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To those who said they didn’t need a GPS, please remember my columns are written for travelers, people with little or no familiarity with the country in which they are traveling. Mr. Trilling was right when he said, “(It) is the response of some one that is just driving trough.” In fact, that is exactly the point. This site is about travel, and travelers. My columns aren’t written for residents.

And yes, maps work. They are especially easy to use in the countryside, but frankly in Paris, where roads do change name constantly, and your attention must be focused on traffic, (those motorcycles are murder) I continue to believe that for a traveler driving in Paris, you definitely would be better off using a GPS. In Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and cities in the US in which I live or am a regular, I don’t need a GPS, just like a person living or frequently driving in Paris doesn’t need a GPS, but I’ll tell you a secret, I use one, even in my home city. I’ve found the technology extremely useful to much more quickly and easily locate a street address with which I’m unfamiliar and plot a route to get there. I often don’t follow the GPS’s route exactly, taking my own shortcuts, but at least I know where I’m going, and found out far more easily than checking map grid coordinates and locating the road, etc. I used to do that all the time before GPS technology, but with GPSs being so good and inexpensive, I’ve relegated maps to backup status. Anyone who reads my columns regularly knows I believe that if technology makes life easier and better at a reasonable cost, I use it.

GPS technology can do some other amazing things these days. For example, when I needed fuel, I just asked my unit to list gas stations within 10 K of my location at the time. I haven’t seen many maps with that information. In the Normandy area the GPS made it incredibly easy to get from place to place.

As to American credit card technology, I agree with Mr. Trilling that Europe is way ahead with “chip and pin” technology, nevertheless, Americans only have the old magnetic technology, and many Americans do have trouble with their credit cards in the Autoroute toll system. As I mentioned, I didn’t have any trouble. Perhaps it’s because like Mr. Trilling, I used my AMEX card.

As to speeding and going to slow, I reported what I observed over my more than 1,100 K of driving last week. It’s certainly not a scientific statistical analysis, however, 1 in 4 cars I encountered, passed me quickly, some going by so fast, I might have thought I was standing still. And while I’m sure there were police cars out there, I didn’t see them, nor did I see anyone pulled over. Had I been driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or the New York Thruway, or the Garden State Parkway (all in the US), I guarantee I would have seen many motorists pulled over and issued tickets having driven more than 680 miles in a few days. While the speed differential between those going well below the speed limit and above the speed limit might be normal in France and other locations in Europe, and in many US states, it’s my belief that it’s nevertheless dangerous. For many drivers a 40 kph difference is too much when you’re not paying close enough attention and you’re coming up behind the car in front that quickly.

Finally, I’d like to say I drove in Paris because I rented my car from nearby my apartment for its convenience, and had to both drive out of, and back into Paris. While here, I use the Metro, one of the best public transportation systems in the world, if not the best. Since I’m not overly familiar with it, I use a great iPhone utility program which figures out the best route in the Metro system for me to follow. I use public transportation in big cities in the US and Europe whenever possible. It’s normally much easier than driving.

Regards to all,

Ned

As for going to a Castle, well it depends quite where you want to go. I’m not sure if you use the word “Castle” to refer to a “Chateau” but, for instance, Versailles is an easy train ride from Paris; there are two routes even.

When it comes to the general question of driving in France it’s a couple of years since I did it and then it was in the hills behind Nice and I simply don’t recognise the way Ned tells it. I’m a Brit so I have to deal with driving on the wrong side of the road quite aprat from anything else.

If you want to put a bit of spice in your driving experience try the city of Salta in Argentina. I will admit to being glad to have the additional eyes of my wife beside me there!
Should add great post! Looking forward to seeing the next one!

As for going to a Castle, well it depends quite where you want to go. I’m not sure if you use the word “Castle” to refer to a “Chateau” but, for instance, Versailles is an easy train ride from Paris; there are two routes even.

When it comes to the general question of driving in France it’s a couple of years since I did it and then it was in the hills behind Nice and I simply don’t recognise the way Ned tells it. I’m a Brit so I have to deal with driving on the wrong side of the road quite aprat from anything else.

If you want to put a bit of spice in your driving experience try the city of Salta in Argentina. I will admit to being glad to have the additional eyes of my wife beside me there!

I keep going back and forth, back and forth, with the car rental. Since I made the car rental reservation so long ago, I am only paying 216 euros after taxes for the car for the week. With my family of 5, I cannot get transportation to/from CDG to our resort for less that 216 euros, so it would make sense to rent the car simply to get to/from the CDG airport to the resorrt. We are also thinking about visiting one of the castles outside Paris, so it would be nice to have a car for that trip. When we go into Paris we will only use public transportation, but I am still up in the air on whether we should rent the car. What do you think?

I don’t know what Mr. Trilling’s aversion to someone getting a GPS is all about, but if you have one, it can certainly help but shouldn’t be the thing you rely upon. Of course, if you are planning to drive in Europe for the first time, just enjoy getting lost. It’s a great way to discover wonderful places, as long as you have a map.

My question is why anyone would WANT to drive in a city like Paris, or any major European city. Just drive to the train station/Metro where you will undoubtedly find parking (which in a city like Paris or Milan is not something easy to do) and take the Metro system. You will get where you want to faster and cheaper. Just learn how the metro system works in the country/city you’re visiting before you get there (because in Paris you don’t want to mix up your in and out tickets). When you are ready to hit the countryside, your car is conveniently parked in a convenient place to pick up the main routes.

As for the highway toll system: it is an intriguing thing in Europe. The numbers do change, as can the speed limits. Don’t assume you can dawdle in the left hand lane, like in the states, as that’s taking your life in your hands. With regard to toll booths, always have enough Euros and when you get to Europe, go into the many banks and get a pre-paid debit card. My American Express usually seemed to work in the toll booths, but having the debit card saved me many times.

If you go with an attitude of expectation that it should be like it is in the States, then you will experience frustration. However, if you accept, and even enjoy the differences, you’ll have a wonderful time. Pack that with the GPS unit.

Re credit cards – I need to agree with Richard that I’ve never had a problem on the highway using ones without a smart chip. The same cannot be said at gas stations. Drivers had better gas up when there’re cashiers open. It’s wise to do it on Saturdays (as a precaution) if you’re driving in areas with small towns where stations may be exclusively self-service on Sundays.

The French are fast drivers – but it’s usually the Germans who come barreling down the French autoroutes. Do pay attention to speed traps. Plus there are frequent random breathalyzer checks where the police will pull over multiple cars and check all of the drivers. Do have a dedicated driver because the French don’t look kindly on drunk driving.

I never had a GPS – how I wish I did. It’s not unusual for French taxis to have them now. But don’t count on them always being accurate since Paris’s Mayor is busy make streets into pedestrian areas.

Driving in France is an acquired art and taste. I sort of mastered it.
Spending many years driving in Boston before moving to France was good training.