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www.AuvergneHolidayCottage.com
- Advice & Notes
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Crossings: for competitive
rates on crossings, insurance and stopover hotels, search
the web or contact Chez Nous on 01484 684075 (reference
n° X 3701 for
2009).
Insurance: we strongly
advise holiday insurance (including cancellation cover)
for both people and cars. You may
have to cancel your entire holiday, or your
car might break down, which apart from the inconvenience, can be expensive to
transport it and you home. Policies from ferry companies, AA, RAC, holiday operators,
insurance brokers, etc.. Cover and premiums vary. For a car and two adults abroad
for 2 weeks Chez Nous Travel Service (phone 01484 684075) quote about £60
with Europ Assistance.
Health: From 1 January 2006 the E111 form
has been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card available from Post Offices,
in case you need to visit a doctor. |
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Useful
maps which are available in the UK:
Useful maps which are available in the UK:
Michelin 989 FRANCE 1cm:10km Carte Routière et Touristique, red cover.
Michelin 911 FRANCE, blue cover; driving times, distances, routes + useful info.
Michelin 237 Ile-de-France, yellow cover; handy near Paris.
Michelin 239 Auvergne, yellow cover; our area.
The best local maps are the TOP 25 series published by IGN
2432 ET Massif du Sancy covers the area north of here
2434 OT Riom-ès-Montagnes/Bort-les-Orgues covers Condat and to the west
2534 OT Monts du Cezallier covers La Borie, Condat and to the east
2435 OT Monts du Cantal covers the area south of here.
For walkers dreaming, IGN 903 (Grande Randonné) shows France's superb
network of long distance footpaths - a fascinating map with no British equivalent.
Driving from Le Havre is 430 miles by the autoroutes, 6½ hours behind
the wheel. Calais is 490 miles (about 8 hours driving, depending on traffic).
Shorter in miles, the cross country route from Le Havre takes 10 hours or more. |
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Winter
visitors: roads are
cleared of snow with impressive efficiency, however while
it is snowing and just afterwards, snow chains can be
helpful and are
sometimes compulsory on the high pass between here and Clermont and to go
up to the ski slopes. Between Christmas and March, we recommend you buy chains
or hire them from the AA, etc.. You can get them in France, but it may not
be wise to leave it until Besse in case dozens of other people have too!
Ring us for a weather report of you’re travelling between October and
April - you should also bring sun screen, even in winter.
Petrol is similar in price to the UK, diesel is less. Cheapest in supermarkets,
dearest on autoroutes, the difference can be £5 a tank-full. Newer card-operated
pumps now take foreign cards.
Péage tolls are about £8 Caen-Paris and £20 Paris-Clermont;
signs before the barriers tell you the toll (unless you have a ticket). The right
change to throw in the automatic machine makes you look like an expert and can
be a lot quicker than a manned booth. You can also pay by card & no not have
to enter a PIN number.
Motorway services: the Aire des Volcans d’Auvergne is a good service area,
selling a wide and interesting range of local produce. There is also a cash machine
(ATM).
Shopping: things shut from 12 to 2 for lunch. Big supermarkets (Hypermarchés)
may stay open and are signposted at the outskirts of towns (Leclerc, Auchan,
Carrefour, Continent, Intermarché). Supermarkets rarely open on a Sunday.
The Simply supermarket (an Auchan subsidiary) before the 2nd roundabout at Besse
is very handy; fuel, good wine selection, all you're likely to need.
Weekends: Food shops in Condat are open to 7 p.m. on a Saturday and to midday
on Sunday.
Apart from motorway services, virtually no shops are open on a Sunday afternoon.
Drink prices, especially for wine, can be more on the ferries than in supermarkets
but on-board spirits are stronger (e.g. branded gin in the UK is 33%, in France
37%, duty free 47%).
Mobile phones work more widely than before but cover in the mountains remains
patchy. All our houses have traditional phones. |
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