Steve R
You are right, join the club (not expensive), 1 hour checkout (max) and off you go. Can't remember the rates, because it was so long ago, but it was cheaper than GB at the time, and I believe still is so.
French pilots are a friendly bunch. Remember that most of them never do any international flying, because they don't have the right sort of licence. I believe you have to have proficienncy in (pilot) English, before you get an (international) PPL. So the odds are that you have more touring experience than their average club member.