Munich to Paris

Driving in Paris is like driving in any big American city. No fun during the day but great at night.
Except for the scooters.

Also make sure you have a chip and pin card since the majority of parking meters in Paris only take chip and pin. No credit cards or coins. Many of the garages only take coin or chip & pin. I gambled a few times on the city streets and didn't get a ticket. Also there is a quiet traffic circle in the middle for this awesome picture below.

Originally Posted by slyfox51

Also make sure you have a chip and pin card since the majority of parking meters in Paris only take chip and pin. No credit cards or coins. Many of the garages only take coin or chip & pin. I gambled a few times on the city streets and didn't get a ticket. Also there is a quiet traffic circle in the middle for this awesome picture below.

That's a one in a million shot! Congrats on your new car.

Good to know about Chip and Pin requirement for the parking meters. Wish the US card issuers would get on board.

We just returned from our (abbreviated) 2nd ED. I had a Chip + Pin card, however everywhere I used it (all manned locations) it ran as Chip + Signature...Even when inserted in the chip reader instead of being swiped.... So I got back w/o using the 'famed' pin functionality....

Also, my AMEX plat worked like a charm in automated french toll booths...

For the French toll booths definitely look into tolltickets.com. There are a ton of tolls in France and I got a transponder for my trip. I had them send it to my German friend and I mailed it back at CDG. Worked like a charm especially in Normandy.

Originally Posted by slyfox51

For the French toll booths definitely look into tolltickets.com. There are a ton of tolls in France and I got a transponder for my trip. I had them send it to my German friend and I mailed it back at CDG. Worked like a charm especially in Normandy.

I did the same. Best decision I made. So easy. No bad French, slow downs or money worries. Loved my liber-t box.

On our route from Munich to Paris through Mulhouse we hit no toll booths, the issue never came up.

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

On our route from Munich to Paris through Mulhouse we hit no toll booths, the issue never came up.

Alsace is the only area of France that does not have tolls. How did u get to Paris without any tolls? The A4 is tolled up the whole way.

Originally Posted by MonkeyCMonkeyDo

Alsace is the only area of France that does not have tolls. How did u get to Paris without any tolls? The A4 is tolled up the whole way.

My memory is not the best. There may have been one toll on this route. Or it might have been some other leg of the trip.
I think we took the A6 and A36.

still in belgium...reims in a few days

Just got my toll bill for 49 euros. Drove from Liege to Normandy for 3 days and then to Paris. My German friend said he drove from Nice to Colonge and it was 100 euros in tolls

In laws might be getting their mb in Stuttgart. Should be a fun experience! If we were to goto Normandy, how many days should we spend there? Any interesting spots in northern France?

2-3 days max. There are some cool museums. Most of the Normandy towns in the invasion path were destroyed during WWII. The weather can be awful. Consider spending more time in the Loire.

I was just in Normandy in late Sept and I wouldn't suggest going Nov - March due to weather. The American cemetery is a bucket list item if your a history buff. Very emotional experience when they play taps at 4:30pm. Otherwise it is a very relaxing region if you need to recharge.

I'm planning to be in Normandy the 1st week of April. How is the weather then?
Please let me know where else I should go/include.
Going for 2 weeks, want to spend 4 days in Paris...
Munich, Stuttgart, Alsace region, Normandy, Paris drop off.

http://www.tortiniere.com/mobile/index.php?lang=uk

You want two nights here.

Originally Posted by stormace

I'm planning to be in Normandy the 1st week of April. How is the weather then?
Please let me know where else I should go/include.
Going for 2 weeks, want to spend 4 days in Paris...
Munich, Stuttgart, Alsace region, Normandy, Paris drop off.

A lot of construction from Munich to Stuttgart so not many areas to test the speed limiter.

I stayed at the Chev hotel which is near Honfleur. (Pic below). Cute horse farm near a small town center.

Definitely watch the Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan just before you go. Probably only 2 days of sites to see, but great to relax.

Don't try to drive into Paris, unless you don't mind scratches and traffic. Just find a hotel on the outer rim near a metro stop. Paris is meant for walking not driving.

driving through champagne? stop in rheims and do a champagne tour... Taittinger is nice.
Consider Strasbourg and Colmar as destinations. Nancy has a great Art Nouveau museum.
I completely agree that driving in Paris to be avoided. The public transportation is clean. safe and efficient... and the Paris drivers are aggressive and intolerant.

If you want to drive to Stutgart, you can drive much faster going A96 instead of A8 through Augsburg. Driving anywhere during high traffic times in Germany - its just like the US. Best to drive early in the AM on weekends. Paris is like driving in any other city. I had bad luck with the Westin valet, I would park myself next time.

In Rheims if you want affordable but gorgeous go to hotel de la paix. It is actually a best western but it is in the heart of town and all the locals rave about it. Of course there are the castle hotels as well like the crayeres etc. but those are more than double in price. We booked through Amex and of upgraded to a suite at no extra cost.

In the Alsace I had got recommended the kanzel hotel and residences. This was my favorite location of the trip.

Great advices so far. I'm doing all the hotels that monkeyc is suggesting. Is Loire valley ways away from Normandy?

A96 to goto Stuttgart. Any advice for a Black Forest route into Strasbourg?

Loire Valley is about 1.5 hours out of the way.

Honestly, I'm a WWII history buff type, my Grandfather was in D-Day at Utah beach - Normandy is anti-climatic. If you want to eat and drink and check out lots of old places, Loire Valley is more interesting by a wide margin.

I've only driven to Strasbourg via Stutgart. The Autobahn on the German side of the Rhein was completely torn up and diverted when I was last there in June-near Offenbach. Hellacious traffic...smart to take back roads.

And the speed limit in France up the Alsace is still 130km/hr. which you can easily get to 90mph without stress.

Stuttgart to Strasbourg is through the Black Forest right? Here's what I have so far. Need to book hotels soon.

Munich -3 days
Stuttgart -1 day
Strasbourg/Alsace -3 days
Normandy -1day
Loire valley -3 says
Paris -4 days


I'm considering 3 days in Loire valley then head into Paris for drop off.

Can I have the pin/chip sent to London?

Looks good...visit Landshut near München (day trip).