| PART 2: TRAVEL – GENERAL INFORMATION AND DO’S & DON’TS, INCLUDING HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FEED YOURSELF? In Section One we dealt with preparing for the trip. Now you have booked the lake and organised your ferry crossing, but there are a number of other important things that need to be dealt with. TRAVEL Passport The first essential is to ensure you have a valid 10 year Passport! Not much to add to this except to say get it sorted now! Don’t leave it until the last minute. The UK Passport Service has a very good web-site at: www.ukpa.gov.uk/ where you can find valuable information and you can now even apply online. Form E111 Another necessity is a Form E111. Obtainable from the Post Office, the E111 entitles UK residents to free or reduced-cost emergency treatment that may become necessary during a temporary visit within the European Community. Just present your E111 to the hospital or doctor who is treating you, and you will be entitled to the same treatment as residents of the country you are visiting. You still pay, but you get it stamped & signed and then get your money back on your return to the UK.
How ever, please note there has been a recent law change regarding the E111. Where once you could simply pop into the Post Office, grab a form, get it stamped, and that was that – is no longer the case! They are still obtainable from the Post Office, but now have to be sent away. Following the introduction of the new European Health Insurance Card in some EU countries a new E111 form has been introduced. The new E111 form can still be obtained, free of charge, from a local post office, and you will of course still be entitled to free, or reduced cost treatment when visiting an EU country, but you need to apply for a new E111 – older versions were only valid until the 31st December 2004! The main change is that the new form is now issued on an individual basis, so if you are planning to take the family with you, you will need to obtain E111’s for each family member. Further, the new E111 form will only be valid until 31st December 2005. By the end of 2005 this will be replaced by the European Health Insurance Card. It is possible to apply for the new card now simply by ticking the box on the new E111 application form. It will then be issued when the card is introduced in the UK. Sounds complicated, but in reality is quite straightforward. Car insurance Travelling abroad can cause you headaches if you are unluckily involved in an accident, therefore never skimp on insurance! For short visits to France check with your own UK car insurer as they will probably arrange additional cover for little extra cost. In fact, many comprehensive insurance policies will provide you with the minimum cover you need by law to drive your car in the EU for short periods – usually up to 3 days, but this may provide you with less cover than you currently have in the UK. Better to be safe than sorry, so contact your insurance provider and they will supply you with full cover for your trip and will issue an International Motor Insurance Certificate, known as a ‘Green Card’. Breakdown Cover You would be wise to also consider breakdown cover which will at least get you home in the event of an accident or a serious breakdown. Whilst you may consider this a luxury and/or you have a very good, reliable car, it is essential that you get yourself and you car home in an emergency – there is always someone who will take great delight in ‘ripping you off’ should you need towing to a garage (just the same as in this country); a relatively small amount will get you over this potential problem. I have AA membership and their 5-Star European Cover is very comprehensive, though quite expensive, but then, what price peace of mind? At the moment such cover will cost you around £ 44 for 7 days in France. The same 5 star cover will cost £ 115 for a whole year and this will provide cover for up to 90 days driving. Alternatives can be found – such as RAC and Green Flag – just make sure they offer all you want! Ok, so now you are officially covered to drive yourself to your chosen venue, but there’s more! Rules for Driving in France I find driving in France a real pleasure – it’s a lovely country. Her roads are superb and which often provide wonderful sweeping views of the countryside. There is so much less congestion because of size and population of the country. But be warned, if you do travel through the major cities expect hold-ups just like any other country, and especially avoid the Paris ring road known as the ‘p  When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community.
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