@Vergennes Hello Monsieur, I hope you are well and. We are planning a road trip of Western Europe this summer - late July. There is ten of us in three cars which includes females. I am right now mapping out the route. We plane to land in Calais then drive right south taking in Paris and then hit Cote'Azur. We will be making stops along the way to sleep and charge up. At the moment F1 hotels seem to be top choice asthey have lots of convenient points along the motorway network. We also will be camping - although that will be in the south.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=...:-1,lf_od:-1,lf_oh:-1,lf_pqs:EAE,lf:1,lf_ui:1
We also found a hotel north of the hills near Monte Carlo. We will use that to explore Riviera and dipover into Italy. Geneva in Swizerland is also on the itinery. Right now
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=...165541!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i732!2i415!4f13.1 is the staging post for South West France and Northern Spain down to Barcelona.
I am tad concerned about security situation in Paris. Since a visit to France is incomplete without Paris your advice would be appreciated. I will give you exact location of the F1 hotel in Paris. If you have any advice that would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
If I can give you some advices for Paris,the most common threat for tourists like you would be pickpocketing from Roma gypsies. I am pretty sure you've seen many of them in the UK,so you'll easily recognize them.
The usual don't take many valuables with you or in your bags,be aware of your possessions,don't get distracted by anyone,don't keep your papers,passports etc. in the same place. Be aware to well lock your cars.
Do not give money to people pretending they need money for deaf persons association,all those kind of BS,do not give money to people pretending to be from Syria. The community I am talking about is getting smarter as they'll pretend to be muslims,syrians etc. wear veils etc. And they'll even talk in arabic to make it more serious. So yea,don't give money to anyone,or if you want to do it,it's your choice.
Stay way from any demonstration or protest,that would turn to fights with Police as always.
The government has launched a free app to alert the users of any possible security incidents,including major natural,technological or terrorism related situations in your geographical area,and will give you advices to follow for your safety. It is also available in English,you can download it if you want,enter the term "SAIP" (Système d'alerte et d'information des populations) in the apple store or google play.
Trips of tourists in France are in the majority of the cases trouble free,but be careful of pickpocketing as I said !
Have a nice trip !