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    By car to the South of France: relaxed on the way to your holiday villa

    Thu, April 10, 2025 by Paulien van der Klij
    sonstige
    By car to the South of France: relaxed on the way to your holiday villa

    Many of our guests choose to travel to the South of France by car. It gives you the freedom to set your own pace and enjoy the French landscape along the way. But good preparation is important: from convenient toll badges to comfortable hotels en route. In this blog, we share practical tips for a smooth and relaxed road trip to your holiday destination.

    1. Toll roads: convenient but pricey

    French highways are toll roads ("autoroutes à péage").

    Example: Utrecht – Côte d’Azur → approx. €75 toll (one way)

    Tip: Use a toll badge (Télépéage / Liber-t). This allows you to drive through the special “T” lanes at toll booths without stopping. This works on all toll roads and in many (especially large) parking garages.

    Order via e.g.:

    bipandgo.com. Want to order with a discount? Order online at Bip & Go and enter the registration code: VILLASUDUK25.

    Alternatively, you can order a toll badge via AREA / APRR toll companies.

    2. Hotels along the Route du Soleil

    Want to travel at ease with an overnight stay on the way? Here are some nice and well-located options:

    Region Dijon / Beaune (halfway)

    • Château de Challanges (Beaune) – charming hotel in a historic manor house
    • Best Western Hotel Dijon Quetigny – close to the highway, easy parking with roof box, plenty of dining options, pets allowed
    • Ibis Styles Beaune Centre – modern & central, good value for money

    Region Lyon / Vienne

    • La Pyramide (Vienne) – luxury boutique hotel with top restaurant
    • B&B Hôtel Lyon Sud Oullins – basic and practical, close to the highway

    Region Valence / Montélimar

    • Hotel Victoria (Valence) – stylish and central
    • Campanile Montélimar Sud – family-friendly and affordable

    Book early during holidays or weekends, as hotels along this route are popular.

    3. What to bring?

    • Yellow safety vests (mandatory for every passenger)
    • Third-party liability or green card from your car insurance
    • Environmental sticker (Crit’Air) for certain cities (like Lyon, Marseille)
    • Sunglasses, snacks, water, and toll badge / cash
    • Optional: a cooler, beach gear, and charging cables

    4. Useful apps for the road

    Waze, Flitzmeister or Google Maps – real-time traffic info and speed traps

    Autoroutes.fr – calculate tolls and check traffic updates

    Télépéage app (Bip&Go) – overview of toll trips and costs