French rental charges to US dollars, Australian dollars, New Zealand dollars etc (whatever your home country currency is). The DCC rate favours the rental company, not you, so decline the conversion and ask to be billed in euros.

Tolls on French roads

French highways are well maintained and you’re likely to encounter péages (tolls). Try to take coins and small notes with you in your car as sometimes the card machines can be fickle with non-French issued credit cards.

French péages (tolls) are frequent along the autoroutes

For French Riviera toll prices, go to http://www.vinci-autoroutes.com/fr/page/tarifs to download the pricing guide (most standard cars are Classe 1).

For longer driving distances, one of my favourite websites to estimate driving times, fuel estimates and toll costs in France is www.viamichelin.com  Note: Add 10%-15% time buffer to the travel times given as does not take into account stopping at traffic lights, major congestion etc

Rental discounts

My Top Tip ! To see rental discounts for France and the French Riviera, head to www.zalyn.com where you can enter a date range and origin (for example, 21 May to 28 May and Nice) to receive details of special discounts and offers from rental car companies.

DRIVING TIPS

Many tourists arrive in France and have never driven on European roads before. It is definitely an experience!   Here are some driving tips:

Left lane / right lane

The left lane is for the fastest drivers, and if you can’t keep pace you should move to the right lane. If you sit in the fast lane, you will experience other cars tailgating you right on your bumper, flashing their headlights and blowing their horn.

Rarely will these cars pass you using the right lane, so keep up your speed or move to the right lane otherwise you may be in for an unenjoyable road journey.

Speed

One of the biggest dangers on French highways is the difference in speed between lanes.

If there are only two lanes, the left lane will have vehicles traveling much faster than the vehicles in the right lane which are often large trucks or motorhomes.

Adjust your speed for other traffic and bear in mind that driving like this requires high levels of concentration so make frequent rest breaks as you will get tired. French highways are well set up with rest stops, restaurants and fuel stations.

Know the road rules to avoid traffic infringements

Just because you are driving in an unfamiliar country, it doesn’t mean you should relax your standard of driving. It pays to learn the road rules of the country you are driving in.

Rental car drivers are increasingly being served traffic infringements for driving in restricted zones, speeding, failure to stop at red lights, parking in ‘no-parking’ zones or tailgating.

Parking forbidden

Your credit card may be charged weeks or months later after your trip – it will be a non-waivable administration fee that the rental car company charges in lieu of providing your details to the police to issue the traffic infringement notice. Unfortunately, you agreed to the charge when you signed the rental contract so the traffic infringement will stand.

Traffic jams / speed cameras

For French road information including traffic conditions, road closures, webcams and regional toll costs (tarifs de péage) go to http://www.vinci-autoroutes.com/

Another useful French website detailing major road works, main closures or highway disruptions is http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/  They have a calendar of peak travel congestion (handy for travel planning during French school holidays which have different dates according to regions), and regular updates by department (area) in France.

Bison Futé is useful for journey planning if traveling on French roads

For maps and information on the location of speed cameras in the French Riviera region (Alpes-Maritimes) visit http://english.controleradar.org/provence-riviera-speed-cameras.php   The site also covers other French regions.

Please share this post on Facebook or Twitter if you have found it useful – thank you!

Image credits: Metropole Nice, Le Stuff, Europcar, Volkwagen, Goodfon, La Peche, Vinci Autoroutes, signals.fr, Bison Futé

 

5 Must-Know Things Batman Can Teach You About Family Travel

1. Choose a Sidekick – something or someone to back you up in tough times

Batman has Robin to back him up in tough times.

Batman and his sidekick Robin (image: comicsalliance)

Here are Access Riviera’s tips for getting the best from your back-up plan:

Travel tech

Use a private window when booking flights online so airfare search engines don’t remember you and bump up prices.

If you forget your USB plug, charge devices through the USB on a television.

Try sites such as www.free-hotspot.com to locate hotspots, and services such as Tunnelbear, ComfortWay or Tep Wireless when travelling.

Apps

GateGuru is an awesome app that gives information on airport facilities, security line wait lines and flight delays.

(image: Gate Guru)

Use TripIt or TripCase to consolidate your itineraries..  I still take hard copes of my itineraries with me (I know!), but these apps are helpful so you can still access all your itinerary information when you are without internet.

TrailWallet for expense tracking and budgeting help with your travel costs.

I’d be lying if I said translation apps are a waste of time. I highly recommend TripLingo – it has basic survival phrases, flash card lessons for language learning, a slang tool, a tip calculator, currency convertor and cultural tips.

(image: TripLingo)

Another one of my favourites – Word Lens – for translating signs, has transitioned over to Google Translate. There’s still a few hiccups with the voice recognition translation, and also some formats (it doesn’t recognise handwritten text) but it’s still handy to have.

Offline tips

Turn your phone to airplane mode and turn off data to use GPS without internet. Load up your Google map before leaving your accommodation and you can use it to navigate at your destination. To use Google maps offline, type ‘OK Maps’ and the visible area will save for future reference.

