Logistics: avoid losing days on the road
5 rules that turn chaos into a comfortable trip
A base instead of constant moves
Choose one town for 3–5 nights and make trips within a 1–2-hour radius. This saves time packing, parking and checking in and out. Exceptions: routes along the coast or the Wine Route.
Realistic journey times
GPS shows an ideal journey time. Add 30% for traffic near towns, parking and stops. Paris–Normandy: not 2 hours, but 2½–3. Do not plan more than 2–3 hours on the road per day.
Sundays and closures
Sunday: shops and many restaurants are closed. Monday: museums and markets are closed. Lunchtime: many places close from 12:00 to 14:00. Plan activities around these times.
Parking and fines
Blue zone: 1–2 hours free with a parking disc. Paid parking: €2–4/hour. Fines from €35. In town centres, park on the outskirts and walk: it is faster and cheaper.
A bad-weather plan
Always have a plan B: museums, covered markets, wineries and thermal baths. This is especially important in Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley. Check the forecast 3 days ahead and adjust the itinerary.
Rules and schedules may change: we update them for your dates.