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Driving
The French autoroutes are fast and usually (national holidays excepted) uncrowded. If you've got
a long drive it makes sense to break the journey, sleeping in rest areas is acceptable, but if you're
looking for a bed without spending too much, find a Formula 1 (
www.hotelformule1.com
) or, a
bit nicer, an Ibis (
www.ibishotel.com
) or Etap (
www.etaphotel.com
).
Check the AA or similar for the latest requirements when driving in France with regard to high
visibility vests, SatNavs, breathalyzers, warning triangles, fire extinguishers and head lamps.
Flying
There are a number of airports in southern France served by budget airlines that are good
for accessing the Ariège. Carcassonne and Toulouse are each about 1 hour 15 minutes away
while Perpignon will take a little over 2 hours. From September to April, there are far fewer
flights available. At these times Gerona and Barcelona are worth considering, leaving about
a 3 hour drive from Spain. Expect to pay more at popular times like weekends, the busy
summer months and school holidays.
Car Hire
You will need your driving licence and a credit-card. It is worth pointing out that car hire in
Spain is roughly half the cost of in France, though some companies charge a daily premium
for taking the vehicle across the border. The comparison site
carrentals.co.uk
is a useful
resource for sorting through the maze of companies and offers.
Th e P l a n t a u r e l
Ca l amè s A r e a
N i a u x A r e a
Au z a t A r e a
S i n s a t A r e a
Ax - l e s -Th e rme s A r e a
Moun t a i n
Wa l k s
16
Ariège Logistics
Getting There
Col d'Agnés and Spanish hire car. Photo: Chris Craggs