Sometimes if you’re at a location (e.g a cafeteria) with free Wifi, they can be annoyed if you don’t purchase something. I usually buy a coffee at a minimum out of courtesy, but if you’re really on a budget sometimes a location’s Wifi password may be on FourSquare.

2.  Source advice – research all the information you need, or have someone available who knows already

Batman has Alfred Pennyworth for advice.

There are many options you can use yourself to source advice prior to a trip with your family:

• Forums such as Virtual Tourist, Lonely Planet, Frommers and Fodors are helpful for destination advice
• Internet reviews for specific companies using Trustpilot for reviews
• Social media channels showcase cool new products and keep you updated with travel blogs
• TripAdvisor is user-friendly for destination-specific reviews. I like TripAdvisor because you get a broad spectrum of reviewers from across the globe
• Travel agents and tourist boards

Reference websites such as:

– Wanderant is an easy-to-use trip planner for help creating custom itineraries and suggestions on things to do at each destination

(image: Wanderant)

– excuseme-whereis.com is super useful if you’re travelling to Paris, south-eastern France or major cities in Italy. It gives good information about location of public toilets, supermarkets, post offices etc

– WikiVoyage for directions and destination information

– PlanMy.Travel and LocalFu use local experts and travellers who have ‘been there done that’ for customised itineraries (pay option)

– Komoot is an Android app for cycling/hiking in Europe

– www.travelbydrone.com is a fun (and addictive!) website with drone-videos at global locations so you can check out your destination before you get there

A few other mentions: Detour for audio guides around the Bay area (eastern USA), TravelSmart for handy information about making the most of Metropolitan Vancouver via cycle, carpooling, public transport

3. Being anonymous is OK too

We all know Batman’s true identity is Bruce Wayne, his comfort zone for anonymity.

Don’t feel the need to put yourself on show to family and friends with constant photo posts to Instagram, or status updates and tweets about every moment of your trip.

Go offline from Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest/Twitter/emails/Skype/technology and enjoy the experience of your destination.

4.  Be prepared for sticky situations

Batman’s ready for signs of trouble, and he gets prompted from the Bat signal when there’s a sticky situation.

The Bat signal lets Batman know when there’s signs of trouble (image: comicsalliance)

Unfortunately, I don’t have a patent for a global Bat signal but I have more tips to prepare for sticky situations you may encounter:

Copy important travel documents

Make photocopies of your passport, itinerary, and any other important documents and store them in a different location than the originals in case the originals are stolen.   I have an extra hard copy in my luggage, and also a scanned copy of everything on a USB memory stick.

(image: notonthehighstreet.com)

Medical

Research a country’s prohibited items rules prior to travel, and take a copy of your doctor’s prescription if you travel with medications (I’m asthmatic and while preventative inhalers are usually permitted as a drug at most airports, don’t assume your own medication will be accepted as legal in another country).

If you have any food allergies or intolerances, print out translations of foods to give to local restaurants or research companies that sell dining cards online. If you have a dairy intolerance and are visiting France, print out this handy translation in French https://www.brokerfish.com/food-allergy-translation-cards/dairy-French

Triumph Dining has dining cards for gluten-free travellers that cover ten languages.

Travel insurance

Always buy travel insurance. Look at benefits, and policy inclusions and exclusions, not just the initial cost.

Working in the travel industry for over 10 years, I have heard good and bad stories of choosing to buy travel insurance or not. Good = A colleague purchased travel insurance and ended up with altitude sickness in Kathmandu, medical costs were well over $100K. Bad = A family went on an island holiday to Fiji, one of the children received a nasty coral cut which resulted in infection and eventuated in surgery and a lengthy hospital stay costing them thousands of dollars in medical treatment. Cost of a policy that would have prevented this: $120

Change of clothes and basic essentials

Ever since I lost a large suitcase after an international flight, I now carry a spare change of clothes and basic essentials (toothbrush & paste, deodorant, moisturiser) in my carry-on bag so at least I can feel human until my stuff is found (P.S. my suitcase was returned to me within 3 hours, thank you Air France).

A backpack is handy for hands-free travelling (image: Amazon)

If you’re traveling with kids, carry extra food and diapers to allow for delays and a change of clothes for your kids and yourself – I’ll never forget the poor man who half an hour into a 13-hour flight was covered in his baby’s vomit….the smell lingered that’s for sure. I usually travel with my carry-on as a backpack if I travel with my son so I have my hands free.

Extra food

Taking extra snacks or food can counteract the limited variety in train station vending machines, or overpriced airport food. I’ve fallen into the ‘no food’ trap before and paid the princely sum of €90 for 2 lunches and snacks at Singapore Airport.

I have beaten off my son’s hunger many times by taking extra food on my travels – snacks such as dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, cereal bars. Parents need to be aware there may not be any options to heat food or baby bottles on delays.

Cereal bars are great for snacks on flights

Also, be aware of customs regulations for food when entering different countries – France doesn’t permit you taking any meat from wild animals on-board so leave that deer carpaccio at home. Every country has different rules – Did you know you can’t take fresh fruit or raw unroasted nuts into Australia (without an Import Permit)?

