Riviera Driving Tours
Convertible adventures on the Côte D’Azur
Convertible adventures on the Côte D’Azur
HELPFUL TIPS
We hope this page will be helpful when planning your Riviera Driving Tour adventure.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Dirk Dominick at rivieradrivingtours@gmail.com if you have questions.
Contact Information
Riviera Driving Tours
rivieradrivingtours@gmail.com
dirkdominick@gmail.com
Dirk Dominick (205) 531-2170
Auberge de Tourrettes
11 Route de Grasse
06140 Tourettes sur Loup, France
www.aubergedetourrettes.com
info@aubergedetourrettes.com
Time Zone
The Time zone in France is Central European Standard Time.
Nice, France is 7 hours ahead of Birmingham, Alabama.
Language
French is the official language in France.
English is fairly widely spoken along the touristy French Riviera, but much less so in the more rural back-country.
Currency
The currency used in France is the Euro.
1 Euro equals approximately $1.20.
Electricity
Americans traveling to France will need an electrical converter to charge any small appliances they may bring. The voltage in the United States is 120 volts and 230 volts in France. Converters can be found easily online.
Please note: The Auberge de Tourrettes does have hair dryers in each room.
Flight Information
Your destination airport is Nice, France (airport code NCE).
When booking your flights it's a good idea to pay attention to overall travel time. A total travel time somewhere between 16 and 20 hours (embarking from the southeastern US) is ideal.
We recommend signing up for a free account at Scott's Cheap Flights (scottscheapflights.com) for the latest flight deals. Google Flights is also a good resource for finding affordable flights.
ARRIVAL
When you arrive in Nice you will be met outside the baggage claim area by a Riviera Driving Tours representative who will transfer you to the village of Tourrettes sur Loup (transfer time approximately 45 minutes).
Check-in at the auberge is 2 pm but we will make every effort to accommodate early arrivals.
An additional "free day" has been added to the tour to help mitigate the effects of jet lag, so Wednesday may be spent as you wish. The tour "officially" starts on Thursday around 2 pm with a car orientation at the auberge.
The auberge does not have air-conditioning and there is no elevator in the three story building. Spring and Fall dates are scheduled when nights are normally cool and comfortable. We do ask that each couple provides the hotel with a valid credit card upon check-in to ensure a smooth check-out and avoid any confusion about charges for misc. drinks, etc. (unscheduled meals and drinks are not included in the tour price).
DRIVING
A valid drivers license and passport (each valid for at least six months AFTER you return from the tour) are required to book your vehicle.
An international drivers license is not required.
Comprehensive tour books, a lead car, and two-way radios will be provided each driving day. Your vehicle is also equipped with the latest Satellite Navigation System. Groups usually drive in a convoy format but it's certainly not mandatory. Should you choose to veer off on your own you may consult your tour booklet and SatNav to join the group later in the day
Driving in France is quite similar to driving in the United States and guests usually adapt to it quickly. Any and all questions and concerns you may have about driving will be addressed at the pre-tour orientation. In order to make your driving experience less stressful our first driving day will be spent exploring the back-country where there is much less traffic.
Our goal at Riviera Driving Tours is to provide a driving experience that includes the very best roads and scenery this spectacular area has to offer. We will explore the back-country as well as the Riviera coastline and a beautiful region in Liguria, Italy during the tour.
MONEY
Please contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know you'll be traveling overseas. They may freeze your funds if they see an international transaction and are unaware you have left the country.
Make sure your credit and debit cards do not charge a foreign transaction fee (some cards charge as much as 3% on every purchase).
The easiest way to access money in France is at ATM's (there is an ATM just around the corner from the auberge).
PACKING CHECKLIST
Passport/Drivers license (valid for at least six months after you return home from your trip).
Health insurance cards
Bank/credit cards
Phone with charging cord
Toiletries (no more than 3.4 ounces per item)
Sunblock
Sunglasses
Medications
Light jacket or pullover (temperatures in the back-country during the Spring and Fall can be cool in the evening)
Pants
Shirts
Undergarments
Socks
Comfortable shoes
You may want to dress up a bit for dinner on Thursday evening and lunch in Monaco on Saturday (think business casual at most), but comfortable, casual attire is de rigueur on a Riviera Driving Tour.
