Getting Here….
…Couldn’t be easier! The South of France enjoys excellent links with the UK and Ireland, by air, road and rail. And the amazing thing is, they keep getting even better. Check out the new Eurostar link from London St Pancras direct to Marseille. That’s London to the Med in 6.5 hours, without ever leaving terra firma.
Getting Here By Air
Air travel to the south of France has become really easy and affordable with British Airways, Ryanair, Flybe, EasyJet, Aer Lingus and CityJet offering flights year-round to eight different airports.
You can find return flights to the region for as little as £40 return including airport taxes! Ryanair and Easyjet offer regular, low-cost flights and their out-of-season deals can be extremely tempting. Don’t forget that the Midi (which includes the whole of the south of France) enjoys up to 300 days of sunshine per year so, for a touch of autumn or spring sun, it’s really worth checking out the deals.
Please note: Don’t book your flights before confirming the availability of your chosen rental property with South France Holiday Villas.
Flights To and From the South of FranceFor the cheapest currently available flights check out Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert site, where he has regularly updated news on cheap flghts (as well as how to save money in other ways). Links to Airline Web Sites
Security Regulations at Airports in BriefHand luggage Bag to be no bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Only one bag allowed, so this usually means no extra handbag. Check with your chosen airline. No sharp items. Creams, gels and pastes to be carried in a separate clear plastic bag and no container to be bigger than 100ml. If you want to carry larger items, these will have to go into the hold. Hold luggage Liquids, creams, gels and pastes over 100ml allowed. Knives and scissors are allowed, even catapults! You are not allowed poisons, fuel, bleach, magnets, fireworks (including Christmas crackers, usually), and of course, no replica guns. Baggage AllowanceRyanair https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/plan-trip/travel-extras/cabin-baggage-allowance-and-luggage-fees Cabin baggage: Ryanair does allow a small bag in addition to your principal cabin luggage bag weighing up to 10kg. Hold baggage: You pay extra for baggage in the hold depending on its weight; the cheapest fee starts at 15kg. EasyJet http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/preparing-to-fly/baggage Cabin baggage: Only one bag allowed, (so no handbags) unless you have booked EasyJet Plus. Otherwise there is no weight limit as long as you can lift the bag into the locker unaided. Hold baggage: You pay extra for baggage in the hold depending on its weight; the cheapest fee starts at 20kg. British Airways http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/baggage-essentials/checked-baggage-allowances Cabin baggage: One principal bag plus a separate handbag or laptop bag. Hold baggage: Up to 23kg included in ticket price. CityJet http://www.cityjet.com/manage/whats-my-checked-in-baggage-allowance/ Cabin baggage: One principal bag weighing up to 2kg plus a small extra handbag, laptop bag or similar. Hold baggage: Charged extra for up to 23kg Getting Here by RailThe brand-new Eurostar service St Pancras - Marseille takes 6.5 hours and prices range from £99 one-way. St Pancras - Avignon takes less than 6 hours.
Getting Here by MotorailThe Motorail service was sadly suspended in 2010 but you can still use the year-round Auto-Rail service from Paris. This means that you need to drive to Paris- Bercy station and leave your car with SNCF. You will travel on a separate train. SNCF will load your car onto a car-carrying train and it will travel to any of the following destinations overnight: Nice, Avignon, Biarritz, Marseille, Tarbes, Narbonne, St Raphael, Toulon, Toulouse. You are then free to take any other passenger train that suits. Getting Here by RoadDriving on motorways in France involves toll charges. ‘Péage’ booths will take cash or credit cards. If you are planning on doing a lot of driving on motorways over an extended period then you may consider a ‘zapper’ which allows you through the péage electronically and debits the cost of the trip to your bank account automatically. These can be obtained from ASF boutiques placed alongside some major péage centres such as the Gare de Péage Montpellier 2. Motorways feel emptier than in Britain and the rest areas are usually very well-maintained. Choose from a ‘station service’ which will offer petrol, restaurant/café, toilets, lodging etc, or an ‘aire’ which is a lot less developed but will normally offer toilets and a picnic area. If you are travelling to the Languedoc then we recommend you take the new A75 autoroute. There are no toll charges south of Clermont Ferrand and you will have the chance to cross the spectacular Millau viaduct. Check out the South France Autoroutes website for route planning and information on tolls. Driving in France versus the UKFollow the link for more information on Driving in France. Getting Here by Ferry
Planning Your Route
Where to Stop on the Way
You can usually find the hotels grouped near the autoroute exits. In peak season, booking ahead is recommended. Car-HireDon't assume that you will get the best deal with your airline's car-hire partner. By shopping around you can get better deals and miss the queue at the "partner" car-hire desk! Discount Sites Major Brands
Or try our partners:-
Car Hire Companies at Beziers Railway Station
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