Planning Your Trip

France (including Monaco)

Getting there

Accommodation

Comprehensive list of accommodation providers Click Here

Insurance and Breakdown

Click Here for details

Badger's opinion

We have to be a little careful here since Cat, our website designer is French – although now married to an Irishman and living in the wilds of Yorkshire. A large country with a variety of scenery. Some good routes. Apart from Britanny and the Loire Chateau country, most bikers head South towards the sunshine. Despite having his own brewery, Badger loves the French wine, the cheese, the pâtés and traditional country cooking. Be prepared to speak French – and don’t expect the natives to speak English too much.

Touring and Rides

Click Here

Boring bits

Drinking and Driving

Level of alcohol in blood over 0.05% = severe penalties including fine, imprisonment and/or confiscation of driving licence. Saliva drug tests used from 2005 to detect drivers under influence of drugs – severe penalties as with alcohol.

Driving Licence

Motorcycle up to 80cc = 16 years: Motorcycle over 80cc = 18 years.

Fines

On-the-spot fines or “deposits” are severe. Always obtain official receipt. Vehicles parking contrary to regulations may be towed away and impounded.

Fuel

Unleaded petrol (95 and 98 octane) available. No leaded petrol (lead replacement petrol “Super ARS” available or lead substitute additive). Many automatic petrol pumps operated by credit/debit card, but cards issued away from France not always accepted.

Lights

Dipped headlights during day.

Insurance

third party compulsory.

Kids as Pillions

No age limit – but maximum of one child. Approved helmet. Under 5 child must use approved seat with handles and footrests. Child above 5 must reach footrests.

Motoring organisation

Consult AA/RAC

Tourist board information

French Government Tourist Office, Maison de la France, 178 Piccadilly, London W1V 0AL
Telephone 0891 244123

British Embassy details

British Embassy
35 rue du Faubourg St Honoré
75383 Paris Cedex 08

Tel: (33) 1 44 51 31 00
Fax: (33) 1 44 51 31 27 Consular
e-mail: webmaster.paris@fco.gov.uk

Office Hours:
BST:
Mon -Fri: 0830-1200 / 1330-1600

Local Time:
Mon-Fri: 0930-1300 / 1430-1700

www.amb-grandebretagne.fr