I will be driving in Europe for the first time. I will be driving from Paris to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany using the A-4 tollway. My questions are: Do you have to pay a toll many times while driving along this roadway? Do you get some kind of toll card that allows you to pay only when you leave the tollway? Do you need exact change when paying the tolls? Can you charge the tolls to a credit card? Are there rest areas along the tollway? Are you able to purchase fuel and food and drinks at the rest areas?
The answer to any of these questions is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
|||
There is a good website http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.php?lng=2 which will answer a lot of questions.
On most autoroutes you take a ticket when you enter and then you pay when you leave a péage (toll) section - I think the A4 is toll-free around Strasbourg, Metz and Reims so you%26#39;ll have to pay tolls just before Metz, Reims and Paris. There are payment cards, but it%26#39;s easier for visitors just to use a credit card. If you want to pay cash and need change, go to a booth with an attendant.
There are regular rest areas - some are just picnic areas with toilets (which may be %26#39;holes in the ground%26#39;), while others have shops and fuel. Each fuel stop gives clear advance warning of the distance to the next. However, it%26#39;s generally more expensive on the autoroute (1.38€ / litre against 1.27 in an out of town supermarket a couple of weeks ago). There are restaurants at some areas (often the same as the fuel stations), but there may not be much choice outside %26#39;proper%26#39; mealtimes.
Enjoy your trip
|||
Yes you will pay about 5 times on that autoroute. If you use www.viamichelin.com and key in your route it will tell you exactly where you pay and how much plus where all the speed cameras are. You cannot get a toll card that just allows you to pay at the end. There are special lanes for people with a telepeage which is a sort of tracking device that clocks you through all the tolls and you pay directly from your bank account or credit card at the end of the month. That is not really practical if you are just visiting. Just keep out of the lanes marked with an orange t. You do not need exact change there are always pay booths with somebody in them. You can also pay by credit card either at the booth with the person or at the automatic booths which are marked with a credit card sign. Some of the toll booths as you go round large towns are just a small amount and you can throw the money into a basket as you pass through. These will give change but you can only put coins in. There are rest areas on the autoroutes they are called Aires. The signs always tell you what sort they are. The large ones have fuel, food, restaurants, drinks etc. The small ones are just toilets and a stopping area. In these ones you may find that the Ladies toilets are just a hole in the ground, there will however always be a disabled toilet with a proper toilet in it so use that one if you are more comfortable. I always do.
It really is not complicated and if you feel uncomfortable using the automatic booths just go to one with a person. Don%26#39;t forget Bonjour as you hand over the card. The toll amount will be displayed so do not worry if you do not speak much French. At the end of the transaction Merci and Au Revoir and you will be on your way again.
Anything else just post. Have a great trip.
|||
Thank you JBART for all the information. Another thing that I have questions about is purchasing fuel.
In most of the U.S. the self-pump is the norm. You fill your tank and go into pay at the cash register. Except in the State of Oregon it is illeagal to pump your own gas. a station attendant must do it for you.
What can I expect as I drive through France, Germany and Austria?
|||
Hi,
In France you usually do it yourself and pay at the booth.
Have a great trip!
:-)
|||
Excellent advice from JBart - also, just beware as you reach the tolls as at the larger ones it can split the traffic down into many lanes, none of them marked so keep your eyes on your mirrors as people sometimes cut you up to get to the shortest queue - or be quicker than them!!!
The roads in France are generally a pleasure to drive, but do watch your speed - the gendarmes are keen to catch people speeding.
|||
Hi
Happyindijon is right but just remember this. If the booth is right where the pumps are (like at the end in the middle of them) then it is correct to go up and pay leaving your car where it is. If however the cask desk is in another building where there is a shop, toilets, drinks etc then you move your car, park it and then go in and pay. It might sound complicated but there will be so many people doing the same just follow them.
I loved Rothenburg when I visited it is just such a unique place. Do have a good time meanwhile if we can help anymore please post.
|||
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 6:20 am, August 15, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment