I'm planning to travel from Boston to France to see the Tour this year and I have a few questions:

1. How difficult will it be to rent a car? If I'm watching stages in the Alps is a car rental a 'must have'?

2. I'm planning to camp, how do I find campgrounds?
Is it safe to leave my pack and tent in my rental car during the day when I hike up to the course with my daypack?

3. Is renting a bike somewhere in France an option?

Thanks for your help.

I'm planning to travel from Boston to France to see the Tour this year and I have a few questions:

1. How difficult will it be to rent a car? If I'm watching stages in the Alps is a car rental a 'must have'?

2. I'm planning to camp, how do I find campgrounds?
Is it safe to leave my pack and tent in my rental car during the day when I hike up to the course with my daypack?

3. Is renting a bike somewhere in France an option?

Thanks for your help.

First, and foremost, read Teoteoteo's guide to the Tour de France (aka Ted Arnold) http://a104.g.akamai.net/7/104/1751/0001/www.lancearmstrong.com/LA_com_version.pdf

Insofar as your specific questions are concerned:

1. Car rental: you should arrange this from the US now. Most of the travel or car rental sites can give you quotes and arrangements from rentals from most European airports. Also, many European train stations also have car rental counters. Last year I used autoeurope.com, which brokers deals (my car actually came from Avis). This year I got the best rate from europcar.com. Auto rental, fuel and tolls are very expensive in France. But, a car is about the only way that you will be able to get from stage-to-stage in the Pyrenees or the Alps. Also, a car with an automatic transmission is much more expensive than a manual transmission. If you cannot drive a manual, you might want to learn between now and July.

2. I do not know anything about camping. However, I do think that it is safe to leave your stuff in the car when you hike up to the top of a stage. I did so last year without any problem. There are so many public safety people (national police, gendarmes, pompiers (firemen) along the route of the Tour de France that I think that it is unlikely that someone will break into your car.

3. Again, I do not know about rentals in France. But, given the problems that I have had with rentals in the US, I have become a believer in taking my bike with me. Get or rent a hard case and take your bike with you to France. Although most airlines charge outrageous fees for transporting bikes in the US, most airlines carry bikes for free on transatlantic flights.

I notice that you have not had many views of your post. I think that you may get more viewing and responses on the General Board. I know that there are several TdeF veteran spectators who visit there.

I notice that you have not had many views of your post. I think that you may get more viewing and responses on the General Board. I know that there are several TdeF veteran spectators who visit there.


Thanks for the advice.

name is cornelius i also want to go see the tour can i tag along please send info,planning around july 15 to the24?