France Trip In May

That is interesting to know.

I think my sat-nav asks me if I want to avoid these areas. I never know whether to avoid or not - press the "whatever" button and just get on with and see what happens !

Never had a ticket, but always a bit uneasy about it all.

French not liking rich people - see film "Camping" when a wealthy Parisian in a vintage 75 Reg Aston Martin is forced onto a campsite. Great film, very funny

 

For £4 for the life of the bike, it isn’t worth taking the chance. Andy

 

The Crit Air is not required for the OPs trip, unless he is making a significant detour. Details on the RAC website

 

I agree. As I like to tour at least once a year and each one more than likely involves traversing France I get one as a matter of course. More information here. There are other websites out there selling these at vastly inflated prices, the link to the official source on the page above charges less than €5 delivered to a UK address.

I do note from the above page that in 2025 that towns/cities with populations greater than 150,000 will be required to introduce a Low Emission Mobility Zone. Not sure if this actually means you'll need a Crit'Air sticker for these to be compliant or not...? If it were Le Havre would be included, not Caen or Bayeux though.

I don't actually apply the fairly large sticker to my bike as the instructions insist. Instead I keep it in my document wallet. Have yet to test the attitude of the French Rozzers to this blatant transgression...

 

Yes, fitting the sticker to a curved screen is a nightmare. I made such a hash of it fitting it to the Monster, I bought a new screen for when we are not in France Andy

 

This.
https://www.frenchentree.com/living...you-are-involved-in-a-car-accident-in-france/
I have an English/French printed jobby incase Jean Pierre Lune wants a joust with moi on the peage.

 

Arromanche museum is excellent as is the one at Utah Beach.

 

I use Carole Nash as it's a bike specific policy but covers me for other travel on an annual policy. Thoroughly tested it last year and it works Dreading the renewal which is due in a couple of months. Hoping that they'll still provide cover and not load the premium too heavily after my off in France last June along with stay in hospital and flight home...

 

Thank you, that's a useful alternative to CN. Checked wording of Silver cover to be sure and motorcycling over 125cc is included as long as you're licenced and it's not off road riding Having an alternative company that'll cover biking to get a quote from will be an advantage.

With my off last year plus a pre existing medical condition (diverticular disease) I'm not expecting a bargain. However, after last year the importance of effective cover when abroad was really driven home.

My diverticular disease landed me in Glos Royal for 5 days in 2022 and declaring that to insurers since has loaded the policy. I was previously in hospital in France on a bike trip with sepsis in 2019. In fact as this went away with IV antibiotics and no real diagnosis was reached despite extensive tests/scan etc. both there and once home leads me to believe that this was also diverticulitis leading to peritonitis, a close cousin to sepsis and equally fatal if not treated. The fact that the hotel we were at in Italy served very rich, meaty fare adds to this belief. I've since modified my diet to a certain extent, little if no red meat, and have coping strategies in place in the event of a flare-up.

The CN policy, being aimed at motorcyclists in particular, has additional cover for things like riding kit included.

 

Nice to get a proper review having actually used the cover(altho sorry to hear it). Makes me think about looking at these this year as I will also be going to france in July.

 

I couldn't really fault the travel policy from Carole Nash. Did what it said on the tin and paid for everything. Having learnt by experience that you need to get all the paperwork from the hospital that's discharging you to support your claim, including a vital discharge note. This requires a visit to the administration office and some patience. Thankfully this time around I had the assistance of a French speaking friend.

 

Spot on mate, very helpful. U only ever see reviews on how the insurance company's are cheap or how they are on the phone, very rarely on how they actually deal with claims.

 

For the 2019 sepsis event I was insured through the Post Office. The claim was immediately passed to a 3rd party who appeared to the involved, in the loosest possible sense, solely to frustrate the claim. It was only when the French were getting very threatening with me for settlement of unpaid medical bills, which the claim handler had weeks previously assured me would be settled directly, did my persistence result in them coughing up. A stressful situation and the opposite to the CN claims process. The CN policy was underwritten by AXA.

Have avoided any insurance, for anything, from the Post Office since. Their travel insurance no longer covers motorcycling in the sense of anything meaningful for us now anyway.

 

Not trying to 'preach to the converted', but have you checked that cover for motorcycling is included by virtue of paying an additional premium and if your trip is appropriately covered within the term of an 'activity holiday'?

I'm currently also covered by I&G and have used them now for several years, however, I do recall I had to pay an additional premium when renewing last year, due to the 125cc issue.

Their T's & C's may well have changed since I renewed, however, in my view it is something well worth checking and getting proper verification of directly from I&G, especially as pretty much ALL insurance companies will do their utmost to get out of covering a genuine claim. I'm not saying that this would be their approach, but there is loads of evidence to the contrary out there in our real and seriously diminishing world.....

 

As per my post above I downloaded the policy booklet for the Silver version and noted the following:



It appears that riding bikes, of any capacity, is covered if you're appropriately UK licenced and you're not racing or riding off road. Looks like there's an additional £100 excess applied. Not sure how that would have worked for me last year as I wasn't riding off road and then I suddenly was. Not having engaged Enduro mode it all went horribly wrong from that point on...

 

But, I still think an additional premium is involved, especially as on pages 29/39 it is stated that motorcycling up to 125cc is covered, but beyond this it isn't, otherwise an extra premium is required. This is precisely what I experienced when taking a renewal policy out with I&G last June. Personal accident + liability are NOT covered and the excess is 'standard'.


Then looking at pages 34/35 the hazardous activities section highlights motorcycling over 125cc is covered, but at an additional premium. Also worth noting it that this additional cover only gives 15 days motorcycling insurance.

IMO worthwhile re-checking! I know and appreciate you are detailed thinker, however, look to satisfy yourself.......

 

Thanks Tony, will have a more thorough look at the document. Though CN would be my first port of call, though give my recent claim I may need to hunt around for the best deal. Makes it hard when you add biking into the requirements.