Variety of payment methods

It pays (excuse the pun) to have a variety of options to pay for items when you travel. Credit and debit cards, cash, travellers cheques, money cards.

In France, I have found many tourists have had problems with ticket machines not reading their foreign-issued credit cards so take coins for ticket machines. Most towns (and certainly the main cities) all have banks and ATM’s, though currency exchange providers are usually only found in more populated areas.

Don’t wear a visible money belt (fanny pack) when you travel – that is a sure-fire advertisement for theft ‘Hey look at my bag containing money, passport and other valuables!’.

Local delays

If you are travelling in France, check out Bisonfute for traffic delays, www.easytravelreport.com for transport strikes, and ViaMichelin for traffic conditions and toll costs.

Learn a few phrases in the local language

It’s not essential, but it’s helpful to learn a few polite greetings or relevant phrases to your situation (car hire, child-related terms, transport and accommodation queries).

5.  Use what you have to your best advantage

Batman is well versed in utilising the Batmobile and his bat tools to best advantage.

Family travel is no different – there are ways you can use what you already have to maximise your holiday experience.

Family discounts

Take advantage of group or family discounts on entry admissions for attractions, restaurant deals (buy one adult meal, get one kids meal free) and transport tickets. A useful one to know for the French Riviera is the ‘Pass Isabelle Famille’ that costs €35 for one days unlimited train travel along the French Riviera for 2 adults and 2 children under 16 years of age; you purchase them at the train station counters or online via TER SNCF website under ‘offres’ and ‘cartes/abonnements’.

Flying with kids

Make use of night-flights to capitalise on usual bedtimes, and burn off all their extra energy at airport playgrounds. Parenting.com has a great list of family-friendly information at lots of global airports,  read more in their link here http://www.parenting.com/article/fun-things-to-do-at-the-major-airports and you can read all about Nice Airport here 

Not keen on paying for expensive Wifi at airports? Get free Wifi at airports but adding /?.jpg or &.jpg to the end of any URL (for networks that allow images to download without redirecting).

Whoever thought of fast-track queues for families for airport processing is a genius. G-E-N-I-U-S. The last thing you want is to queue behind 500 people at security/immigration with an over- tired toddler who’s barely slept on a 12-hour long-haul flight. Didn’t happen to me, honest 🙂

Nice Airport is a ‘Famille Plus’ airport with dedicated family security lines (image: Nice Airport)

What are your own ‘super-hero’ tips for family travel? Comment below, drop me a line via facebook.com/accessriviera or tweet your tips to me @accessriviera

 

 

TRANSPORT – Strikes / traffic jams / speed cameras on the Cote d’Azur

Yesterday, I had planned to visit a local festival however I made a big mistake and forgot to check the train timetables and updates before we left home.  We arrived at the station and found that only one in every four trains were still scheduled.

Our train was delayed 45 minutes, then subsequently cancelled, and the next train was another 1 hour wait.  Our plans were quickly scuppered, not to mention our patience.

If you are traveling by bus, train, airplane, car it pays to be aware that there can be frequent strikes by French transport workers so check ahead if you can to save yourself time, money and frustration.  Another thing to note is that public transport has reduced schedules on bank holidays, so allow extra time for traveling and double-check attractions or activities will be open.

A few words you may see related to strikes and travel disruptions:

Grève / un movement social = strike / industrial action

Perturbation = disruption

Retard = delay

Bouchon / Embouteillage = traffic jam

Éboulement = road block due to collapse (e.g. cliff, rockfall). Also effrondrement (block due to collapse/subsidence) and coulée de boue (mudslip)

Réfection de la chaussée = repairing road surface

Supprimer/annulation = to cancel / cancellation

Here are some sites you may find helpful for travel planning on the Cote d’Azur (French Riviera):

– http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/   A French website detailing major road works, main closures or highway disruptions. They have a calendar of peak travel congestion (handy for travel planning during French school holidays which have different dates according to regions), and regular updates by department (area) in France.

image courtesy of Bison Fute government site

– http://www.infolignes.com/previsions.php?zoneId=3&zoneName=Sud-Est  Train updates from SNCF (French national rail) including line works and strikes.

– http://www.nicematin.com/t/Ligne-d’Azur  Useful local news website with links to updates on bus strikes.

– www.easytravelreport.com  A great website initiative from Penny Ciocchi for global transport strikes. Very helpful for advice regarding strikes at Nice Airport including strikes by air traffic controllers and ground workers. Also, covers Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris metro.

– http://english.controleradar.org/provence-riviera-speed-cameras.php  Map and information on the location of speed cameras in the region.

– www.viamichelin.com One of my favourite sites for estimated driving times and costs – particularly good for fuel estimates and costs of tolls in France.  Add 10%-15% time buffer to the travel times given as does not take into account stopping at traffic lights, major congestion etc

I hope these links will help you during your visits to this region.  If you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear them.