travel and vacation >> Driving tips for France

French road rules

French traffic police are strict and you can expect an on-the-spot fine if caught speeding, are parked illegally or commit any manner of motoring offences. The minimum age you can get behind the wheel in France is 18 years and drivers must always have their full, valid license and insurance documents to hand.

Despite the often lax laws regarding the wearing of seatbelts in other European countries, all passengers must wear their seatbelts, including the rear seat passengers, while children under 10 years are not allowed to travel in the front. Low prices France hire vehicles

Important points to remember for those bringing their cars from other countries, especially for the UK and Ireland, is that French law dictates that a red warning triangle be carried at all times in case of emergency during breakdown, Euro registration plates should in place and right-hand-drive cars have headlamp deflectors fitted.

Drink driving Don't even think about driving after having a drink. It's not even worth risking just the one as the 0.5mg/ml blood/alcohol limit is one of the strictest in Europe and French traffic police are particularly tough on drink driving offenders.

French roads

Autoroutes Motorways in France, known as autoroutes a peage, are usually tolled and quite pricey to travel on for any great distance, yet they easily offer the most efficient way to get about and are of very high quality. The autoroutes are marked with an 'A' and tolls can be paid for by card or cash.

Main roads 'N' roads and 'D' roads - routes nationales and routes departementales respectively - are next best to the autoroutes. They cover the majority of the country, sometimes offering a better driving experience than the motorways being closer to the country, and are free.

French speed limits

Urban areas: 50kph/31mph Rural roads: 90kph/55mph 110kph/69mph - on non-toll motorways Motorways: 130kph/80mph

French fuel costs (euros per litre)

Unleaded: 1.33 €/l Lead replacement: 1.30 €/l Diesel: 1.00 €/l

Unleaded petrol is known locally as sans plomb, while lead replacement petrol (leaded is not sold in France) is typically super ARS. Like most other countries, diesel is significantly cheaper than petrol. France is big on auto fuel dispensers, although these only accept domestic debit cards, whereas standard petrol stations will accept international credit and debit cards.

French road safety The emergency telephone number is 17 if you breakdown on an autoroute, although you can also use this elsewhere if you cannot find a garage for instance. Autoroutes have emergency telephones posted every two kilometres and rest areas every 10 or 15 kilometres. France online holiday rentals Those on long journeys should plan on taking a break at least every hour or so.

Taking out comprehensive motor insurance cover before driving in France is a must and it would also be a good idea to become a member of your local motoring organisation, many of which will offer cover or reciprocal agreements with their French counterparts.

French roads are busy with local and tourist traffic year round, but especially so before and after the school holidays and during the ski season in the Alps. Carry snow chains if you plan on visiting the latter and heed local weather and road information.

About the Author

As a travel articles writer Andy Burrows visited and drove across many regions in different nations. France especially fascinates him.

travel and vacation >> Volunteering abroad - Do I need an organization?

No,

- if you easily get in contact with people,

- speak the language in your destination country,

- are flexible and have some time to research first,

- just want a hands on experience opposite be a part of long-term development.

Yes,

- if you just travel for a short period,

- have no in-country contacts,

- do not speak the language,

- want to contribute to long-term development,

- want someone who guides you through cultural differences and helps you with adjusting.

Certainly everyone could organize his / her own travel and volunteer experience abroad - and some do. Most choose to let someone do the organization for them and arrive at their placement knowing there is volunteer work waiting for them and they will have company from staff and other volunteers to share all new impressions and experiences with. This is especially helpful if you choose to volunteer in a cultural setting that is completely different from your own. You will feel much more comfortable if you have someone at your site who can explain and help with understanding the differences.

If you are active in an organization at home, start asking around if they have partner organizations abroad and can help you with contacts. Some volunteer organizations like the Red Cross operate in many countries.

If you never volunteered before, ask yourself how much support you need. Did you travel before? Do you have experience with living in a group? Do you need a room on your own or are you comfortable with simple, shared accommodations?

What kind of volunteer work do you have in mind? What kind of experience (everyone has some!) can you offer?

There are many different kind of organizations and projects around that take volunteers. Most charge a fee or ask a donation to cover their expenses.

Even if it seems unfair to you that you offer your time and energy and they ask you for money to do it, keep in mind that they have to pay the staff that takes care of you, your housing etc.

There are also companies who organize volunteer trips like they organize sightseeing tours. They usually charge much more, but will accept you for very short stay like a few days only.

About the Author

Sabine Lindemann is the founder of Volunteer Stories, a site where volunteers can read and submit volunteer stories.

travel and vacation >> Choosing a Family Friendly Vacation Destination

We all love taking vacations to get away, have fun, and relax. But when you have a family it can sometimes be difficult choosing a destination that offers something for both children and adults. As a parent you may be wondering how you can find the perfect vacation spot. Luckily for us there are numerous destinations that offer fun for everyone!

As adults and parents, we know that our children will carry memories of family vacations with them for the rest of their lives. To insure they'll look back on them with fondness, you'll need to keep them in mind when selecting your destination. How? By targeting your vacation destination to the age of your children and the type of activities they enjoy.

Keep in mind of course, that there are some vacation activities that are only suitable for children of a certain age or ability. If you have young children and are concerned about the limited number of activities that they may be able to participate in, you could work to develop their abilities. For example, if you are interested in vacationing at the beach or lake, but you have a child that doesn't know how to swim, you could teach him or her how.

For vacation destinations that are perfect for families, you may want to consider an area that has an amusement park and other similar attractions. You can decide on the size of the amusement park depending on the length of your vacation. For instance, some parks only take a day to enjoy (such as Six Flags), but some are so large that you need 2-3 (Universal Studios, Disney World, etc.). Amusement parks generally offer a wide range of rides and attractions geared towards individuals of all ages. In addition to rides for adults and teenagers, most even include a section with rides specifically for infants and toddlers.

Camping is a popular outdoor activity and makes a great family vacation. Children of all ages generally enjoy camping, especially near a lake or river. You may want to stay in a campground or state park that offers activities such as fishing, boating, and other outdoor sports. Of course if you have a toddler, you may want to examine the decision to vacation in the wilderness since there is a potential danger for them if they wander off unattended.

Keep in mind that these are only two potential options for your family vacation and while they are very popular, they are not the only destinations that offer fun for the whole family. Use your best judgment and talk to your children about what they would like to do. There are a large number of family friendly vacation destinations, and with a little research and planning you'll be able to select one that the whole family will enjoy and remember.

About the Author

Susan Collmorgen is a resident of the Branson, Missouri area and operates an online information guide to Branson, Missouri.