Ties are strictly forbidden!
_____________________________________________________________________________
We hope this page will be helpful when planning your Riviera Driving Tour adventure.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Dirk Dominick at rivieradrivingtours@gmail.com if you have questions.
Contact Information
Riviera Driving Tours
rivieradrivingtours@gmail.com
dirkdominick@gmail.com
Dirk Dominick (205) 531-2170
Auberge de Tourrettes
11 Route de Grasse
06140 Tourettes sur Loup, France
www.aubergedetourrettes.com
info@aubergedetourrettes.com
Time Zone
The Time zone in France is Central European Standard Time.
Nice, France is 7 hours ahead of Birmingham, Alabama.
Language
French is the official language in France.
English is fairly widely spoken along the touristy French Riviera, but much less so in the more rural back-country.
Currency
The currency used in France is the Euro.
1 Euro equals approximately $1.20.
Electricity
Americans traveling to France will need an electrical converter to charge any small appliances they may bring. The voltage in the United States is 120 volts and 230 volts in France. Converters can be found easily online.
Please note: The Auberge de Tourrettes does have hair dryers in each room.
Flight Information
Your destination airport is Nice, France (airport code NCE).
When booking your flights it's a good idea to pay attention to overall travel time. A total travel time somewhere between 16 and 20 hours (embarking from the southeastern US) is ideal.
We recommend signing up for a free account at Scott's Cheap Flights (scottscheapflights.com) for the latest flight deals. Google Flights is also a good resource for finding affordable flights.
ARRIVAL
When you arrive in Nice you will be met outside the baggage claim area by a Riviera Driving Tours representative who will transfer you to the village of Tourrettes sur Loup (transfer time approximately 45 minutes).
Check-in at the auberge is 2 pm but we will make every effort to accommodate early arrivals.
An additional "free day" has been added to the tour to help mitigate the effects of jet lag, so Wednesday may be spent as you wish. The tour "officially" starts on Thursday around 2 pm with a car orientation at the auberge.
The auberge does not have air-conditioning and there is no elevator in the three story building. Spring and Fall dates are scheduled when nights are normally cool and comfortable. We do ask that each couple provides the hotel with a valid credit card upon check-in to ensure a smooth check-out and avoid any confusion about charges for misc. drinks, etc. (unscheduled meals and drinks are not included in the tour price).
DRIVING
A valid drivers license and passport (each valid for at least six months AFTER you return from the tour) are required to book your vehicle.
An international drivers license is not required.
Comprehensive tour books, a lead car, and two-way radios will be provided each driving day. Your vehicle is also equipped with the latest Satellite Navigation System. Groups usually drive in a convoy format but it's certainly not mandatory. Should you choose to veer off on your own you may consult your tour booklet and SatNav to join the group later in the day
Driving in France is quite similar to driving in the United States and guests usually adapt to it quickly. Any and all questions and concerns you may have about driving will be addressed at the pre-tour orientation. In order to make your driving experience less stressful our first driving day will be spent exploring the back-country where there is much less traffic.
Our goal at Riviera Driving Tours is to provide a driving experience that includes the very best roads and scenery this spectacular area has to offer. We will explore the back-country as well as the Riviera coastline and a beautiful region in Liguria, Italy during the tour.
MONEY
Please contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know you'll be traveling overseas. They may freeze your funds if they see an international transaction and are unaware you have left the country.
Make sure your credit and debit cards do not charge a foreign transaction fee (some cards charge as much as 3% on every purchase).
The easiest way to access money in France is at ATM's (there is an ATM just around the corner from the auberge).
PACKING CHECKLIST
Passport/Drivers license (valid for at least six months after you return home from your trip).
Health insurance cards
Bank/credit cards
Phone with charging cord
Toiletries (no more than 3.4 ounces per item)
Sunblock
Sunglasses
Medications
Light jacket or pullover (temperatures in the back-country during the Spring and Fall can be cool in the evening)
Pants
Shirts
Undergarments
Socks
Comfortable shoes
You may want to dress up a bit for dinner on Thursday evening and lunch in Monaco on Saturday (think business casual at most), but comfortable, casual attire is de rigueur on a Riviera Driving Tour.
Ties are strictly forbidden!
_____________________________________________________________________________