Well there's plenty of good dual-carriageways that aren't péages, but yes, I'm sure in a journey of that length, you'd probably end up paying a few tolls. All in all, as I say, not cheap, and only feasible with a few to share the cost.

As I say, a place worth avoiding... But I suppose if you took the Chunnel you'd just high-tail it out of the area.

Frankly, I feel sorry for the long-suffering citizens of Calais.

That is the future of Dover when the French tell us to remove our customs posts from their soil.

Another unconsidered result of Brexit? Maybe. I'm sure the French would love to 'export' the problem. You can hardly blame them.

Every time I check out the high speed train prices they always come back more expensive than flying. Once took the train years ago to a Great Britain/ France international in Perpignan. Stoped over enroute in Paris, very nice. Unfortunately Paris has become a criminal infested dump.

Whereas London...

Yesterday I was reading on a bikers forum about these 'moped gangs' in London (that's using the term 'moped' pretty loosely, they also use these new-type scooters). There was a fair bit of youtube footage too. And some stats on bike thefts there. It's just staggering. They have battery-powered angle grinders, cut through security chains, and they're away. One guy saw them stealing a bike, tried to intervene, one of them (all in black balaclavas) came towards him brandishing a hammer! How brave would you be? And the point is, this isn't restricted to so-called 'rough' areas; it's as prevalent in Islington as anywhere else.

Another piece of footage showed an attempted handbag grab from this woman. Maybe foolishly, she refused to release her grip on the bag, and she is shown being dragged along the road for 200 m, behind a scooter, still desperately clutching her bag! She was very fortunate to escape serious injury.

My son lives in London and is planning to buy a scooter to better deal with his awful commute. I fear for him. It's scary stuff indeed.

Sorry for going off-topic there.

Hell fire what's happening to the world.

Indeed. 16000 (yes, 16000!) bikes and scooters stolen in London last year. Plus mobile phones, handbags, etc...

Whenever I have been to watch Wire play in Perpignan I have combined the game with a family holiday, flown to Barcelona, stayed on the Costa Brava (Tossa De Mar) and travelled up to Perpignan using Catalan Sports Tours. All works well and reasonably priced if booked at the right time. Last summer I drove past Perpignan down to Costa Brava with my Dad and a family friend, not for the rugby (Wigan were in Perpignan that weekend) but simply to knock something off my Dads bucket list.

If you enjoy driving and at least two of you can share the driving, then it's a great way to get there, but only cost effective if four or five share the costs. Fewer than that and flying works out considerably cheaper. We drove down to Kent in the afternoon/evening and stayed in a Travelodge in order to get an early ferry to Dunkirk the following morning. A leisurely drive via Rouen and Orléans to avoid Paris we stayed in Issoire just off the motorway about 2/3rds of the way through France. Next day over the Millau Bridge (spectacular) and an easy drive down to the coast. We overdid it on the return journey hammering it all the way from Spain to Lille (via Paris!) in one day then got an early ferry back to Dover.

Flying is definitely easier, quicker and cheaper, but if you want to see France, enjoy driving and have the time I can recommend the drive. Oh, and the tolls don't work out as expensive as you expect, French motorways are very good and very quiet. Put the car on cruise control (if you have it) at 80 and relax.

a Man after My own heart ......
I almost enjoy the drive as much as the holiday itself some of the villages we've drove through are stunning. we have done the drive down the centre of France through Clermont Ferrand and over the Milau bridge loads of times, But last year we went down the eastern side through Lyon, a spectacular city with the main A road running along the banks of the Rhone. We took this route because its less Hilly and five in a car plus roof box can be a bit of a struggle up and down the hills of the last leg of the journey to the south.

hopefully going to Lake Garda in the near future and have been told that is a must drive rather than Fly......

I dont know what it is about driving but I just think there is something comforting about being a thousand miles from home on holiday but having your own car to do whatever you want when you want....

Fly to Girona and stay in Lloret.

Transfers with CST to Perpignan and back.

Airport transfers sort yourself so less travel time

Can't beat it.

I live in West Central France and travel over once or twice per year. Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen (overnight is easy), then A88, A28, past Le Mans, Tours, Poitiers and Bordeaux and it is Motorway almost all the way. Caen is 160 miles closer than the tunnel with a saving in diesel and peage. Plenty of rest stops and the services are clean and less expensive than in Britain. Motorways mostly deserted by British standards (bit busy at Bordeaux but not too bad). Nice scenery too. Four in the car with two drivers makes it cheaper and easier. Probably about 10 hours run but leaving Caen at 8 am makes it not too bad. Diesel about EU1.14 per litre at the supermarket, more on the motorway. There is a cheap Esso garage a couple of miles from the Ferry terminal in Caen and right on the main road. I always fill up there.

Hope this helps

Steve

Cheers Steve! I've done the Caen crossing a few times, though largely for just a bit of gentle touring in Brittany on the bike, not these long distances. I've done that road through Alencon to Le Mans, though. And, yeah, the N-road dual carriageways are brilliant compared to UK motorways.

As you and others have said, I reckon you need to recruit at least one extra driver to make going by car feasible.

Although, don't do this when it's the Paris holidays as the A7 can be terrible south of Lyon.